Gay partnerships bill creates counterfeit marriage

The House of Commons voted this evening in support of a bill calling for marriage benefits to be given to gay couples and other unmarried ‘partners’. The Relationships (Civil Registration) Bill was passed by 179 votes to 59. Although the Bill itself will not become law, gay campaigners believe it will encourage Parliament to pass a full gay marriage bill in the future.

Simon Calvert, Deputy Director of The Christian Institute, said:

“This is a sad day for the future of the family in this country. Introducing a legal framework to give the benefits of marriage to those who have actually rejected marriage is wrong.

Marriage is, by definition, the lifelong union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others. Homosexual couples have rejected the possibility of marriage by choosing a partner of the same sex. As for the idea of heterosexual couples using a state register – why don’t they just get married?

This is devaluing the currency of marriage in the law. It’s Monopoly money – not the real thing.

Marriage has been around since the world was created. All the civilised countries of the world are based upon the heterosexual married family. We need to honour and privilege marriage and encourage people to enjoy its benefits and keep its promises. It’s about time MPs understood that.

Given that there are 659 MPs, comparatively few of them voted for this measure. This is the core gay rights vote turning out in force.”

Note for Editors: The Christian Institute is a charity which seeks to promote the Christian faith in the UK and give a Christian perspective on moral and ethical issues.

Click here for a copy of The Christian Institute’s briefing on gay marriage