Typical indecisive liberal Libran, I’m all in a silly tizz. I just can’t make my mind up about the Government’s marriage equality law. Just for the record, the proposal is to legalise same sex civil marriage (a good thing) but will enshrine in the Law the notion that religious marriage is only between a man and a women (a bad thing). Presumably, this is a typically British fudge to placate the lofty preachy men who’ve got their cassocks in a twist. One minute I think I just can’t support this daft nonsense that will introduce a kind of marriage apartheid. The next minute I think that this is a step in the right direction. Maybe it won’t matter as the Government seem to be running scared of the blue-rinse brigade and getting cold feet anyway. The proposed Act has been kicked into the long grass by being dropped from this year’s Queen’s Speech which sets out the Government’s legislative agenda for the coming Parliamentary session. This smacks of political cowardice. It will be left to the Scots (as usual) to lead the equalities charge.
The law may eventually pass and, if it does, I suspect the dust will settle and people will wonder what all the fuss was about. Perhaps an amendment will then be carried to remove the discriminatory religious marriage clause and allow all those religious organisations who wish to conduct ceremonies for same sex couples to do so. Maybe then the preachy men will turn their attention to something more worthwhile like world peace and eradicating child abuse.
Interestingly, in Turkey, a Muslim majority country, religious marriage is not recognised by the State. As a secular republic, anyone wishing to marry (that’s opposite sex couples only, obviously) must do so in a State registry office. Those who are religious have their union blessed by an imam, priest, rabbi, etc.
While the debate rages on, take a look at the video of men in uniforms.
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Perking the Pansies 
Jack, you are not silly! I’m a silly Arian, which is much worse… It seems to me that the English politicians are avoiding the issue. They don’t want to offend the preachy ones (and you are right, they should focus on more pressing moral issues, such as child abuse, racism, inequality etc… But believe me, in Jamaica all “The Church” makes a fuss about is gambling, horse racing on Sundays, and homosexuality…with our huge social problems!) And they don’t want to offend gays either so they think they can just wimp their way through. But what is wrong with having a civil marriage, and then having it blessed afterwards? That’s what my husband and I did! Why can’t YOU do the same? It IS apartheid…if it ever happens at all…
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It will happen, I’m sure. The tide of history is against them. This is why the top brass are becoming more and more hysterical.
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Come on Jack, the ‘State/Legislation’ effects everybody – the ‘Church’ is a members only club, just like the golf club. They can pick and choose their membership as thay wish – if you don’t like their Blimpish rules/attitudes find another! Anyway, they are becoming ever more irrelevent – and a good thing too!
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I shall fight them on the beaches (if it ever stops raining, that is).
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You can fight in the rain. Nice and muddy on the beach. They will get all bogged down in their cassocks… 🙂
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😉
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I’m trying to work out how this happens legally, though. Does it mean if a church performs a wedding they get in trouble (American laws about Church and state are different, I think, so forgive my ignorance)? Or does it mean a minister just doesn’t have the right to sign off on the marriage documents?
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It means that it won’t be recognised in Law and the poor priest will probably get a dressing down by the top brass in dresses 😉
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I do love your political observations, puns and silliness, humor and poignancy all mashed together in what then becomes a simple case of ‘why the heck not??’ Sometimes we humans just make things so much harder than they have to be…sigh
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Thank you, Linda. I do try to inject a little humour otherwise I might come across a bit preachy!
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Hi Jack, Just to let you know that up here, in chilly Scotland, the plan is to legalise both civil and religious same-sex marriage ceremonies. It’ll be interesting if this goes through: what will be the legal status of a couple religiously married in Scotland who subsequently move south? I smell a supreme court case in the making if the Scottish Government goes ahead as I hope it will.
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I’ve been following the Scottish approach to this quite closely. The same thought occurred to me. I’ve also read about Cardinal whatshisface getting his knickers in a twist. The poor man will have a seizure if he doesn’t calm down 🙂
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Oh Clunky (Cardınal o Brıen) ıs of course faffıng he ıs after all terrıbly ambıtıous. However there are enough of us faır mınded folk who are exertıng ınfluence ın Scotland. Keep up the dıalogue Jackş every sentence counts and those that are moderate even more valued.
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Thanks, Laura. I shall not be silenced 😉
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Utter bullshit. Equality isn’t “equality but…”
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