Same-Sex Marriage Will Put Catholics Under ‘Intolerable Moral Pressures’, Says Bishop [UK]

The Catholic Herald (UK) ^ | 2/6/13 | Madeleine Teahan

[marshmallow]

The legalisation of gay marriage will place Catholic professionals under “intolerable moral pressures”, the Bishop of Portsmouth has said.

Following the vote on Tuesday night, where a majority of 225 MPs voted in favour of the Government’s Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, Bishop Philip Egan said: “Just as the Church has been forced to abandon its adoption services, so too Catholics who work in the medical profession and in social services are going to find themselves under intolerable moral pressures. These pressures will also arguably be felt throughout our Catholic schools, by teachers, staff and parents.”

The bishop expressed his disappointment at the “Orwellian manner” in which Parliament had approached the issue of gay marriage. He said: “It is now clear that the Catholic view of Matrimony will in future differ markedly from what society will call marriage. One possible consequence of this is that the Church will be forced to withdraw from the civil registration of marriages.”

On behalf of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, Archbishop Peter Smith said that debate was not about equality as proponents of the Bill argued.

He said: “The Church opposes the Government’s Bill to re-define marriage. Despite claims by supporters of the Bill that the central issue is one of equality, the Bill actually seeks to re-define marriage and will have consequences for society at large.”

[livius]

One possible consequence of this is that the Church will be forced to withdraw from the civil registration of marriages.”

That's probably what will have to happen, but I'm not sure that even that will protect the Church. I don't know if the Brits have the level of "anti-discrimination" laws that we do, but most likely once "gay marriage" is proclaimed, they will be able to demand "marriage services" from the churches, even though it wouldn't mean a civil registry.

It's as if the gays have stolen the whole sacrament of marriage and even the word itself.

[I want the USA back]

The biggest enemy of the left is a church that won’t bow down, knuckle under and kiss liberal a$$. So far, the Catholic church and a few others aren’t giving in, but most have become liberal.