Church 'could be forced to bless gay weddings'
By Jonathan Petre
(Filed: 10/06/2006)

New Government proposals on equality could require clergy to bless homosexual "weddings" or face prosecution, the Church of England said yesterday.

It said the proposed regulations could undermine official teaching and require Christians to act against their religious convictions.

The Sexual Orientation (Provision of Goods and Services) Regulations will make discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation illegal in the same way as race or sex.

They are designed to protect gays and lesbians from being denied "goods, facilities and services" on the basis of their sexual preferences.

They were drawn up after homosexual couple couples complained of being refused hotel rooms.
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