Errr... Keith?

If not caring how people manage their private lives is homophobic, then that is what I must be?

trying to limit peoples' freedom of choice on the basis of the gender of their partner is homophobic though. Your quotes from the political pamphlets of a joke extremist organisation UKIP are just as pointless and boring as any reiterated truism from Steve. Name calling you is something I too have no issue with, as reasoning should be restricted to those capable of listening to reason.

This Tory whim, let's just put it to bed shall we?

The previous government put forward a bill on equality. A bill they had a manifesto mandate for. On that basis, the coalition government felt it right to honour the bill as the calling of the election was the only thing preventing its passing into law. So we have equality legislation. Full stop and in line with prevailing human rights legislation.

One anomaly within the act is that of religions, who have fought for privilege and claim equality interferes with their teachings. Not just CofE but most mainstream religions. However, as CofE is linked to the state, the state has to ratify their constitutional position.

This isa what is happening. Secondary legislation, of the type that makes up the day to day work of Parliament is being used to clarify existing legislation.

Now.. I don't happen to agree with the "illegal for CofE to marry Gay people" bit, and as I respect democracy, my opposition goes that far.

However, I am bolstered by the somewhat transparent but not widely reported aims of The Prime Minister. He knows that to make it illegal to conduct marriage of Gay people for one organisation, a quasi public sector body at that, will fall foul of the first challenge to go to The European Court of Human Rights, which we signed up to, following a general election, in 1946 and none of the political parties aiming for government have sought to repeal our position. Of course, BNP, NF, UKIP etc waffle on about it, but that is from a position of ignorance rather than any laudable view.

In the meantime, we have the head Catholic bishop using his peace and goodwill Xmas speech to say that a free vote on clarification of existing legislation by elected members of Parliament is undemocratic.. His boss is legally infallible! What right has he got to lecture on the will of the people?

The only question with regard to Gay marriage is, and always should be; "Do you, Mike take this man Tony to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

And by not upsetting them with a "view" I shall be, as Keith puts it, a happy homophobe

zzzzzzz