England's Anglican clerics back gay marriages

Anglican church clerics said the civil partnership act is discriminatory as it denies homosexual partners the same choices as straight ones.

LONDON, February 23, 2010 (AFP) - Clerics from the Anglican church in England on Tuesday called for an end to rules that stop gay couples marrying in religious venues such as churches or synagogues.

In a letter to the Times newspaper, they said the civil partnership act -- which allows same-sex couples to tie the knot -- is discriminatory as it denies homosexual partners the same choices as straight ones.

"Straight couples have the choice between civil marriage and religious marriage," said the clerics' letter.

"Gay couples are denied a similar choice.

"To deny people of faith the opportunity of registering the most important promise of their lives in their willing church or synagogue, according to its liturgy, is plainly discriminatory."

Waheed Alli, a lawmaker sitting in Britain's upper house of parliament, will propose an amendment to equality legislation currently being debated, which would allow gay marriages on religious premises.

It would also remove the ban on religious language in the civil partnership ceremony, the newspaper said.

Alli was the first openly gay lawmaker in Britain's upper house of parliament, the House of Lords, when he took up the position in 1998.