Report on Policies on Families in

the UK – RS assessement
 Marriage
Numbers of marriages and civil partnerships have lowered in the last few years
because more people have been deciding to cohabit instead, but previously, the
numbers of have been increasing quickly over many years. Marriage has always been
seen as “the proper thing” in the UK because of our predominately Christian heritage.
Now however, as our country becomes more religiously diverse, it is important that
we adapt laws so that anyone who wants to be married can be.
For example, up until December 2005, civil partnerships were not available so same
sex couples could do nothing about marriage. I do, however, feel that these same sex
couples should be allowed to marry. This would go against many Christian and
Muslim views, but as a country which prides ourself in equality, discriminating
against people just because they’re gay shouldn’t mean that they can’t get married,
just as straight partners would. You currently don’t have to be married in a church, so
why is it a problem for Gay weddings to take place out or churches as well and still be
seen as acceptable? This is a very contentious issue, and must be put forward to the
public first, but I think that most people will be behind the idea that everyone should
be given the same rights in marriage.
The reason many Christians are against divorce is because they believe one or more of
these three things:
• That marriage is a gift from got and he meant for men and women to live
together.
• It provides a relationship for both men and women which gives them support
and happiness, and that this relationship is built on love and faithfulness.
• It provides a secure environment for bringing up children.
The importance of marriage is emphasized by Jesus in the Bible when he says that,
“From the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a
man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall
become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has
joined together, let no one separate.” (This also leads onto why many Christians are
against divorce)
Marriage vows are made before God, and are seen as promises to him as much as to
their new partner. This means that marriage is considered for a long time so as not to
displease God if they went against these marriage vows.
Cohabitation before marriage is generally frowned upon, but in the Protestant Church
it is allowed under the assumption that the couple will eventually decide to be married
in a church. Sex outside of marriage is a serious sin in the Christian faith and could
even prevent a person from getting communion in church.
In some ways, Islam views on marriage are even stricter than this. Many Muslim
marriages are arranged by parents but can only take place if both parties agree to it.
Failing to agree to an arranged marriage would mean that it was a forced marriage,
making it invalid. The reason why there are so many arranged marriages is because
dating isn’t permitted so finding someone outside your family or family friends is
very difficult when men and women are effectively separated from each other from a
young age.
We cannot change religious laws, but I think it’s unfair that Muslim men can marry
women from different religions, but that women can’t, even if they were of a religion
like Christian or Jewish – (two of the religious backgrounds Muslim men can marry
into). Muslim men can also have up to 4 wives at the same time when women can’t.
this is another sexist area of the Islam religion, and I think its right that having more
than one spouse is disallowed in the UK. Although we can’t change this, there are
some things we can change. For example, the current laws for marriage in the state
that:
• The minimum legal age for getting married is 16 years old. In England and
Wales the written consent of the parents or Guardians is required for persons
who have not reached 18 years old and have not been previously married. If
either of the persons is below 18 a birth certificate must be produced.
• It is a legal requirement in the United Kingdom that one partner must have
been born a male and the other a female.
• Both partners must be acting by their own consent.
• Both partners to be married must be of sufficiently sound mind to understand
the nature of the marriage contract.
• A marriage in England and Wales must take place in one of the following:
A District Register Office
A church or chapel of The Church of England or Church of Wales
An approved building - approved by the local authority under procedures
dictated by the marriage Act 1994
A Naval, Military or Air Force chapel
• If you wish to marry by religious ceremony other than the Church of England
or Church of Wales you should first arrange to see the Minister or other person
in charge of marriages at the building. However, the Church or religious
building in question must be in the registration district where you or your
partner live.
• You cannot have more than one husband or Wife.
• You must not be related to each other in a way that is forbidden by Law:
For Men For Women

Blood Relatives

Mother Father
Daughter Son
Father's mother Father's father
Mother's mother Mother's father
Son's daughter Son's son
Daughters daughter Daughter's son
Sister Brother
Father's sister Father's brother
Mother's sister Mother's brother
Brother's daughter Brothers son
Sister's daughter Sister's son

