The Church of England does not allow same-sex blessings to take place in church and has fought tooth and nail not to be subjected to legislation that obliges it to do so. On one level, I am sympathetic to the principle that gay marriage ought not to be imposed by the government. Those of us within the church who argue for gay marriage have to change the church from within.
Like many, I believe that fight will one day be won, and is fully consistent with the Christian gospel. But the charge of Erastianism – the idea that the church is a wholly owned subsidiary of the state – remains the ultimate theological dirty word. The Church of England already sails far too close to that wind, with its bishops in the House of Lords and so on. It doesn't help those of us who think gay marriage works for theological reasons to be seen to be relying on the state to push things through.
But the resistance of the C of E and the Catholic church to the incorporation of religious readings and prayers in civil marriage ceremonies is quite another matter, for either straight or gay couples. When it comes to civil marriage, the government must ignore these objections and proceed on the basis of the core principles of justice and freedom: justice that insists gay and straight couples be treated equally at the altar rail of the town hall; and freedom to allow them to use religious readings or prayers for their wedding.
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