Churches come under fire on "arrogant" same-sex marriage views

If the proposal goes through, then civil partnerships for gay and lesbian couples could become ‘marriages’ if they wish them to, although religious groups would not be forced to carry out gay marriage ceremonies and heterosexual couples would not be given the option of choosing a civil partnership instead of a marriage.
While Newbury’s Conservative MP Richard Benyon said that he had no problem with the idea of same-sex marriage, neither has he displayed overt support nor objection to the Government’s proposal. He said this week that churches should be encouraging people to respond to the consultation.
“It’s very important; it’s not about forcing religious faiths to marry same-sex couples if they don’t want to,” he said.
He added that the Government was seeking opinion over the issue.
Last week several West Berkshire churches, including Thatcham Free Church and Thatcham Baptist Church, said that they wanted as many people as possible to sign the national Coalition for Marriage petition against the Government’s proposals, which as of yesterday afternoon (Wednesday) contained 252,781 signatures.
The Rev David Crowther and his wife Sally, of Thatcham Free Church, said that they had also started a petition against same-sex marriage at the Green Lane church.
Mrs Crowther said last week: “We don’t want to be persecutory of those who see a deviant way as a right way but we feel very strongly about it.”
Many Newbury Weekly News readers have reacted angrily to the churches’ views and posted their comments on the Newbury-Today website.
Maryann wrote: “I have many friends and family members who are either gay or bisexual with children and have found them to be well-founded and adjusted people as a man and woman marriage. This is clearly bible reading gone mad.”
Dauntingllama wrote: “These people need to stop, look at themselves and realize that gay marriage is a perfectly natural thing and to stop making up rules for the sake of rules.”
Freedomofspeech wrote: “It’s all arrogance and I feel ashamed to live in such a community of disapproval.”
Stephanie Smith-Browne, a spokeswoman for Gay Berkshire, said: “As a county-wide group that aims to give a stronger voice to all of Berkshire’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, we are concerned that those members of our LGBT community who are committed to one another and believe that their wellbeing is enhanced by marriage and wish to enter into marriage, are not constrained or prohibited because they are of the same sex or gender identity.”
Anyone wishing to have a say in the Government’s public consultation should visit www.homeoffice.gov.uk