As other posts on this blog have indicated, much of Europe has progressed far ahead of the USA in granting all citizens equality under the civil laws. This is particularly true in the area of gay rights. Now, a political battle is brewing in the United Kingdom where religious factions - particularly certain Anglican and Catholic bishops - are resisting legislation that would further provisions banning discrimination against LGBT citizens. Of course, not all religious denominations are anti-gay and some are now alleging that they are being subjected to religious discrimination because they are not allowed to grant same sex couples full marriage and civil union recognition in their churches and synagogues. Here are some highlights from a column in The Guardian:*
Arriving in England in 2006 as an immigrant from the US, I recall clearly being awestruck and envious at Britain's forward thinking and tolerant stance toward same-sex couples. As the US continues to fight state-by-state for increased equality, Britain had moved decades ahead in a piece of exemplary legislation.
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And yet, the 2004 act included one pernicious restriction: registration of civil partnerships was prohibited from taking place on "religious premises". This prohibition was a necessary requirement to garner the support of the Church of England, who certainly worried about pressure on their local parishes and greater division within the worldwide Anglican Communion.
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Since 2004, pressure has grown to remove the ban on mixing religion and civil partnership. Three religious groups – the Unitarians, Quakers, and Liberal Jews – have come to their own decision that they must treat all couples equally and have pressed for changes to give permit them this element of religious freedom.
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A letter to The Times today from a group of senior Anglicans strongly supports the repeal of this ban. The letter labels that prohibition, and the continued opposition to its removal, as blatantly unfair to those religious movements who have concluded that their faith calls upon them to treat all couples equally. It further recognises it as discriminatory "to deny people of faith the opportunity of registering the most important promise of their lives in their willing church or synagogue."
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According to The Times, senior bishops in the Lords have now agreed to support removal of this prohibition and support Lord Alli's amendment when it is re-presented in the next few days.
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I know of several couples for whom this change will bring tears of joy, as they gain the right – taken for granted by straight couples -– to have their union recognised by law and religion in the heart of their beloved spiritual communities. This will be a day for rejoicing indeed, as we take one more step along the road to a world of justice and understanding for all.
Arriving in England in 2006 as an immigrant from the US, I recall clearly being awestruck and envious at Britain's forward thinking and tolerant stance toward same-sex couples. As the US continues to fight state-by-state for increased equality, Britain had moved decades ahead in a piece of exemplary legislation.
*
And yet, the 2004 act included one pernicious restriction: registration of civil partnerships was prohibited from taking place on "religious premises". This prohibition was a necessary requirement to garner the support of the Church of England, who certainly worried about pressure on their local parishes and greater division within the worldwide Anglican Communion.
*
Since 2004, pressure has grown to remove the ban on mixing religion and civil partnership. Three religious groups – the Unitarians, Quakers, and Liberal Jews – have come to their own decision that they must treat all couples equally and have pressed for changes to give permit them this element of religious freedom.
*
A letter to The Times today from a group of senior Anglicans strongly supports the repeal of this ban. The letter labels that prohibition, and the continued opposition to its removal, as blatantly unfair to those religious movements who have concluded that their faith calls upon them to treat all couples equally. It further recognises it as discriminatory "to deny people of faith the opportunity of registering the most important promise of their lives in their willing church or synagogue."
*
According to The Times, senior bishops in the Lords have now agreed to support removal of this prohibition and support Lord Alli's amendment when it is re-presented in the next few days.
*
I know of several couples for whom this change will bring tears of joy, as they gain the right – taken for granted by straight couples -– to have their union recognised by law and religion in the heart of their beloved spiritual communities. This will be a day for rejoicing indeed, as we take one more step along the road to a world of justice and understanding for all.
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