Junior defence minister, Gerald Howarth, has distanced himself from David Cameron’s plan to legalise marriage for samesex couples, and told The Telegraph that Tory MPs should not be forced to vote in support of changing the legal definition of marriage if the issue is put before Parliament. According to the newspaper, Mr. Howarth believed many Christians would be ‘very concerned’ by the proposal. At present, homosexual couples are allowed to enter into civil partnerships which give them similar legal protection to married couples, but the term ‘marriage’ is used to define heterosexual unions only. Mr Howarth, MP for Aldershot, said that MPs should be given a free vote on the issue as it is a matter of ‘conscience. Equality Minister Lynne Featherstone announced last month that a public consultation would be launched in March 2012.
Pray: for the Government to seek to protect marriage and not redefine it; may Christians in Parliament speak out boldly and clearly. (Gen.2:24)