Ed Miliband, the Labour Party leader, has voiced his support for redefining marriage and has said that he would like to see ‘faith groups’ able to perform same-sex ‘marriages’.
The Labour leader made his comments in a video for the Out4Marriage campaign, a group campaigning for the redefinition of marriage.
Mr Miliband said: “"I think, whether you are gay or straight, you should be able to signify your commitment, your love with the term 'marriage', and so the Labour Party provides its wholehearted support for this campaign.
"We will be pushing the Government to get on with the process for legislating for equal marriage, and we'll also be saying to them, where faith groups want to provide that opportunity for gay couples as well as straight couples, they should be able to do so”.
The Government has promised to change the law to redefine marriage by the next general election in 2015.
The Prime Minister is also a known supporter of redefining marriage, stating at the Conservative Party conference last year: “I don’t support gay marriage despite being a Conservative. I support gay marriage because I’m a Conservative”.
However, he has come under pressure recently to push through the legislation after facing opposition from members in his own party and a significant public backlash.
Comment
Andrea Minichiello Williams, CEO of Christian Concern, said:
“Mr Miliband’s comments contain well-worn phrases which hide the reality of the effects that redefining marriage will have.
“When it comes to allowing churches to perform same-sex ‘marriages’, permission will become coercion. Those churches which continue to practice biblical teaching on marriage will feel immense pressure to conform to the State’s new definition.
“It is time for politicians to stop and think clearly about the effects that a redefinition of marriage will have. The evidence shows that marriage between one man and one woman is good for individuals, good for children and good for society”.
Source
Resources
Christian Concern: Sexual Orientation