An island-based Christian group has written to the Queen calling on her to refuse to give royal assent to a Bill which would allow same-sex marriages in England and Wales.
A Christian Concern – made up of four business directors, Peter Murcott, Ian Davidson, Christopher James Keig and Michael Justice – sent the letter with their opposition to the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill last month but have yet to receive a response.
In the letter it says that at the Queen’s Coronation she swore an oath to maintain the laws of God and the true profession of the Gospel to the utmost of her power.
It says the Bill ‘obviously and incontrovertibly defies the unchangeable law of God as established since the dawn of creation and re-affirmed by Christ Jesus in Mark 10:6-8’.
It continues: ‘If enacted, the effects of this measure upon the nation will be nothing short of catastrophic; but of even greater importance is that it will set the nation on a direct collision course with the Courts of Heaven, with all the attendant consequences.’
Mr Murcott, a Methodist preacher and former law lecturer, told the Examiner: ‘This Bill doesn’t affect the Isle of Man but once they get legislation in place in the UK, then the next step is for pressure in the Isle of Man.
‘That’s the pattern of these things.
‘We shall of course have something to say if a Bill arises in the Isle of Man.’
He acknowledged that the political pressure on the Queen to give royal assent was very great.
The last time a monarch refused to give royal assent to a Bill was in 1708 .
While a Bill was dropped in 1800 after George III made it clear he wouldn’t give his assent.
Mr Murcott said: ‘The consequences would be very dramatic because if it was refused, the most likely result would be the whole government would resign.’
Under the proposals, religious organisations would be able to ‘opt in’ to holding ceremonies if they want to hold gay weddings.
The Bill specifies the Church of England and Church in Wales would be banned in law from offering same-sex marriages.
The Bill has been passed by the House of Commons and is being progressed through the House of Lords.
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