The Church of England has issued a briefing for MPs stating its opposition to the Government’s Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill.
Unforeseen consequences
The briefing, published today, states that “The Church of England cannot support the Bill, because of its concern for the uncertain and unforeseen consequences for wider society and the common good, when marriage is redefined in gender-neutral terms”.
The report also outlines concerns regarding the freedom of CofE schools to teach the traditional view of marriage and the rights of Christian registrars to opt out of conducting same sex marriages.
Regarding registrars it says: “We do not believe it would be acceptable for marriage registrars who are in post prior to the Bill’s enactment to face disciplinary actions or redundancy (voluntary or involuntary) simply as a result of their conscientious views on marriage”.
Christian conscience
A letter signed by a group of church leaders has also warned of the effects of the Bill on the future prospects of Christian young people.
The letter, signed by Catholic, Anglican and independent evangelical pastors, says that young Christians will be forced to “choose between their conscience and their career”.
The signatories represent churches containing a total of 150,000 people, with at least a third of these being young people.
The church leaders also said: “If the Bill passes into law without much clearer protections for freedom of speech and freedom of belief, teachers, and public sector workers will have to choose between their conscience and their career; many will be deterred from a public service career and from charity involvement.”
The Rev Charlie Skrine of St Helen’s Bishopsgate said: “The bill seeks to protect the consciences of vicars, but many public professions will be weakened if these young people are deterred from entering them for fear of legal action and discrimination if they express a biblical view of marriage.”
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