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Institute
Update Issue 2 - May 2002
Government review on ‘Civil Partnerships’
Pressure is mounting to give homosexual and cohabiting couples the same legal rights as married couples. The Government has set up a 60-strong team of civil servants to review the financial and administrative implications. The Government’s review follows pressure created by Lord Lester’s Civil Partnerships Bill in January. Lord Lester was helped by the gay lobby group, Stonewall. Although his private members’ bill was dropped, the review now poses a serious threat to the status of marriage.
The Government may be deterred by the considerable cost to the treasury of giving benefits to two people in a ‘civil partnership’. The Christian Institute also argued that marriage should be protected due to its unique benefits to society, and that civil partnerships would devalue marriage. The Institute published a briefing, Counterfeit Marriage, which sets out the key points.
The Government’s civil partnerships review may also recommend giving adoption rights to unmarried couples, which could include adoption by homosexual couples. Parliament is currently considering the Adoption and Children Bill. Some MPs want the bill amended to allow adoption by any two people who live together.
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Government review on ‘Civil Partnerships’
Pressure is mounting to give homosexual and cohabiting couples the same legal rights as married couples. The Government has set up a 60-strong team of civil servants to review the financial and administrative implications. The Government’s review follows pressure created by Lord Lester’s Civil Partnerships Bill in January. Lord Lester was helped by the gay lobby group, Stonewall. Although his private members’ bill was dropped, the review now poses a serious threat to the status of marriage.
The Government may be deterred by the considerable cost to the treasury of giving benefits to two people in a ‘civil partnership’. The Christian Institute also argued that marriage should be protected due to its unique benefits to society, and that civil partnerships would devalue marriage. The Institute published a briefing, Counterfeit Marriage, which sets out the key points.
The Government’s civil partnerships review may also recommend giving adoption rights to unmarried couples, which could include adoption by homosexual couples. Parliament is currently considering the Adoption and Children Bill. Some MPs want the bill amended to allow adoption by any two people who live together.
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