Matthew Offord
Main Page: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)(11 years, 11 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text
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Maria Miller
As my hon. Friend will know, for more than 180 years there have been two different ways to enter into marriage—one through a religious ceremony, the other through a civil ceremony—so the role of religious organisations in marriage is there indelibly. To ensure that those views absolutely continue to be centre stage, I am working on safeguarding the freedom to continue to view marriage in a different way in different religious institutions, but that in no way means that we have to stop individuals in same-sex relationships being able to be married as well.
Dr Matthew Offord (Hendon) (Con)
Many Members have expressed the sentiment that marriage is at the centre of religious life—amen to all that—but have the Government considered introducing other forms of marriage, such as polygamy, and if not, when can minorities who believe in such a practice expect their own consultation?
Maria Miller
I think the law is pretty clear on this. Marriage is between two people, which means that what my hon. Friend talks about would not be possible.