Same sex marriage........why not?

[di]

What about Gay Christians? Do they not have the right to be married in church? Is their 'sin' so much worse than that of a heterosexual person on their second, third, fourth sexual relationship?

I can kind of see the point that some are making, nobody should be 'forced' to do something against their moral beliefs and it could put some vicars in an awkward position, but do those vicars also check that the straight couple they are marrying haven't 'laid with' more than the one man/woman?

I struggle to understand why this supposed 'law' of the Bible is so vehemently abided by, yet others seemingly brushed under the carpet.

Also, if there's a vicar/priest/rabbi...... that wants to be able to embrace and bless/perform a same sex marriage, why not? (My Vicar has been working on rights in the church for GLBT for many years, he can't wait for the day he can marry woman to woman or man to man, to him it's the love that counts.

Something I didn't realise until a couple of weeks ago, and I may still have got it wrong(?), apparently a 'straight' couple can't have a civil partnership, so the inequality works both ways.

[janeyo]

Anyone lucky enough to find love should consider themselves fortunate indeed, and nobody should have the right to say this cannot be witnessed in the belief system of their choice.

I myself was brought up as a Roman catholic, (am now atheist by choice) and actually felt ashamed today of my RC upbringing because of the actual phrases used by the RC man (can't rememeber his name) who is advising against the same sex marriage.

I am teacher. I do not necessarily agree with some of the ways in which certain groups or even individuals are brought up, but I do not throw them out of my classroom and refuse to have them in there, it's my job to accept everybody in my profession regardless of personal beliefs! I think the people performing the ceremonies should have to do their job to the utmost of their ability when legislation comes in (as it will) despite their own personal objections. What I mean is, when you work for someone or a body you are required to follow their rules. If you are religious leader then you should have to follow the beliefs of that rather than your own ideals. Or find a new job.

[veggiechicken]

The other night i suggested to my very attractive wife, that we move a hot Brazilian woman in to spice things up a little.)

I take it your wife doesn't like anyone to interfere with her cooking!

[briggsy2011]

My friends is getting married to her partner next year in a civil wedding. She is so excited and i love to hear about her plans.

My opinon is life is to short to worry about what other people do in their own lives. As long as there is love, happiness and contentment all is good - wether straight or gay.

[boosmummy]

and I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with anything.

nope i can see that by your replies I always find it interesting to know other people opinions on such subjects, i dont agree with them per say, but your (and others) opinions and posts, that i have read tonight make me look at the subject matter in a way that i may not have considered before - so i thank you for that xx

what im trying to say is though i have my own opinion im not adverse to being open minded and learning ways of thinking xx

[Aberdeenplotter]

Boosmummy, thank you for that nice comment. I really do believe in live and let live and that the freedom of the individual to follow their own path in life is a very important right. If a priest, vicar, minister or whatever is not comfortable performing same sex marriage ceremonies, their right not to do so must be respected also.

[veggiechicken]

That just about sums it up AP, well said!

[Alison]

If a priest, vicar, minister or whatever is not comfortable performing same sex marriage ceremonies, their right not to do so must be respected also.

To take that a step further though, if the said vicar (or whatever) had a problem with mixed race relationships and didn't want to marry such a couple I would hope that everybody would quite rightly say that this was an unacceptable stance. To me this issue is exactly the same.

[di]

I think it does and doesn't...sorry

I was brought up in a Strict Baptist family, from quite a young age I started to question some of the hypocrosies I encountered. Also, struggled with why 'my' faith got me to heaven yet another religion's, equally strong, faith didn't.

My parents still have a very strong Christian faith, although now attend a Cof E church, I have nothing but respect for them and sometimes envy, their worries are in God's hands. However, and this really is not meant to cause offence to anyone, just food for thought. I always thought that one of the biggest teachings of the Bible is to not judge, that's God's job. ' Let thee that hath no sin throw the first stone'. Jesus bathed the feet of a prostitute!

Throughout all my life, my parents have been the kind of Christians I'm proud of. Never judged. My best friend n my twenties was a heroin addict/alcoholic with a young daughter, they did nothing but support, encourage and welcome her. Betwqeen me and my sisters, they've been there through everything...one sister has had multiple relationships since divorcing about eight years ago, I shoplifted laxatives from their local co op in my bullimic days, my other sister had an affair whilst married, they were all accepted (if that's the word), we certainly were never judged.....until I got a girlfriend....sorry. It's hurt so bad! What exactly is so wrong with it...why is it worse than promiscuity, why is it worse than theft? why is it worse than envying what your neighbour has? Just why?

[di]

Guess I just came out to you all

[OverWyreGrower]

Something I didn't realise until a couple of weeks ago, and I may still have got it wrong(?), apparently a 'straight' couple can't have a civil partnership, so the inequality works both ways.

We didn't get married in a church (I'm fairly anti-religion of any kind, and didn't want to be hypocritical), we got married in a hotel... I thought that was a civil ceremony - is that not the same as a civil partnership??

[Alison]

We didn't get married in a church (I'm fairly anti-religion of any kind, and didn't want to be hypocritical), we got married in a hotel... I thought that was a civil ceremony - is that not the same as a civil partnership??

That's what we did too - would have felt rubbish "using" a church with which I had no connection, just doesn't seem right. I think that the difference however is the way in which it's registered, you have a marriage cert which forms part of the birth, marriage and death records which I don't think is the case for civil partnerships - makes no sense to me to have different systems and surely in these days of cut backs it would make sense to standardise for that reason alone

[taff]

Guess I just came out to you all

bet you didn't think you'd be doing that this morning

[di]

I'm not 100% sure OWG,.just sure I heard something that 'straight' couples can't have a civil ceremony, regardless of where it's held, it's still a marriage. (I oft get the wrong end of the stick, so perhaps ignore me )

Andi and I got married in a registry Office and then had a blessing in an orchard, because neither of us are 'believers'. We both though it would be hypocritical to have a church wedding, maybe this is actually the point they should be discussing. Why make vows in front of a God you don't believe in...why allow it, there's money to be made. Not so many years ago, you had to 'prove' your christianity by attending church 'X' amount of times before being wed, is this still the case? (sorry mods)

[taff]

yup, you have to haver the banns read out 3 weeks in a row. not for all churches though, c of e does...