The British government on Thursday
launched a 12-week consultation on whether to legalize gay marriage
in England and Wales, the BBC
reported.
The proposal seeks to legalize marriage
for gay and lesbian couples before 2015. Gay couples in a civil
partnership, which came online in 2005, could convert their union into
a marriage. But a current ban on gay couples marrying in a religious
service would be maintained.
“We're not looking at changing
religious marriage,” said Liberal Democrat Equalities Minister
Lynne Featherstone, “even for those that might wish to do it.”
“I understand the liberal Jews, the
Quakers and some Unitarian churches would like it, but that's not in
the sight of this consultation.”
“I believe that if a couple love each
other and want to commit to a life together, they should have the
option of a civil marriage, whatever their gender,” she added.
“Marriage is a celebration of love and should be open to everyone.”
However, the Church of England
condemned the reforms, accusing the government of confusing wedding
ceremonies with marriage.
“Arguments that suggest 'religious
marriage' is separate and different from 'civil marriage,' and will
not be affected by the proposed redefinition misunderstand the legal
nature of marriage in this country. They mistake the form of the
ceremony for the institution itself.”
The Roman Catholic church in England
and Wales last weekend urged
Catholics to oppose gay nuptials.
An online
petition against the government's reforms has received more than
200,000 signatures.
Peter Tatchell, a respected gay rights
activist, called the continued ban on religious marriages for gay
couples “homophobic.”
“This is not only homophobic but also
an attack on religious freedom,” he told the BBC. “While no
religious body should be forced to conduct same-sex marriages, those
that want to conduct them should be free to do so.”