Christian responses to civil partnerships

The Catholic and Church of England: Many Christians believe that the Bible is clear in saying that homosexual activity is a sin. Some people believe that it was because of homosexual activity that God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. (this was a city in the Old Testament) In Genesis 19:4-5 it says:
Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodomboth young and oldsurrounded the house.
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They called to Lot, Where are the men who came to you tonight?

Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.

In a book of the bible called Leviticus it also says:

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If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done

what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. Leviticus 20:13

Both Catholics and the Church of England believe that this teachers Christians that God disapproves of Homosexual activity. Both Churches also teach that marriage is the proper place in which sexual relationships should happen with the main role of sex being to create new life. Therefore, performing a civil partnership would give the impression that homosexual sex is as acceptable as heterosexual sex. Clearly, two people of the same sex cannot fulfil the purpose of a sexual relationship; having children. Therefore, civil partnerships are wrong. Roman Catholics see homosexual activity as the same as masturbation. They believe that masturbation is wrong. They point out that in Genesis 38: 9-10 it says of a man called Onan,
...whenever he slept with his brothers wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother. put him to death also.
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What he did was wicked in the LORDs sight; so the LORD

Catholics believe that this teaches that masturbation is wick and you will be punished for it!

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Christian responses to civil partnerships

Other Christian responses: Some Christians now say that while homosexual activity is wrong, homosexual feelings are acceptable because a person can do nothing about them. It is perfectly acceptable to two people of the same sex to have a civil partnership so long as they live celibate lives together. Reverend Collier, an openly gay Church of England vicar said that by not allowing homosexuals to right to a civil partnership the church were:

...failing to respond to an opportunity to celebrate and affirm love, fidelity (loyalty) and commitment.
The Bible teachers;
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Greater love has no one than this: to lay down ones life for ones friends. (John 15:13)

This teaches Christians that love is the greatest gift we could give each other. Some Christians believe that no matter our sexuality, we should not stop people from loving each other. It is only the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) who fully accept homosexual couples in the meetings.
Other Bible passages to consider: Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. (Romans 1:26-27)
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Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24) Love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these. (Mark 12)
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