Over the last week I’ve been involved with the Alive Festival in Suffolk. It’s been great to share with delegates some of what I’ve been up to with this blog and discuss ideas and opinions on the state of politics, our society… Read More ›
Marriage
Gay marriages are here and this is what I’m celebrating
The big day is here. Marriage has become equal marriage and my gay friends now have the chance to join the club, should they choose to do so. It is still quite remarkable that it was less than two and a… Read More ›
Unpacking the ‘doublespeak’ of the C of E’s latest statement on same-sex marriage
Having been half-term break, I’ve spent most of this week away from a computer. To my irritation it has coincided with one of the busiest weeks for stories relating to this blog’s chosen theme for several months, so I’m now in a… Read More ›
Gay marriage, culture wars and a church that needs to return to its roots
As a resident south of the border, I’ve been observing the progress of the same-sex Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill from a distance and not taking in quite the same volume of information as I did with the equivalent… Read More ›
A chance for married couples to set a new world record
If there’s one thing we learnt from last year’s almighty fight over marriage as the Equal Marriage Bill passed through parliament, it’s that this nation still cares about the institution of marriage. Most normal people don’t bother getting worked up over… Read More ›
Ambivalence towards fatherhood has been a gross and costly error – why do we accept it?
Mother’s Day/Mothering Sunday is regularly a joyous affair in the media. There’s plenty of talk of what flowers and presents we should be giving our mothers along with various individuals including celebrities telling us how wonderful and inspiring their mothers… Read More ›
Why Tim Montgomerie is wrong and the Bishop of Leicester is right
Following on from the Archbishop of Canterbury’s speech in the House of Lords during the debate on same-sex marriage and the subsequent statement by the Bishop of Leicester, there appears to be a certain amount of confusion as to whether… Read More ›
The Wedding Angels – offering an alternative to wedding day debt
Last week’s piece on marriage and the cost of weddings has received plenty of interest, with a good number of people expressing similar views. In the article, I mentioned a charity by the name of Wedding Angels who support couples on… Read More ›
The wedding day monster we need to address
The battle over the redefinition of marriage has been a long and painful one since David Cameron announced at the Conservative Party conference in October of 2011 that his government was consulting on legalising gay marriage. But during his speech he also said… Read More ›
Gay marriage + heterosexual civil partnerships = one big mess
Whatever you think about gay marriage and the current legislation passing through parliament, it is most definitely not boring. perhaps one a day a film will be made based on all that is happening with its complex plot and plentiful… Read More ›
Will your views on gay marriage affect the way you vote this week?
The whole gay/equal/same-sex marriage circus has fortunately died down a bit recently, although on Monday there was a vote at the Northern Ireland Assembly calling on the Northern Ireland Executive to legislate for same-sex marriage. It was defeated. Also published the… Read More ›
Counting the cost of the same-sex marriage vote
It was hard going following the debate and developments on Twitter and in Parliament yesterday. It was like the final push before election day as everyone gives it their final shot to make their point and influence those who somehow have… Read More ›
The Government’s marriage bill is an exercise in trying to mix oil and water
The Government’s Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill has now been published with the second Reading on Tuesday 5 February, which will be the first opportunity MPs have to debate and vote on the Bill. It’s a hefty piece of reading at 56… Read More ›
Lynne Featherstone proudly takes credit for railroading gay marriage legislation
Last night I was sent this email from a friend who is a Liberal Democrat member. It’s from Lynne Featherstone MP, the ex-Equalities Minister who oversaw the same-sex marriage consultation, boasting of her achievements surrounding gay marriage legislation. They said… Read More ›
A prayer for marriage
I know that today at midday many Christians will be praying round the country for the state of marriage in our nation. Right now I have an overwhelming urge to bring this before God and give it over to Him. … Read More ›
Today is the day the Government seizes control of marriage
Today is the big day that the Government reveals its plans for the introduction same-sex marriage. There’s been plenty of talk about this over the last few days since the news that religious institutions will be allowed to conduct same-sex ceremonies,… Read More ›
David Cameron, gay marriage and the betrayal of democracy
We all know it’s been coming and yet when the reality of the situation begins to sink in the emotions and frustrations begin to boil over. That’s the sense of feeling I’ve been getting today as I’ve seen the huge… Read More ›
“Family comes first” – so what are you going to do about it Mr Cameron?
“Family comes first.” That was a key message of yesterday’s speech by the Prime Minister at the Conservative Party conference. He expanded on this statement further: “These are difficult times. We’re being tested. How will we come through it? Again,… Read More ›
This week’s news and links: George Carey and that Nazi comment
In case anyone is concerned after yesterday’s post that I’ve gone all political with my knives out for Labour, I haven’t but sometimes you just can’t ignore party politics. It’s the same with these links today which mainly relate to… Read More ›
God and Politics in the UK 