Cameron to introduce same-sex marriage in churches

David Cameron has today backed a huge policy change to introduce same-sex marriages in churches.

The media is reporting that the Government will respond to its consultation on Thursday, 13 December, confirming its intention to force through the redefinition of marriage.

Introducing same-sex weddings in churches and other religious premises is a radical departure from the consultation proposals. Ministers promised that religious believers could not be forced to hold homosexual weddings because it would not even be possible to register them in churches or other religious premises.

But now that promise has been broken. Christians, Jews, Muslims and others will be exposed to the legal nightmare of equality and human rights laws, as well as the intrusion of the European courts. We have no confidence in so-called ‘safeguards’ Ministers will offer.

Legal advice from leading human rights lawyer Aidan O’Neill QC has made clear that the only completely safe course for churches will be to stop hosting weddings altogether, a massive change to Britain’s social landscape. He has also shown that, quite apart from the issue of buildings, individual people from any background who believe in traditional marriage face damage to their careers or even dismissal from their jobs, especially teachers, chaplains, foster carers and others in the public sector.

The Bill is to be published in the New Year, when MPs will have their first opportunity to vote on the redefinition of marriage. Media sources are now reporting that at least 130 Conservative MPs are publicly against redefining marriage.

David Cameron’s huge policy change today will surely only increase the widespread opposition to the plans.