The final vote on the Sexual Orientation Regulations will be taken in the House of Lords tomorrow night (Wednesday, 21st March). Because of the way the legislative process has worked in this instance, the regulations can only be accepted or rejected in their entirety, not amended in any way. The SORs have caused great controversy and been subject to strong opposition from some parts of the media.
It remains to be seen which way the vote will go, but many Christians are still confused and concerned about how they might be affected if the legislation is passed. Faithworks has previously engaged with this issue, and back in January we presented an alternative Christian viewpoint, welcoming the regulations as a way of ensuring goods and services are delivered inclusively and in non-discriminatory ways. We stand by what we have said.
Today we have issued a guidance document that answers some of the questions that are still concerning many Christians in the UK, such as:
- will my vicar be forced to bless same-sex partnerships?
- will my church have to let out its hall to a group promoting homosexual practice?
You can view this document by clicking here, and you are welcome to forward this document to others concerned if you feel that would be helpful.
We are confident that the SORs will not pose a threat to distinctive Christian identity.
But don't just take our word for it! The guidance document also has links to the legislation itself, as well as to other government documents summarising what the implications for faith groups will be.
Please do read this information for yourself, and let me know what you think....