Gay rights?

Recently the government has decided to bring in legislation which will allow homosexuals the right to 'marry' in a church building. It is argued by some it should be the right of anyone who wants to get married to marry wherever they like. And because of equality legislation, these people should not be discriminated against. Most people I know do not have an issue with homosexuals, I don't either, what these people do in the privacy of their own homes is up to them. What I have a problem with is the drive to normalise homosexuality, and this drive has almost become religious in its intensity.

A number of years ago homosexuals were given the right to enter into civil partnerships, with very little outcry from the established church. I do not what to enter the debate about the rights and wrongs of homosexuals being able to 'marry', but what concerns me with this piece of legislation is what could happen if a homosexual couple want to get 'married' in a church but the vicar refuses. The government has said that the legislation allows for religious beliefs, and churches will not be forced to allow this to happen, but for how long?

What if a homosexual couple want to 'marry' in their local Anglican church and the vicar refuses, will we then see the church taken to court? The government says this won't happen but as has happened before, many within the 'gay rights' movement who act like religious zealots will see this as discrimination and will then try to dismantle this last bastion of traditional beliefs.

Recently a Christian couple were taken to court and sued because they would not allow a homosexual couple to have a room with a double bed in their B&B. You could argue this is a different case, but I don't think it is. This couple had religious beliefs that did not allow them to condone homosexuality, likewise many Christians feel the same as this couple including many church ministers. What if a homosexual couple wanted to get married in a church and went to court, and used the recent equality legislation could we not see the same result as the above case? I think we could, and as a Christian that really concerns me.

One thing that really bothers me about this legislation is the simple question of why? Why do the government feel they need to push forward this piece of legislation? Were there any homosexuals complaining about not being able to get 'married' in a church? Does every homosexual couple feel it is an issue that they are denied this 'right'? Probably not, so what is the reason behind it?

For the past 40 years there has been a gradual undermining of the traditional values that have underpinned this country, and the two main ones have been the church and the traditional two parent heterosexual family. I believe the drive to destroy these traditions is gathering pace and this is another nail in that coffin. I wonder where we will end up? Will we end up with a situation were I will not even be able to write what I am writing here for fear of prosecution or imprisonment? I do not think we are too far away from that stage. You might say it won't come to that but don't be too sure.

Just one other point, does this legislation include getting married in mosques?