"I am in favour of gay marriage": David Cameron backing laws for same-sex weddings in church

David Cameron wants gay couples to be able to marry in churches and other religious buildings, he said today.

The Prime Minister is backing proposed laws on same sex weddings which will be unveiled next week.

He also assured religious leaders they will retain the right not to conduct gay marriages.

Mr Cameron said: ?I am in favour of gay marriage. I am a massive supporter of marriage and I don?t want gay people excluded from a great institution.

?But let me be absolutely, 100% clear, that if any church, or any synagogue, or any mosque does not want gay marriage then it absolutely should not be forced to hold it ? that is absolutely clear in the legislation.?

The new laws would give gay couples the same rights as heterosexual husbands and wives.

They have been opposed by some religious groups over fears they would have to conduct the marriages.

But they are supported by most Labour, Lib Dem and Conservative MPs.

Tories will be given a free vote on the issue in Parliament next year, the PM added.

Some Conservatives claim human rights laws mean churches will be forced into performing gay ceremonies whether they want to or not.

MP Bob Blackman said there would be ?outrage throughout the country?.

?For the majority of our supporters out in the country, marriage is between one man and one woman,? he said.

?And so changes to the definition of marriage are not appreciated and I think are not strongly supported.?

Fellow backbencher Stewart Jackson branded he PM ?arrogant? and predicted that the Gay Marriage Bill ?will be massacred in the Lords?.

Mark Pritchard said gay marriage was as big an issue with the party?s grassroots as Europe, adding: ?Number 10 should hear the alarm bells.?

Deputy PM Nick Clegg agreed no church or other place of worship should be made to hold same sex wedding if they object to them.

But the Lib Dem leader added: ?I do think it?s time that we allow any couple, no matter who they are, to marry if that?s what they want to do.?

Reaction

The news drew strong responses from both sides, with the Church of England reiterating its opposition.

"The uniqueness of marriage is that it embodies the underlying, objective, distinctiveness of men and women," a statement said.

"To change the nature of marriage for everyone will be divisive and deliver no obvious legal gains given the rights already conferred by civil partnerships."

Colin Hart, campaign director for the Coalition For Marriage , which opposes same-sex marriage, said the decision to press ahead with changes was "deeply disappointing and regrettable".

"What is even more alarming is the PM has gone back on his promises that churches will be protected.

"The suggestion that by creating an 'opt-in system' you somehow prevent churches, mosques and synagogues being sued is risible," he added.

Benjamin Cohen, of campaign group Out4Marriage , said: "Legislation must give individual religious organisations the freedom to decide for themselves whether to hold same-sex marriages.

"None should be forced to, but those that wish to must be given the rights to do so."

Paul Parker, recording clerk for Quakers in Britain , said: "Quakers have been discussing sexuality for 50 years and in 2009 that led us to seek a change in the law so that all marriages in Quaker meeting houses, of whatever sex, can be prepared, celebrated, witnessed, reported to the state, and recognised as legally valid, without further process.

"We are waiting for the law to catch up. For Quakers, this is an issue of religious freedom and we don't seek to impose this on others."

Rachel Robinson, of civil liberties group Liberty , said: ?These proposals provide the right balance between religious freedom and equality, both of which are protected under our Human Rights Act.

"They would finally afford equal respect and recognition to the commitment made by same-sex couples while preserving religious groups? freedom of choice.?

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Source: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-backs-gay-marriage-1478684

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