Constituents concerned about reports that peers
will be tabling amendments to the Civil Partnerships Bill to compel churches to
carry out same sex weddings have got in touch to ask if I would voice my
opposition against these proposals.
An attempt to remove the exemption of the Church of
England from same-sex marriage in churches was made in the House of Lords
earlier this month.
Lord Faulkner, a Labour peer, attempted to remove
the exemption for members of the clergy to solemnise the marriage of a same-sex
couple
However, following an indication from the
Government that it will not support the amendment, Lord Faulkner withdrew his
amendment.
Baroness Williams, Minister for Equalities, said
that it was “not for the Government to mandate this through regulations”.
The Government rightly recognises that a wider
debate about the nature of marriage is going on right across society and indeed
within the Church.
The bill is due to receive its report stage in the
House of Lords in March and I am aware that Lord Faulkner has said that he will
table his amendment again then.
While as an Member of Parliament who sit in the
Commons I cannot influence the proceedings in the other chamber, I will be
monitoring the bill’s progress closely and will not hold back on making my
views known whenever it is necessary to do so.
