Sir Ian McKellan, the Bolton born actor, and militant sodomite led the procession. Peter Thatchell was also prominent. Both received rapturous applause from the bystanders. They were reminded by one of the speakers that both of these people have advocated the removal of all legal restrictions that protect children.
There was a very large police contingent, led by a police band, with the Chief Constable of Manchester, Sir Peter Fahy, prancing around, waving the sodomite flag vigorously. They were told that they were a disgrace to their uniform. The entire cast of the 'dope opera' , Coronation Street, also joined in the procession. There was a marked reduction in the number of floats. The police estimated that the procession would finish by three thirty. In fact it was all over by two thirty five. This is a measure of how low the numbers were, relatively speaking.
The police got it right on this occasion, after the debacles of previous years, and policed the situation very satisfactorily indeed. It seems that orders have gone out that they must take us seriously, probably because of wrongful arrests in the past and they having to pay compensation. Whatever the reason, we thank God for this change in attitude.
This year two sets of people wanted to interview those witnessing. One is already on YouTube. The other will appear on the Pink News website. It remains to be seen what will transpire.
Two men, one a Methodist and one Brethren mingled with those witnessing to try and undermine what was being done. As is common with these people, they try and convince us that the Bible means the opposite of what is plainly written. The Quakers also were present, handing out a booklet advocating same sex marriage.
The Booklet is entitled "We Are But Witnesses." It would be hard to imagine a more woolly production than is found in this compilation.
They relate how that 1700 Friends gathered for a week-long residential gathering in 2009. They felt led to commit themselves to a major change in their marriage procedures. "...we are being led to treat same sex committed relationships in the same way as opposite sex marriages, reaffirming our insight that marriage is the Lord's work and we are but witnesses. The question of legal recognition by the state is secondary."
A report of the proceedings in The Friend in 2009 stated the following, "What was striking.... was the sheer constancy of opinion expressed in using the word marriage and of starting a process of seeking a change in the law. And the reason given was consistently the same, that marriage is the Lord's work and the Lord is clearly marrying gay couples. All we have to do is recognise it." They come to this conclusion by applying George Fox's statement regarding marriage, issued in 1669. "For the right of joining in marriage is the work of the Lord only, and not the priests or magistrates; for it is God's ordinance and not man's and therefore Friends cannot consent that they should join together; for we marry none; it is the Lord's work, and we are but witnesses." It follows then, according to their reasoning, that because same sex couples decide to enter into a relationship it must be the Lord's work. One could be forgiven for thinking that we have entered a surreal world where reason has no place.
The Quaker's attitude to the Bible is the reason why they reach such conclusions. They quote an early Quaker who said, "And the end of words is to bring men to knowledge of things beyond what words can utter. So, learn of the Lord to make a right use of the Scriptures: and prizing that above them that is above them." In other words, one must look for the real meaning behind the written Word. It is such foolishness that has led the Quakers into such confused and, sometimes, incomprehensible statements.
In regard to what the Bible has to say on these matters we have we have the following astounding piece of writing. "Scripture has been cited in opposition to same sex marriage: first as condemning same sex relationships; second, as ruling out the possibility that 'marriage' can be understood as applying to same sex couples. As regards the condemnation of same sex relationships, the key texts are Genesis 19, Leviticus 18:22, and 20:13, Romans 1:26-27, and 1 Corinthians 6: 9-10. It seems clears to us that none of them prohibit same sex relationships per Se. Rather, they either assume heterosexual marriage, condemn the abuse of power exhibited in particular same sex relationships or incorporate homosexuality within a purity code that is not generally regarded as binding." There are other equally absurd statements and conclusions. This presumably is the result of looking beyond words.
They quote George Fox again in what he said in 1652, 'You will say', George Fox is reported as declaring in 1652, 'Christ saith this, and the apostles say this; but what canst thou say? Art thou a child of Light and hast walked in the Light, and what thou speakest, is it inwardly from God?'
This article should serve as a warning to those who seek truth from a source outside Scripture, be it spirit or inner light. Surely it is true concerning these "Crazy Quakers", that because they received not a love of the truth, God hath given them a strong delusion that they should believe a lie.
