Proposals to lift the ban on civil partnership ceremonies being held in church were opposed by many faith organisations.
They
said the move would add to the sense of embattlement felt by Christians
when faith-based adoption agencies, registrars and even B&B owners
had been penalised for their religious views on marriage.
‘Christians
will need a great deal of reassurance that the government is not about
to do something that will make their situation even worse,’ they added.
The
groups, which include Affinity, The Christian Institute, Christian
Concern, Reform and the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches,
accused the government of ‘breaching undertakings’ that civil
partnerships would not take place in religious premises.
The Church of England has already said it will not allow its churches to be used for the ceremonies.
But the Rev Stephen Coles, a gay vicar from St Thomas’ Finsbury Park in north London, welcomed the move, saying it would encourage denominations reluctant to hold the ceremonies to think about the issues.
Equalities minister Lynne Featherstone said there was ‘a real desire’ to address the differences between civil marriage and civil partnerships.
Home secretary Theresa May added: ‘No religious group will be forced to host a civil partnership registration, but for those who wish to this is an important step forward.’