British churches would be required to solemnize same-sex unions, legal expert warns
CWN - April 23, 2012
A Catholic legal expert has warned that if Great Britain recognizes same-sex marriages, churches will be compelled to solemnize such unions, regardless of the assurances that have been given by Prime Minister David Cameron.
Neil Addison of the Thomas More Legal Centre said that European court rulings show that the government would be required give homosexual couples all the same legal rights as heterosexual couples, including the right to a religious service. “The government will be obliged to permit same-sex marriage on religious premises on exactly the same basis as it permits heterosexual marriage,” he concluded.
Addison insisted that a proposed legal exception, allowing religious bodies to refuse to perform same-sex marriages, would not stand a challenge in the European Court of Human Rights.
Additional sources for this story
Some links will take you to other sites, in a new window.
|
An appeal from our founder, Dr. Jeffrey Mirus: Dear reader: If you found the information on this page helpful in your pursuit of a better Catholic life, please support our work with a donation. Your donation will help us reach five million Truth-seeking readers worldwide this year. Thank you! |
Easter Campaign: Progress toward our Spring 2013 goal ($17,114 to go):
$80,000.00
$62,886.45
21%
79%
|
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
-
Posted by: fred3885 -
Apr. 24, 2012 3:33 AM ET USA
The Gay lobby is very powerful in Great Britain. American readers should remember there is no first amendment as such and, for example, racist remarks carry a jail sentence. Slowly but surely saying being gay is wrong will likewise be banned and subject to penalty. Now it appears Churches will have to celebrate gay "marriages", forcing them to forego all such celebrations. Let us pray this will not happen as it will set an example and other countries will follow in a new age of persecutions.
