Singer Sir Elton John believes Jesus
would have supported allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry.
During an appearance on Sky News'
Murnaghan, John discussed plans for his upcoming marriage to
partner David Furnish with host Dermott Murnaghan. John and Furnish
are in a civil partnership and raising two sons.
“We can't get married this year
because we had a civil partnership and I think the government kind of
messed that one up so we can't get married until next year,” John
said. “However when we do do it, it will be very quiet and very
off the cuff. We had our big shebang when we had our civil union but
we will and it is a great opportunity to take advantage of the new
laws and to celebrate it. We are very lucky in this country to have
that advantage and that position to be in, of being able to marry
your partner. It's a huge way, we’ve come a long, long way and for
that the church deserves credit.”
“Do you ever think the Church should
allow its clergy, same sex clergy, to get married?” Murnaghan
asked.
“Of course,” John answered, “and
I don't see why Catholic priests have to be celibate, it's crazy.
These are old and stupid things and the church hierarchy might be up
in arms about it, the traditionalists, but times have changed, we
live in a different time. If Jesus Christ was alive today I cannot
see him as the Christian person that he was and the great person that
he was, saying this could not happen. He was all about love and
compassion and forgiveness and trying to bring people together and
that's what the church should be about.”