Others

Adoptive mother or former Adoptive father or former

adoptive mother
Adoptive daughter or former
adoptive daughter
Wife's mother
Wife's daughter
Father's wife
Son's wife
Father's father's wife
Mother's father's wife
Wife' father's mother
Wife's mother's mother
Wife's son's daughter
Wife's daughter's daughter
Son's son's wife
Daughter's son's wife
adoptive father
Adoptive son or former
adoptive son
Husband's father
Husband's son
Mothers husband
Daughter's husband
father's mother's husband
Mother's mother's husband
Husband's father's father
Husband's mother's father
Husband's son's son
Husband's daughter's son
Son's daughter's husband
Daughter's daughter's husband
I think that it’s right for these types of marriages to be disallowed because of the
health problems they can cause future children in the future. But, in my opinion, the
age for marriage should be raised from 16 to 18, when people are less likely to make
quick or rash decisions about marriage, and can do so without needing consent from a
parent or guardian. I also think that marriages should be able to take place anywhere,
but I agree that they should be made by approved and qualified ministers. Other than
these two thinks, I think the current laws that I know of are good representations of
our country today.

Divorce
An issue which can divide the nation is that of Divorces. They are often seen as
tearing families apart and causing major financial and personal problems for both
adults and children. Currently, divorces can range from costing thousands of pounds
to get, and can be even more if money has to be paid from one partner to another, to
being able to get a “quicky divorce” on the internet for just over £10. This easy
accessibility to a potentially life changing service means that many people see divorce
as a security, allowing them to be married whenever they want because they know
they can be divorced again afterwards.
Generally, most religious people are against divorce. For example, most Christians are
against divorce because, in the New Testament, it says:
“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of
divorce.’ But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of
unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman
commits adultery.”
This means that people are generally against divorce because they are told not to
commit adultery in the ten commandments:
You shall not commit adultery.
Exodus 20:14
Also, if you have made your marriage vows in a church, in the eyes of God, by
divorcing you are going against a promise you made to God, again making most
Christians against divorce.
Many churches now allow divorce but a marriage can only be ended by an annulment
in the Roman Catholic Church. This means that the marriage is regarded as never
having taken place. The first time divorced people were aloud to be re-married in the
Church of England was 1981, but now most churches allow this.
Although allowed in Islam, divorce is seen as a last resort. Divorces are generally
allowed if the relationship is bringing unhappiness to the couple or their
children/relatives. Men cannot get divorced from their wives unless they are sure that
she isn’t pregnant as they might change their mind about the divorce. Then, over a
period of three months (called Iddah) reconciliation should be attempted. If
reconciliation doesn't work then divorce can take place. Men and women can divoce
and re-marry three times, but then it cannot happen again unless the woman has been
married to another man in between these times. It is also possible for women to ask
for divorces from their husbands, unlike in many cultural backgrounds, but only if he
agrees or if he is treating her very poorly.
I think that some areas of the Muslim attitudes to marriage could be used here in the
UK. For example, the Iddah period of attempted reconciliation could mean that many
people may not want a divorce in the first place. I also think that having divorces as
easily accessible as they are means that they aren’t seen as a last resort, allowing
people to marry over and over again. Everyone appreciates that marriages break
down, so I don’t think you can put a limit on the number of marriages a person can
have, but I do think that something has to be done to make sure that divorce isn’t seen
as the easy way out. A way to do this could be to make divorces only accessible
through a court or counselling, not on the internet, so that people take their decisions
more seriously and are more likely to think harder about marriage in the first place.

Divorce statistics:
Year Number of divorces Year Number of divorces

1961 27,000 1993 180,000

1969 55,556 2004 167,138

1972 124,991 2005 155,052

Total number of marriages in the UK:

Year Number of marriages Year Number of marriages

1961 350,000 2005 284,000

1991 340,000 2006 275,140

Total number of civil marriage ceremonies in the UK:

Year Number of marriages Percentage of marriages

1990 - 47% of all marriages

2004 184,910 68% of all marriages

2005 160,270 65% of all marriages