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Churches ready to fight UK's gay marriage push

Thu 6 Oct 2011 In: International News View at Wayback

David Cameron Church leaders have swiftly criticised British Prime Minister David Cameron's steps towards legalising gay marriage. Speaking to the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, Mr Cameron said: "We're consulting on legalising gay marriage. To anyone who has reservations, I say: Yes, it's about equality, but it's also about something else: commitment. "Conservatives believe in the ties that bind us; that society is stronger when we make vows to each other and support each other. "So I don't support gay marriage despite being a Conservative. I support gay marriage because I'm a Conservative." The Telegraph reports the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales and the Church of England are likely to lodge formal objections to the move when the Coalition launches an official consultation next year. The Most Rev Peter Smith, the Archbishop of Southwark and one of the most senior Roman Catholics in the country, said the state must not attempt to redefine marriage. "Whilst we welcome the Prime Minister's support of marriage, family life and especially the care of children, the proposed redefinition of marriage cannot be right," he told the newspaper. "Marriage by its very nature is between a man and a woman and it is the essential foundation of family life. The state should uphold this common understanding of marriage rather than attempting to change its meaning." The Catholic Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, the Rt Rev Kieran Conry, added that Mr Cameron would not be given "an easy ride on this”. “I think the Church will have to do something. We can’t just let this slide by and say we are not interested," he said. “It is the question of protecting the particular, specific institution of marriage and its specific character as the permanent union of a man and a woman who would then bring up their own children.” Andrea Williams, director of Christian Concern, said Prime Minister's attempt to redefine marriage would have "catastrophic consequences" for society. “The complementary union of a man and a woman in marriage is where love, life, stability and the full flourishing of society begins. He ignores this fundamental principle at his peril.”    

Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff

First published: Thursday, 6th October 2011 - 12:36pm

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