General Chat

anyone have any views on this? I'm not at all comfortable with it to be perfectly honest - just does not seem right in any whichway

Does not bother me

No.

I suppose it depends on whether you are happy for people of the same sex to have relationships or not.

If not then you will be against same sex marriages.

Why should governments or the church decide what is right

I'm not sure what to feel about same sex religious marriages, I'm not a practitioner of any religion myself, so not sure whether the state should interfere where matters of belief are concerned, but realise I'm probably being a bit fuzzy on the issue.

I don't see the need to have both civil partnership and civil marriage - if religion is not involved then surely just one of these institutions should suffice whether same sex or mixed sex couples are involved?

Equality in all things, I'm very much in favour.

Why not? The important thing is that they care or each other and really want to make this commitment.

Each to their own, It doesn't bother me

My views are already well known lol.

What Gwynne said ;-)

Who has the right to say who we fall in love with and want to spend
the rest of our lives with. Why shouldn't they marry, no reason I can
see. Just my opinion and I respect all others views on this matter.

Emma

I have no problem with this issue, whatsoever, although I know the churches will have, not matter what the government says.

Julia in Derbyshire

I have no problem with same sex relationships

From what I hear it is not 'marriage' that gay men want (I haven't heard any womens views first hand) It is about having the same rights as a married male/female couple when in a committed relationship. Likewise male/female couples who choose not to marry.
It's all about a piece of paper that means nothing if there is no commitment.

I think Legislation was passed some time ago about that Island,Its about having a religious Wedding in Churches that is the problem.**M**.

I don't class myself as a Christian, but surely same sex marriage goes against the beliefs of the Christian church, and I feel that same sex couples being given a full Christian ceremony does devalue the Christian traditions.
A proper, full civil marriage would give gay couples the same rights as heterosexual couples, and if their local clergy feels comfortable about it, a marriage blessing would seal their relationship.

They should have the right to choose:))
Not necessarily equality in all things though, thats a different story...me thinks.

jude :-)

Merlin, I'm just repeating what I've heard first hand. Can't speak for all of course.

Many clergy want to be able to conduct same sex marriages and are annoyed that the new legislation doesn't allow them to, it should be their choice.

As for devaluing Christian traditions - Christ had nothing to say on same sex relationships but was very much against divorce. The church has found a way to live with that so should surely be able to live with something Christ didn't condemn.

So why can't different sex couples have a civil partnership? That doesn't seem like treating everyone the same .


(Edited - sorry I had put same where I meant different) :-(

If we can have gay church officials why cannot gay couples have a church marriage?

It's not a case of being polically correct regarding the acceptance in society of gay couples over the past few decades it's about equality surely.

If churches marry straight couples who will never step inside a church again why refuse to marry a gay couple who may be committed Christians and attend church every week?

Personally I can't wait cos I want to buy a new mother of the bride outfit when my gay friend marries as I act as his 'muvver' :-D :-D