South Africa Churches Refuse to Conduct Gay 'Marriages'

Four Christian denominations in South Africa have confirmed they will not conduct same-sex "marriages" despite the country's legalisation of the practice last winter.

The national leadership of the Anglican Church, along with the provincial offices of the Catholic Church, Baptist Church and Presbyterian Church, all said that their clergies are not permitted to officiate or bless gay unions, according to the South African newspaper Cape Argus.

Meanwhile, the Methodist Church is wrestling with 19 of its ministers in Cape Town, South Africa over whether to conduct civil unions. The group of ministers is seeking to change the denomination's current policy of banning gay "marriages" in its churches, reported Ecumenical News International.