British Government proposals for gay marriage would dilute an institution "vastly" important to a healthy society, the Church of England has warned. Responding to a consultation on the issue in England and Wales, the Church said the legislation was "shallow".
Government plans to open marriage to gay couples by 2015 could undermine its status as the state church, it said. The Home Office said religious bodies would not have to conduct gay marriages and that it was considering all views. Gay rights campaigners accused the Church of "scaremongering".