Same-Sex Marriage and Cohabitation

The Catholic Church and many other Christians oppose same-sex marriage. They understand marriage as a union between a man and a woman, with sexual intimacy and procreation belonging within that union. From this perspective, recognising a same-sex relationship as marriage changes the nature of an institution established by God. The possibility of having children is part of this argument; it is not a claim that every married couple must have children.

Other Christians accept same-sex marriage because they believe that a faithful, loving and committed relationship can fulfil important purposes of marriage. They emphasise the care and lifelong support that partners give each other. The contrast is therefore not simply between valuing marriage and rejecting it: Christians can value marriage while disagreeing about which relationships it should include.

Christian views on cohabitation

Catholic and Orthodox teaching places sexual relationships within marriage, so these Churches oppose cohabitation. The Catholic Catechism teaches:

“The sexual act must take place exclusively within marriage. Outside of marriage it always constitutes a grave sin.”

This explains why a loving relationship alone does not make cohabitation acceptable within this teaching: the couple have not entered marriage, which is understood as the proper setting for sexual intimacy.

Some other Christians take a more accepting approach. Although they still regard marriage as the ideal, they recognise that an unmarried couple may live together in a loving, faithful and committed relationship. Here, the quality of the relationship carries greater weight in judging it morally.

Muslim views on marriage and sexual relationships

Traditional Islamic teaching understands marriage as a faithful commitment and the foundation of family life. Marriage provides the proper setting for sexual relationships, companionship and raising children. Its importance is expressed in the Hadith:

“There is no institution in Islam more beloved and dearer [to God] than marriage.”

Traditional Islamic teaching prohibits same-sex sexual relationships and therefore rejects same-sex marriage. Many Muslims opposed the legal changes that allowed same-sex marriage in the UK because these conflicted with their religious understanding of marriage.

The same emphasis on sex belonging within marriage explains opposition to cohabitation. A couple’s affection for each other does not replace the marriage commitment required by this teaching. These are traditional religious positions, not a reason to assume that every individual Muslim expresses identical views.

Humanist arguments: equality, choice and protection

Humanism is a non-religious approach to life that uses reason and concern for human wellbeing to guide ethical decisions. Humanist arguments about relationships can therefore focus on their effects on people, rather than whether they follow a religious rule.

A concrete British example is the British Humanist Association’s submission on civil partnerships in September 2003. It argued that same-sex partnerships can be as stable, long-lasting and significant to the partners as marriages. It supported legal recognition because this would provide protection over matters such as property, family and inheritance. It also argued for same-sex marriage itself: equal relationships should not be denied equal recognition simply because the partners are of the same sex.

The Association distinguished equal access to civil marriage from forcing religious organisations to conduct weddings. It argued that churches should not have to perform ceremonies contrary to their beliefs, but that religious objections should not prevent same-sex couples from marrying in non-religious ceremonies. This combines equality for couples with freedom of religious belief.

On cohabitation, the Association recognised that some opposite-sex couples choose not to marry, even when marriage is available to them. It also called for clearer legal protection for unmarried same-sex couples and other people sharing homes. This offers a contrasting approach to religious objections: the concern is people’s choice and legal security, rather than treating sex outside marriage as sinful. Accepting a couple’s choice not to marry does not mean assuming that living together gives them the legal status of marriage.

These arguments illustrate a British non-religious perspective; they do not mean that every non-religious person holds the same views.

Legal recognition and religious approval

Same-sex marriage is legally recognised in Britain, giving same-sex married couples legal rights and protections comparable to those of opposite-sex married couples. Civil partnership is another form of legally recognised union, but it is distinct from marriage.

Legal recognition and religious approval are separate matters. Religious organisations that do not agree with same-sex marriage are not required to conduct such weddings against their beliefs. This allows a distinction between a couple’s access to civil marriage and a religious community’s understanding of marriage.

The central ethical disagreement concerns which considerations should carry most weight: equal access to marriage and a couple’s loving commitment, or preserving religious teachings about marriage and sexual relationships. On cohabitation, the contrast concerns whether marriage is necessary for a morally acceptable sexual relationship, or whether personal choice and the quality of the relationship matter more. Understanding those reasons makes it possible to compare positions rather than simply listing who supports or opposes them.

• Catholic Church and many other Christians: oppose it; marriage is understood as a male–female union linked to procreation.
• Other Christians: accept it where the relationship is loving, faithful and committed.
• Traditional Islamic teaching: rejects it because same-sex sexual relationships are prohibited.
• British Humanist Association: argued for equal recognition; same-sex relationships can be equally stable and significant, and partners need legal protection.

Cohabitation

• Catholic and Orthodox teaching: opposes it; sex belongs within marriage.
• Some Christians: regard marriage as ideal but accept loving, faithful and committed cohabitation.
• Traditional Islamic teaching: opposes it; marriage is the proper setting for sex and family life.
• Humanist perspective illustrated by the Association: recognises the choice not to marry and emphasises legal security for unmarried partners.

Key distinctions

Legal recognition ≠ religious approval. Same-sex marriage is legally recognised in Britain, but religious organisations are not required to conduct ceremonies against their beliefs.

Cohabitation ≠ marriage or civil partnership. Sharing a home does not itself create either legal status.