should Churches be forced to carry out marriages?
 

now that gay marriage is legal and starts tomorrow

should any church that says they wont varry out gay marriage ceremonies be prosecuted?

Oooof... that's a minefield :/

No... churches shouldn't be forced to do anything

I think that gay marriage should be legal, but I also think it should be up to that church whether they allow a gay couple to get married in their church. If they don't agree, I don't think there's anything wrong with that...

No. What a silly question.

The legal and religious sides to marriage have and always will be separate things.

eh, there're so many "why should they be forced to" comments I keep seeing and I just think of those hotel-owners who refused to accommodate that gay couple... was that okay? was that any different? is there much of a gap between business and church?

Yep

That will be the unpopular opinion but yep

Why would gay people want to get married in a church if that particular religion is entirely against them and their life? :shrug:

You could force them to carry out a gay marriage but it still entirely contradicts that religion, their belief system etc.

You don't need a church service to be officially married so why would you want one?

Why anyone would want to get married in a place that was "forced" to marry them is beyond me. It should be up to the individual church and vicar IMO as it is when they decide if they will marry people who have been previously divorced, many won't marry couples if either party has been married before. I don't think there should be a blanket ban or a blanket forced acceptance

They are like a Church
so yes

But they do not care
and will Block Gays
as its not part of their Church Life

imagine how many gay couples will be told at their local church, sorry we dont marry gay people here....dont you think some of those couples will take offence and take legal action?

No, besides prosecuted under what legislation ?

All to the above if it against that particular Churches doctrine, then no they should not be forced.

The Hotel issue is a bit different as that is a business open to the public. Whilst most churches welcome the public there are certain aspects of the service that people cannot participate in if not baptised etc.

Is there that many
wanting to get married?

I dont know why any self respecting gay couple would ever want to be married in a horrid church and all the lies and superstition that it represents.

I think that we should pull churches down and build proper community buildings for marriages and funerals that are religion free and open for everyone.

Its time to pull marriage and death away from religion

If a church wants to, then it's up to them. As soon as you force them to through legislation, you're going to have to make all the other temples, mosques, synagogues etc. follow suit.

Gay marriage in a mosque would be more aesthetically pleasing as its more showbizzy

And there you have it, the main reason people want to marry in church. Not because they are believers, but because it's all part of the "event".

Well I guess churches are allowed to refuse to marry previously divorced people and a hotel would probably be sued for refusing to accommodate previously divorced cuples, so yeah there is a big difference between business and church. I'm not saying I agree with that but then there's plenty of things about the Church i don't agree with

I think the council treat them like a business as on Rev the other night the church was issued with a warning about their electrical wiring and Adam Smallbone said "I wish the council would stop treating us like a business"

We have had this debate in a previous thread and I think most people agreed that same sex marriage must be legal and on a par with heterosexual marriage.

As regards forcing established churches to marry same sex couples then I think that will take a lot longer to achieve. Established churches will stay true to their scripture/doctrines regardless of how out of touch they may be. They will resist same sex marriages and as the majority of their parishoners will support this they will feel entirely justified in doing so, and no Govt can force through law a change like this.

I think it would be better for all parties if the same sex couple could worship in a church that welcomed all people and was not mired in outdated religious Dogma.

I feel the same way. I don't really think they should be allowed to hide behind religion to justify discriminating against people.

I mean how would people react if the Catholic Church turned around tomorrow and said they refuse to marry interracial couples? There would be complete backlash and outrage, no-one would have it.

The Catholic Church is filled with isms though Niall, how about women not allowed to become priests? That's total sexism if that was a practice in the "real world of business" there would be complete outrage and public backlash but where is the outrage and backlash against it being done in the catholic Church? Fact is religions are a law onto themselves

Listening to a superb interview with the real Philomena yesterday I can confirm that and its still going on. Ireland needs to kick that vile church out of its whole island

This is more or less my opinion... I have no idea why anyone would want to get married somewhere that isn't accepting of them and their relationship. I think it's inevitable that some churches will embrace the concept with open arms, and also that in all likelihood new churches will spring up specifically with an "all welcome" message... anyone in a same-sex partnership who wants a religious ceremony will have options, so no, I don't think there's any need for it to be forced. I mean, where do you draw the line otherwise? Must protestants be allowed to marry in Catholic churches? Or completely non-religious people be allowed to marry in a Mosque (because let's face it, some of them are aesthetically stunning...).

But yes, my basic thoughts are, why would anyone WANT to get married anywhere other than a place that falls in line with their own beliefs and values?

If there were to be some sort of law allowing people to get married WHERE they want, which I don't think would be entirely unfair, especially in small communities where there are only one or two churches, then it should be a "venue only" stipulation. As in, you can have use of the venue for the wedding but you can't "force" the vicar / priest / whoever to perform the ceremony and would have to arrange separately for another to travel there and carry out the ceremony. I think that seems like a fair enough compromise.