With Britain's legalization of same-sex marriage will likely also come a legal battle for the Church of England. Following the queen's blessing of gay nuptials, one couple is going to challenge at least one religious denomination that refuses to marry homosexuals.
With the Church of England and the Catholic Church refusing to opt-in to officiating same-sex marriages, Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, a well-known gay advocate, told the Essex Chronicle he is planning to challenge the former institution in court.
Barrie, who joined into a civil partnership with a man named Tony in 2006, says he's a practicing Christian who is less-than-content with the churches' views. The couple has five children.
"It is like someone giving me a sweetie with the wrapper on and telling me to suck it," he said. "We are happy for gay marriage to be recognized -- in that sense it is a big step. But it is actually a small step because it is something we still cannot actually do."
Barrie wants to convince the church that recognizing gay marriages is the right thing to do. Since he says he's a Christian and that his kids, as a result, are also practicing believers, churches, in his view, should acknowledge his union.
"I want to go into my church and marry my husband," he added. "The only way forward for us now is to make a challenge in the courts against the church."
read more http://news.yahoo.com/gay-couple-set-sue-church-england-over-refusal-180107808.html
Michael D. Shoesmith
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