RELATIONSHIPS IN U.K.

Aldea Andrei

Iatan Petru
Mihailescu Razvan Stan Catalin Vlad Matei

RELIGION IN U.K.

Religion in the United Kingdom and in the countries that preceded it, has been dominated, for over 1,400 years, by various forms of Christianity. According to some surveys, a majority of citizens still identify with Christianity, although regular church attendance has fallen dramatically since the middle of the 20th century, and immigration and demographic change have contributed to the growth of other faiths.

Westminster Abbey

Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral

RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN
PEOPLE
Living with other people can be complicated - whether they are family members, your husband, wife or civil partner, an opposite sex or same-sex partner. Your rights will vary depending on the legal status of your relationship and whether you own or rent your home.

LIVING WITH PARENTS

If you're having problems living at home, moving out is not the only option. This page looks at ways you can improve your relationship with your parents. It also looks at issues surrounding stepfamilies, and what to do if you feel that you're in danger at home.

LIVING WITH A PARTNER OR SPOUSE

Moving in with a partner, spouse, or civil partner is a big step. Think carefully about it before taking the plunge. It's important to know your rights.

Counselling and mediation

How counselling and mediation may help if you're at risk of losing your home because of a breakdown in your relationship with your partner or family

INTERNET DATING: DOES AN INNOCENT FACEBOOK CHECK MAKE YOU A STALKER?

In my last stint as a single female 13 years ago, I distinctly remember technology playing a fairly minor part in the dating process. The technology involved was simple: one phone to swap numbers, text, call and play Snake on; one tape-to-tape or CD burner to make meaningful yet vomit-inducing playlists; and lastly, for a very short period of time as a 16 year old college student, we all acquired pagers. The primary purpose of the pager was so our hormone-driven admirers could call some poor unsuspecting woman in a call centre and relay bilge such as "I think you're well fit. x Simon". Meanwhile your mum was simultaneously relaying a message to another poor woman in the same call centre, yelling "Where are you? If you are with Simon you are in BIG trouble lady."

GAY MARRIAGE(Q&A)
What's the latest?
Peers have voted to back the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Bill, after two days of impassioned debate. This follows MPs doing the same last month. This takes the bill a step closer to becoming law.

What are the basics of the plans?

The government proposes that couples who are the same sex can get married. However, the change will not be forced on religious organisations - they will have to "opt in" to holding ceremonies if they want to hold gay weddings. The bill specifies that the Church of England and Church in Wales would be banned in law from offering same-sex marriages.

Why are the Anglican Churches not included?

Ministers had already stated that legislation allowing same-sex marriages in England and Wales would not compel any religious organisation to conduct such marriages. Culture Secretary Maria Miller said the Church of England and the (Anglican) Church in Wales had stated their strong opposition to samesex marriages. But they are not the only religious organisations to have done so. The legal ban may have the effect of protecting the Church of England from legal claims that as the Established Church it is bound to marry anyone who requests it.

How does same-sex marriage differ from civil partnership?

Civil partnership is a legal relationship exclusively for same-sex couples, distinct from marriage. It offers the same legal treatment as marriage across a range of matters, such as inheritance, pensions provision, life assurance, child maintenance, next of kin and immigration rights. Opposite-sex couples can opt for a religious or civil marriage ceremony, whereas a same-sex partnership is an exclusively civil procedure. Couples in civil partnerships will be able to convert their relationships into marriages if they wish - but they will be under no obligation to do so if they would rather retain their civil partnership.

Why do campaigners want same-sex marriage?

Supporters cite a number of reasons for wanting gay marriage, including that separate civil partnerships perpetuate the notion that same-sex relationships are not as valid as heterosexual ones and that legal rights are still not exactly the same as those conferred by marriage. Home Secretary Theresa May and Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone say: "Put simply, it's not right that a couple who love each other and want to formalise a commitment to each other should be denied the right to marry." Campaigners also say there would be international recognition for same-sex marriage. They say there is no universally-accepted recognition of civil partnerships and they differ widely from one country to the next.

What is the situation in Scotland and Northern Ireland?

There are currently no plans for similar legislation in Northern Ireland. There are already plans for a bill to allow same-sex marriage in Scotland. The policy was announced by the Scottish Government in 2011, following a public consultation on the issue. The SNP government intends to introduce legislation, called the Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill, at Holyrood shortly. There is cross-party support at Holyrood for the proposed legislation. Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said there would be a "conscience" vote in the Scottish Parliament, allowing MSPs to vote freely on the bill. He has also reiterated that no part of the religious community would be forced to hold same-sex weddings in churches.

WHO CAN ADOPT IN THE UK?

Marital Status
Single people, married couples, cohabiting couples and same-sex couples can all adopt. Sexuality is not a barrier to adoption.*

Age
Adopters in England and Wales must be over 21 years of age (18 if one of a couple is the birth parent). There is no upper age limit, but the placing authority must be confident anyone adopting a child will have the energy required and be in good enough health to offer a stable home.

 Finances
You do not need to be wealthy or a homeowner to adopt, but will need to give details of income and explain how you would support a child. You must have adequate space to cater for the needs of the child and, depending on your circumstances, may be eligible for financial support from the local authority, reviewed annually. You can apply for means tested benefits and tax credits like any other family.

Health
Adoptive parents need the energy to cope with family life and meet the childs needs throughout childhood and into early adulthood. Health and well-being play a part in the assessment process, but you are not automatically disqualified for being disabled, overweight or having a medical condition. If you have a medical condition or disability, but are unsure how you would cope on a practical level, use Adoption UKs PAL service to speak to an adopter with that condition.

Other Considerations
If you have a criminal record, you must disclose this when applying. It will not automatically disqualify you from adopting, but the law will not permit anyone to adopt or foster if they, or a member of their household, has been convicted or cautioned for offences against a child. Due to the effects of passive smoking on babies and children, some adoption agencies are cautious about placing a young child in a smoking household, particularly if they have a history of heart or respiratory problems. Smokers are not automatically discounted from adopting, but an adoption agency will consider the possible effects and discuss the issues with prospective adopters. Same sex adopters in Northern Ireland are not currently able to adopt, although the law may change in the future.

 In Britain today, people of many different faiths and beliefs live side by side. The opportunity lies before us to work together to build a society rooted in the values we treasure. But this society can only be built on a sure foundation of mutual respect, openness and trust. This means finding ways to live our lives of faith with integrity, and allowing others to do so too. Our different religious traditions offer us many resources for this and teach us the importance of good relationships characterised by honesty, compassion and generosity of spirit. The Inter Faith Network offers the following code of conduct for encouraging and strengthening these relationships.