Scottish Catholic Observer

David Cameron’s plans to legalise same-sex ‘marriage’ in England and Wales fell foul of scrutiny at a 1000-strong meeting at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham last week, with a former Archbishop of Canterbury warning opponents they risked ‘Nazi’ persecution.

Alongside other notable Christian representatives, including former minister and high profile Catholic Ann Widdecombe, Lord Carey of Clifton (above left) urged the Prime Minister to have ‘the courage to back down’ and abandon moves to legalise same-sex marriages by 2015.

He called for ‘a sensible debate’ on the government’s proposals and warned against name calling by either supporters or critics of reform. The persecution of the Jews in Germany in the 1930s began with them being called names, he said.

Call to back down

Lord Carey told the meeting at Birmingham Town Hall that re-defining marriage would ‘strike at the very fabric of society.’

“Once we move from the solid ground of marriage earthed in that time-honoured relationship of a man and woman, in a loving relationship open to procreation, we can be sure the result will not strengthen the life of society and will not greatly help the life chances of our children,” he said.

“I have the highest regard for David Cameron. I do hope at this point that in the months to come, he may have the courage to back down on this proposal.”

Time to listen

Ms Widdecombe (above right) said Mr Cameron must heed an opinion by human rights QC Aidan O’Neill that people who disagree could be penalised in their jobs and everyday lives.

“Is it bigoted to recognise that the complementarity of a man and a woman in a union open to procreation is unique and cannot be replicated by other unions?” she asked, to cheers from those gathered. “The real bigots, those who really deserve to be described as such, the real extremists, the real nasties, are those who believe that those who dissent from their views have no right to do so and that the state itself should silence them.”

She also poured scorn on the idea that the words ‘husband’ and ‘wife’ could be replaced in official documents by terms such as ‘partner’ or ‘progenitor.’

David Burrowes, a Tory MP and a ministerial aide to Environment Secretary Owen Paterson, who also opposes same-sex ‘marriage,’ also addressed the meeting. Mr Burrowes called for the public to be given a say over the plan in a referendum, a suggestion that Lord Carey also backed.  Although the plans would apply only to civil marriage, Mr Burrowes said there would be nothing to stop activists taking churches to court in an attempt to force them to host same-sex ‘weddings.’

A public consultation was held on the proposal to legalise same-sex civil ‘marriages’ earlier this year. Ministers are considering their response but the Prime Minister has stressed he is personally committed to reform. The Coalition for Marriage, which organised the event has collected more than 600,000 signatures calling for the coalition to drop its proposals.