Senior Anglicans say Church has ‘nothing to fear’ from gay marriage

Several Senior Anglicans have written a letter to The Times stating the Church of England has ‘nothing to fear’ from gay marriage.
The debate surrounding the possible/likely legalising of gay marriage continues to rumble on with further evidence of how divided the Church of England is on the matter. Officially the Church of England has opposed the government’s proposals to introduce civil marriages for same-sex marriages but there are those within the Church who have a different point of view. A letter in The Times, written by senior Anglicans including five former Bishops, offers a different point of view and states the Church should rejoice at the prospect of civil gay marriages.
“We believe the Church has nothing to fear from … civil marriage for same-sex couples” the letter from the Senior Anglicans states. It goes on to state that marriage is ‘robust institution which has adapted much over the centuries” and has “moved beyond the polygamy of the Old Testament and preoccupation with social status and property in pre-Enlightenment times’

Those who oppose same-sex marriages argue the state does not have the power to change a cultural institution such as marriage – arguing marriage has always been between a man and a woman. However, critics of gay marriage ignore the fact that marriage has changed significantly over the years to reflect the views of society at that particular time. For example arranged marriages is no longer a practice considered acceptable by the Western world but several hundred years ago it was.
While the Catholic Church and the Church of England are opposed to gay marriages other religious groups such as Quakers, Pagans and Liberal Jews are supporters.