UK govt backs down on forcing chaplains to conduct gay 'marriages'
LONDON , May 16, 2013 ( LifeSiteNews.com ) – The UK ’s Conservative-led coalition government is under fire from both sides over its “gay marriage bill.” Possible cracks are appearing in the government’s determination to push forward with the bill, which has already passed in the House of Commons , in a change of heart over military chaplains. Earlier this week, Equalities Minister Maria Miller issued a statement that hospital and military chaplains would not be forced to conduct same-sex “marriage” ceremonies as part of their capacity as government employees. “Hospital chaplains will be protected in exactly the same way as any other clergy and could not be forced to conduct marriages of same sex,” Miller added. “They wouldn’t be able to conduct marriages of same-sex couples unless the governing authority of their religious organization of which they are a part had opted in.” David Cameron is pressing forward with the bill despite its lack of success. Opponents have long