Religious Responses Towards Same-Sex Marriages

It must be difficult for religious figureheads. Ultimately they are only following their religious law and this is admirable! Equally, with a growing number of people supporting same-sex marriages it must be hard to see the principles of their religion becoming increasingly rejected, especially in cases where it causes mass media hype such as Obama’s pro-gay marriage announcement. With this in mind I decided to look at how religious leaders are approaching the recent acceptance of homosexuality by looking at their views of gay marriage.

I first came across an article in the Guardian about Jonathan Sacks, the Chief Rabbi of Britain. The article discusses Sacks’ opinion that “Any attempt to redefine [marriage] would...undermine the concept.” However, surprisingly this caused a significant back-lash and as a result "“next year” when Sacks retires a more liberal Jew is to be his successor", one candidate being ruled out already for being "too Orthodox".  Does this suggest that religious attitudes towards same-sex marriages are changing?

2008 protest rally.

I next came across an article from the Pope expressing his  belief that gay marriage is a threat “to humanity itself”. This is because “children [need] proper "settings" and that "pride of place goes to the family, based on the marriage of a man and a woman.”” I remember when civil partnerships were first OK’d in Britain I asked my Mum, who is an atheist, what her opinions on gay marriage were. She told me that she ultimately didn’t agree because she believed marriage was about having kids which ultimately a gay couple can’t do. These views are very similar to those of the Pope, so it is clear that this opinion is a shared one with ordinary people too. However, personally I believe that as long as the child can have an influence of both sexes then the child can still be provided with "proper settings" even when raised by a same-sex couples. Whilst not knowing any gay couples myself I am certain that thousands of them (as long as they were stable and in love with each-other) would make fantastic parents! Additionally, I ultimately don’t believe this issue should even be paired with gay marriage as the Pope implies.

What do you think? Do you think that religious leaders’ opinions on gay marriage are outdated? Or do you agree that it would “undermine” the family unit.

Protestors for and against same-sex marriage. Protest in San Francisco, Monday, Jan. 11, 2010.