A senior British clergyman has attacked the Civil Partnership Act just before the controversial legislation comes into effect. The Welsh churchman has warned that civil partnerships will undermine the institution of marriage.
The Civil Partnership Act will come into force today, Monday Dec. 5th, and will give gay couples equal positions in tax and inheritance rights as heterosexual married couples enjoy.However, even though the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cardiff has nothing against giving extra monetary rights to gay couples, he warns that the new law will also have very negative consequences.
Rev Peter Smith said, “What the Government should do in terms of public policy is support marriage rather than undermine it. To put beside marriage an alternative or what appears to be a perfectly approved legal alternative lifestyle I think does not help the institution of marriage at all.”
From Dec. 5th, 2005, homosexual couples will be able to start registering themselves for a legally-binding union, which is very much equal to marriage in most senses except the title.
After registration commences, the first civil partnership ceremonies will start taking place from Dec. 21st.
Reports are saying that Britain is expecting some 16,000 homosexual couples to use the new law by 2010.
Britain is following in similar footsteps as countries such as Holland, which has not only gay marriage but also gay divorce laws in place. Historically Catholic Spain, Canada and also now South Africa have also allowed civil partnerships. Although, none of the countries will adopt the title “marriage” to the unions, they do allow gay partners the same tax and benefits as heterosexual couples.The Church of England over the past few months has come under heavy criticism for its compromise on the position bishops should take towards the new laws.
The Evangelical Council, which is the umbrella organisation for the evangelical groups within the Church, demanded in August that the Church’s attempts to compromise with the government’s civil partnerships legislation should be withdrawn immediately.
