Petition Supporting Traditional Marriage in UK Tops 600,000 Signatures

By Myles Collier , Christian Post Contributor

September 13, 2012|11:44 am

A petition that opposes the British government's plans to redefine marriage began to acquire names since February, and already has more the 600,000 signatures.

The petition was first started by the Coalition for Marriage (C4M) and was created back in February. Since that time it has expanded to become largest active campaign in the United Kingdom.

The petition urges the government officials to maintain the current definition of traditional marriage as the union between one man and one woman. There currently are plans within parliament to redefine traditional marriage as including same-sex marriage.

There has been wide public resistance to redefine marriage in the U.K. and a recent ComRes poll showed that nearly 70 percent of people were against redefining traditional marriage.

"I hope that the Government will start listening to the millions of people who support the current definition of marriage and who are at a complete loss as to why the Government has brought forward these proposals," Colin Hart, Campaign Director of C4M, said in a statement.

"Over 600,000 people have told the Government: we value marriage and do not want to change its meaning. The Government would be advised to listen to its voters," he added.

There is also unrest concerned with the British government's refusal to release documents highlighting the concerns of senior religious officials. Religious leader fear that a redefinition of marriage would negatively affect parishes who refuse to perform same-sex unions.

It is thought that the entire Equality Act of 2010 would have to be rewritten to make certain all people and organizations are treated fairly under the law.

"We have consistently warned that introducing gay marriage will have serious implications … the Government must spell out the full range of legal implications that making this change will have," Hart stated.

"If the Equalities Minister really believes that this change will have no effect on those individuals and groups who do not support their proposals, then they should publish the legal advice," he added.