A letter signed by 30 Evangelical and Pentecostal church leaders is asking the Archbishop of Canterbury to make sure he and his bishops use their vote on gay marriage wisely. They're being accused of not speaking up by not taking part in a vote on The Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Bill for England and Wales. Despite 26 having seats in the House of Lords it's thought only a small number will actually use their vote.
The letter to the Most Revd Justin Welby said:
"As you know, it is the role of the Church and her leaders to speak boldly of God's pattern and promise for life, having confidence in His enduring and life-giving wisdom and resisting the temptation to be swept along by the latest current of cultural thinking.
"For the sake of society, we provide an alternative perspective to society."
Pastor Ade Omooba is from Christian Concern and opposed to the bill. Speaking from a protest outside the House of Lords he told Premier's Marcus Jones on the News Hour that the bishops are missing an opportunity.
Reports today suggest that Church officials had asked bishops to stay away in fear that they would be blamed if the proposals don't get through, however the Church of England has denied this. And another letter's been signed by more than 60 leaders from different faiths including bishops from the Catholic and Anglican churches.
Signatories include Archbishop Peter Smith, Bishop Michael Nazir Ali, Sir Iqbal Sacranie, Shaykh Suliman Gani, Bishop Doye Agama, Bishop Angaelos, Archbishop Bernard Longley, Rabbi Natan Levy, Archbishop George Stack and Mr Farooq Murad.
It says:
"We are deeply concerned that this legislation is being rushed through Parliament with wholly inadequate scrutiny. We can see no objective reason for haste.
"The shortened parliamentary timetable, whilst legal, goes against the traditional British spirit of fairness. It seems to have been designed to curtail debate and prevent amendments.
"The haste with which this legislation is being driven through Parliament and the failure to talk to all religions will mean that the problems which we have repeatedly highlighted will be written into law with serious and harmful consequences for the health of society, family life, and human rights such as freedom of religion and of speech."
Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell organised a pro-gay marriage rally outside the Houses of Parliament He told Premier's Marcus Jones on the News Hour why the proposals need to pass through the House of Lords.
The government's bill, covering England and Wales, was passed in the House of Commons last month.
Religious organisations would have to "opt in" to offering weddings, with the Church of England and Church in Wales being banned in law from doing so. Peers in the House of Lords will have a final vote tomorrow. Meanwhile, the Scottish government has confirmed it will introduce a bill shortly to allow same-sex marriage, despite Scottish Catholics and Scottish Anglicans opposing it.