“Marriage is not a man-made institution that politicians can tinker with,” says Andrea Williams of Christian Concern who has criticised the Culture Secretary, Maria Miller, for suggesting that the Marriage (Same Sex) Couples Act 2013 is just another step in the evolution of marriage.
Andrea says the minister fails to understand that marriage was divinely instituted by God as the unique union of one man and one woman. “Maria Miller mistakenly thinks in secular terms and applies the theory of evolution to marriage. But marriage as divined by God is constant and that is its strength in underpinning society.”
She also criticises the government for rushing through the Royal Assent for the controversial legislation with “unseemly haste”.
First weddings
The first same-sex weddings in England and Wales can take place from 29 March next year, speeded through some months earlier than expected by the coalition government which has been anxious to please the homosexual lobby and its supporters, in the run-up to the next election in 2015.
It had been expected that homosexual couples would have to wait until the summer of 2014 to tie the knot. Those wishing to be first in line need to give notice to ‘marry’ on 13th March 2014.
False premise
“The introduction of the Same Sex Marriage Bill was made on a false premise – that homosexuals were being discriminated against,” said Andrea.
“This is absurd. Marriage, particularly for Christians, was only ever intended as the union of two people of complementary genders. This unique union is both spiritually and socially the intention of marriage.
“Just because two people of one gender say they love one another is not justification to extend the definition of marriage to cover their relationship. Many people fall in love but that in itself does not constitute covenant marriage. When the state tries to redefine marriage to accommodate different types of relationships, we must ask ourselves, where might it all end?”
Sanctity
Andrea says Maria Miller deludes herself by declaring same-sex marriage upholds “one of our most important institutions”.
“She does not realise that the traditional institution of marriage between one man and one woman is what has underpinned stability for children, families and society itself – not a pick and mix variation of legalised relationships.
“The sanctity of Christian marriage is distinctly different from the politically-manufactured contract this government has imposed on a country which should have been given the opportunity to vote in a referendum – marriage is a much, much bigger issue than membership of the EU,” adds Andrea.