The Muslim Council of Britain of course is opposed to the Government's proposed redefinition of marriage. Successive governments happily ignore the squeals of various Christian groups, experience has taught them that if we don't "get with the programme", we eventually learn to live with it. Some blogs have suggested that if we refuse to teach about same sex "marriage" in our schools we might lose them, that isn't going to happen, we will find a way of accommodating Government policy, as we have with contraception.
Indeed we tend to be able to accommodate most behaviour that is directly contrary to the Gospel or Church teaching to the point where for many Catholics, morality and religious belief are lived out in separate boxes. We have a tendency never to make condemnations of individuals, to be non-judgemental, not to attach sinful behaviour to individuals even if they are happy to wallow in sin.
I suspect that the Government is more likely to listen to the MCB rather than to any number of Bishops or Archbishops. I presume that the main reason the Labour Party now intends to give its MPs a free vote is because it fears a loss of the Muslim vote over this issue. For most Muslims politics, morality and religious belief are not separated, in the way they have become for most Christians. Politicians whose public policies or personal morality contradicts Islamic values are likely to lose votes. Outraged Muslim opinion in Britain is unlikely to bring hordes out onto the streets but is likely to lose a candidate or political party both votes and allegiance.
Christian clergy are unlikely to denounce politicians by name or to look closely at a particular politicians voting record or to question him about his personal morality. Perhaps the feminization of the Church has seperated faith and politics, Muslims in Britain seem to have a healthier attitude. I am told in some Mosques Imans actually talk about how friendly or not particular local politicians are towards Islam, and whether Muslims should vote for them or not, and whether young Muslims should be willing or not to volunteer to work for a particular political party, or not. In fact they are very much like Catholics once were.
There was once a Catholic vote, probably there is no more, except in Scotland, but there is a Muslim vote and being pro gay "marriage" is likely to loose it.
MCB opposes the discriminatory gay marriage law
The Muslim Council of Britain is appalled to see the utterly discriminatory provision of the new gay marriage legislation proposed by the government. Farooq Murad, the Secretary General of the MCB said, “We find it incredible that while introducing the bill in the House, culture secretary Maria Miller could keep a straight face when offering exemption for the established Church while in the same breath claiming, ‘fairness to be at the heart of her proposals’.
The government announced that, the Church of England and Church in Wales will be banned in law from offering same-sex marriages, with other religious organisations able to opt in to holding ceremonies.
Mr. Murad added, “ It is not just the ‘Church of England and Church in Wales’ who "explicitly" stated strong opposition’ as Mrs. Miller says, the Muslim Council of Britain along with most other faith groups also made equally strong representation”. He said “no one in their right mind should accept such a discriminatory law. It should be amended to give exactly the same exemption to all the religions." The MCB is seeking an urgent meeting with the Culture Secretary to express the concerns of the Muslim community on the proposed legislation.
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