Tags: Marriage equality
It’s time for one marriage law for all
Posted: Tue, 07 Jul 2020 by Megan Manson
A new High Court challenge to get humanist marriages legally recognised in England and Wales gives us an opportunity to consider how to reform our marriage laws for greater simplicity, equality and freedom, says Megan Manson. Read More »
Don’t let mixed-sex civil partnerships distract from the need for marriage reform
Posted: Wed, 03 Oct 2018 by Chris Sloggett
Campaigners' elation at the arrival of opposite-sex civil partnerships is understandable, says Chris Sloggett. But beware politicians using it to excuse their failure to loosen the Church of England's grip on marriage.
It's hard to begrudge Rebecca Steinfeld... Read More »
Just how equal is marriage now?
Posted: Sun, 10 Jun 2018 by Megan Manson
After the NSS revealed the extra hassle and expense involved in arranging same-sex and non-religious weddings in England and Wales, Megan Manson calls for marriage to be made a civil affair in the eyes of the law.
The institution of marriage has radically transformed.... Read More »
The Catholic Church is now paying the price for its past in Ireland
Posted: Tue, 26 May 2015 by Keith Porteous Wood
NSS executive director Keith Porteous Wood welcomes the Irish referendum result on marriage equality and argues that the Catholic Church's appalling recent history in Ireland shows it deserves to be discredited- as it now has been, by the overwhelming referendum... Read More »
Irish same-sex marriage – is the Church trying to blackmail the state?
Posted: Fri, 17 Apr 2015 by Keith Porteous Wood
The Roman Catholic Church in Ireland has threatened to stop civil marriage registration if Irish law is changed to allow same sex marriages. Keith Porteous Wood argues that if it were to carry out its threat, it could inflict more harm on the Church than any... Read More »
On homophobia and racism
Posted: Thu, 29 Aug 2013 by Terry Sanderson
Two weeks ago the Archbishop of Canterbury was in Monterrey, Mexico where he delivered a sermon to the effect that Anglicanism is standing on a precipice and risks falling into a "ravine of intolerance".
Mr Welby said the Church had to steer a course between,... Read More »
Same Sex Marriage Act - time to separate religion from politics
Posted: Tue, 23 Jul 2013 by Keith Porteous Wood
The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill has passed with overwhelming support. It has done little more than re-brand civil partnerships, but symbolically its passing was a breath-taking moment of the zeitgeist, writes Keith Porteous Wood.
Even the leadership of... Read More »
The Same-Sex Marriage Bill delivers a blow to the bishops in the House of Lords
Posted: Wed, 05 Jun 2013 by Terry Sanderson
So, the prospect of gay marriage took a mighty leap forward in the House of Lords this week as the intended "wrecking amendment" was itself wrecked by a steamrolling 242 majority against.
During the two-day debate leading up to the vote, their Lordships kept... Read More »
Better the muddle you know: Disestablishment and gay marriage
Posted: Mon, 03 Jun 2013 by Theo Hobson
If, as looks very likely, gay marriage becomes law, the established Church will be opposed to the law of the land in a way that is surely unprecedented. The Church itself hinted at this last summer, hoping to dissuade the Government from moving ahead on the... Read More »
You can’t do that – it’s against my religion
Posted: Fri, 31 May 2013 by Margot Fernandez
As the Same-Sex Marriage Bill reaches the House of Lords, Margot Fernandez writes about the American experience of religion trying to dictate the law.
"You can't get married – it's against my religion!"
That's pretty much a summary of the arguments against... Read More »
Catholic magazine says Same Sex Marriage Bill will disestablish the Church of England
Posted: Wed, 29 May 2013 by Terry Sanderson
The Catholic weekly magazine The Tablet carried an editorial in its 25 May edition predicting that the legalisation of gay marriage will weaken, if not completely end, the establishment of the Church of England.
The paper says that:
"It is as if the nation is... Read More »
Same-sex marriage – is Cameron’s commitment wobbling?
Posted: Thu, 16 May 2013 by Terry Sanderson
When the issue of same-sex marriage began to arise around the world, the Catholic Church foolishly decided that it would make opposition to it a main plank in its attempts to revive itself. Allied with the Religious Right in America it thought it had a real... Read More »
Edward Leigh’s Bill to put religious conscience opt-out into Equality Act is doomed
Posted: Fri, 01 Feb 2013 by Keith Porteous Wood
By Keith Porteous Wood, executive director of the National Secular Society
A ten-minute rule Bill — the Equality (Marriage) (Amendment) Bill — was introduced in the House of Commons on 29 January 2013. Its aim is to amend the Equality Act to add... Read More »
French confrontation of church and state over gay marriage
Posted: Thu, 13 Dec 2012 by Catherine Le Fur
By Catherine Le Fur
The Law Commission of the French parliament held a hearing on 29 November to listen to representations from six religious leaders (Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Orthodox and Buddhist) on the Government's plans to legalise same-sex... Read More »
Stonewall is right – the Cardinal is a bigot
Posted: Fri, 02 Nov 2012 by Terry Sanderson
By Terry Sanderson, NSS President
The LGBT rights group Stonewall is under mounting attack for nominating Cardinal Keith O'Brien as "Bigot of the Year" at its awards ceremony this week.
Politicians – such as Alec Salmond – who are petrified of upsetting... Read More »
Are parliament’s theocrats about to have their day?
Posted: Mon, 10 Sep 2012 by Terry Sanderson
When the Conservative-led coalition Government came to power at the last election we braced ourselves for a raised profile for religion in matters of state.
What transpired, though, were several confrontations between religious groups and Mr Cameron's "modernising"... Read More »
Gay marriage promised in Scotland – but Church wrangles concessions in schools
Posted: Wed, 25 Jul 2012 by Alistair McBay
So, after one of the largest responses to a consultation ever recorded, the Scottish Government has announced that it intends to legislate to allow same sex marriage.
Aside from recognising the huge significance in this for a long oppressed section of the community,... Read More »
Why the Church must not win in this confrontation with the state
Posted: Tue, 12 Jun 2012 by Terry Sanderson
The Church of England has thrown down the gauntlet to the Government over the issue of gay marriage.
The message is clear: "do as we say or there will be dire consequences."
Their response to the Government consultation on its intention to legalise civil marriages... Read More »
Advertising watchdog threatens to martyr Archbishop Cranmer all over again
Posted: Mon, 14 May 2012 by National Secular Society
The rather eccentric Christian blogger Archbishop Cranmer is under investigation by the Advertising Standards Authority after he reproduced an advertisement from the group "Coalition for Marriage" which is seeking to thwart the Government's plans to legalise... Read More »
The battle against gay marriage causes deep divisions in politics and religion
Posted: Wed, 02 May 2012 by Tessa Kendall
The Pope's representative in Britain has urged Roman Catholic leaders to form a united front with their Muslim and Jewish counterparts in his Church's latest attempt to prevent gay marriage.
The Catholic Church's position is causing ever-deeper rifts among... Read More »
Confrontation over gay marriage could change the relationship between religion and the state
Posted: Wed, 07 Mar 2012 by Terry Sanderson
It's happening all around the world. An increasingly politicised Catholic Church is manufacturing confrontations with governments in an effort to increase its influence and revitalise its dwindling flocks.
It is clear from what the Pope has been saying over... Read More »
Homophobia and the rise of Britain’s religious right
Posted: Wed, 07 Mar 2012 by Adrian Tippetts
With the blaze of publicity at its launch, smooth-talking media spokespeople and petition raising efforts, the campaign against marriage equality by the Coalition For Marriage has been executed with the kind of coordination, discipline and creativity that... Read More »
