European Court of Human Rights

The ability for same-sex couples to ‘marry’ is not a human right  European judges have ruled.

The landmark decision comes only days after the UK Government opened a consultation on the implementation of gay ‘marriage’, based on their belief that same-sex couples in the UK are being deprived of a human right.

The case went before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg after the French lesbian couple, Valerie Gas and Nathalie Dubois, complained that they were being discriminating against by not being able to adopt an 11 year-old as a couple.

The judges declared that those in a same-sex partnership cannot be expected to have the same rights and privileges as married couples, adding, “With regard to married couples, the court considers that in view of the social, personal, and legal consequences of marriage, the applicants’ legal situation could not be said to be comparable to that of married couples.”

Although defenders of traditional marriage heralded the ruling as a victory, it was actually a mixed blessing. The ruling also said that if same-sex couples are allowed to marry, then any church that refuses to offer wedding services to them will be guilty of discrimination.

“Where national legislation recognises registered partnerships between same sex,” the judges said, “member states should aim to ensure that their legal status and their rights and obligations are equivalent to those of heterosexual couples in a similar situation.”

This announcement contradicts Coalition promises that churches will not be compelled to conduct homosexual weddings under Government’s gay ‘marriage’ plans. It confirms what Church of England lawyers have already understood from analyzing equality legislation, namely that if same-sex ‘marriages’ are legalized, then equality law is likely to force churches to fall into line and perform the wedding ceremonies.

Stephen Green, National Director of Christian Voice, said:

‘This ruling has massive implications for theUK.  Peter and Hazlemary Bull were held to have discriminated against a homosexual couple to whom they would not let a double bed, even though they had the same policy for unmarried heterosexual couples, on the grounds that civil partnership was equivalent to marriage. TheEuropean Courthas ruled that it isn’t.

‘In addition, David Cameron has promoted his plans for ‘gay marriage’ on human rights grounds.  That argument can no longer stand.’

Discrimination law specialist Neil Addison commented on the implications of the ruling:

‘Once same-sex marriage has been legalised then the partners to such a marriage are entitled to exactly the same rights as partners in a heterosexual marriage. This means that if same-sex marriage is legalised in theUKit will be illegal for the Government to prevent such marriages happening in religious premises.’

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7 COMMENTS

  2. Who cares about puppet man camerons legislation and laws being passed to suppress the christian way off life, this is not about equality for people, its all part of the “big plan” to stamp out christianity, its time we stood up to these liars in power and told them to stick their christian discriminating laws, what are they gonna do? arrest 60% of the population, i for one take my values and standards from the bible and no man will tell me different