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Archbishop of Wales Barry Morgan has condemned the UK Government’s plan to explicitly ban the Church in Wales from performing gay marriages.

The Anglican primate said the move – intended to reassure opponents of gay marriage that they will not be forced to perform ceremonies – was a “step too far”.

Culture Secretary Maria Miller announced the ban when she promised no church will ever be forced to conduct a gay wedding and outlined a “quadruple legal lock” to protect religious organisations from lawsuits when same-sex marriage is legalised.

Dr Morgan said: “The Government is specifically excluding the Church in Wales and the Church of England from the legislation so that it will be illegal for them to have gay marriage. I think that is a step too far.

“It does not leave it to the governing bodies of the two churches to decide whether they want to opt in or out as other churches are allowed to do. It curtails our freedom of choice and seems to close the door on even the possibility of doing so in the future without a change in law.

“It makes these churches seem exclusive and I think that is unfortunate.”

Under the Government’s plans announced today:

* No religious organisation or individual minister can be compelled to marry same-sex couples or to permit this to happen on their premises;

* It will be unlawful for religious organisations or their ministers to marry same-sex couples unless their organisation’s governing body has expressly opted in to provisions for doing so

* The Equality Act 2010 is to be amended to ensure no discrimination claim can be brought against religious organisations or individual ministers for refusing to marry a same-sex couple;

* The legislation will explicitly state that it will be illegal for the Church of England and the Church in Wales to marry same-sex couples and that canon law, which bans same-sex weddings, will continue to apply.

Ms Miller said: “That provision recognises and protects the unique and established nature of those Churches.”

Although the Church in Wales was formally disestablished in 1920, today it has the same legal obligation as the Church of England to marry people where there is a link to their parishes.

Labour Rhondda MP Chris Bryant, a former clergyman, called for the “ultimate lock” not to be put on the Church of England.

He said: “Marriage today is, for very many people, about many other things – companionship, sharing one’s life, mutual support and so on...I find it difficult to believe that any Christian, including many Anglican bishops and clergy, would not want that for every member of their parish."

Ms Miller said: “The Church of England can, of course, come forward with a change of view at any time and we can consider the appropriate action to be taken.”

Veteran human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell denounced the exemption for the Church of England and the Church in Wales as “a disappointing fudge” which could be open to legal challenge.

He said: “Discriminating between faith groups is probably illegal under the Human Rights Act and the European Convention on Human Rights.”

The Roman Catholic Archbishops of Westminster and Southwark – Vincent Nichols and Peter Smith – accused ministers of ignoring a petition signed by more than 600,000 people opposing change.

“The process by which this has happened can only be described as shambolic,” they said in a joint statement.

“We urge everyone who cares about upholding the meaning of marriage in civil law to make their views known to their MPs clearly, calmly and forcefully, and without impugning the motives of others. It is not too late to stop this Bill.”

Former Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan spoke of constituents who “genuinely feel that the Government are challenging their deeply held religious beliefs”.

Fellow Conservative MP Tory MP Richard Drax asked what right the Government had to “stamp their legislative boot on religious faith”.

David Landrum of the Evangelical Alliance, warned that the measures would have “profound and incalculable consequences” for family life in the UK and called on ministers to put them to a popular vote in a referendum.

But Paul Parker, the recording clerk for Quakers in Britain, said: “The day the first same-sex couple can marry in their Quaker meeting will be a wonderful day for marriage, and a great day for religious freedom in Britain.”

Welsh Secretary David Jones is not expected to vote in favour of the legislation.

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood said: “The Secretary of State needs to move into the 21st century... We are fully supportive of moves to eliminate the discrimination and inequality in the law and support marriage for same-sex couples.”