Bishop's gay marriage views do nothing to support bible teachings

I'm not a religious man writes Dave Burrows.

I believe the Church does an awful lot of good in the community. I believe faith can pull people through difficult times.

But I also believe organised religion is too inflexible; too unwilling to bend from an outdated moral code; too drawn to righteous indignation which does not hold up to scrutiny.

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Shrewsbury has done nothing to change that opinion.

This week he has decided to jump up and down about plans which could see gay marriage legalised.

The Right Reverend Mark Davies (not sure if the 'right' refers to his politics) says it would represent 'nothing less than a seismic shift in the foundations of our society'.

Blimey. Last time that happened was when the Romans came for a holiday.

He goes on to say allowing same-sex weddings will 'undermine the institution of marriage' and 'obscure its identity for years to come'.

Have you ever heard such utter rot in your life?

What is the institution of marriage? I always thought it was two people who loved each other devoting their lives to each other and pledging to be true. Isn't marriage seen as the extension of Man's love of God? Well, God is always depicted as a man. So...

Perhaps I was wrong. Clearly only a man and a woman should be allowed to marry. That way we can guarantee there'll be no divorces. No domestic abuse. No-one trapped in a loveless union.

Or perhaps marriage is a precursor to starting a family. So only people who are planning to start a family should be allowed to marry. In which case any women who cannot conceive should be banned from getting wed (and of course anyone who has had a child out of wedlock should be immediately burned at the stake).

As for 'obscuring the identity' of marriage, maybe you, Rev Davies, should move with the times and adapt your teachings, so that there is not obscurity. Maybe you should teach children that love is unconditional and not something that follows a set of rules.

Certainly not a set of rules drawn up in the 1600s and based on something someone may or may not have said over a thousand years earlier. What does the bible say about speed limits on the motorway? Anyone?

Like I said, I'm not religious. But I seem to remember from Sunday School that the teachings of Jesus were all about love and tolerance.

Were they not?