Jimmy Carter: 'It is very fine for gay people to be married'

Former President Jimmy Carter expressed his approval of same-sex marriage in an interview with The Huffington Post about his faith Monday evening.

While discussing certain portions of The Bible, Carter was asked his thoughts on some people using scriptures as opposition toward LGBT individuals being allowed in church.

"Homosexuality was well known in the ancient world, well before Christ was born and Jesus never said a word about homosexuality," Carter said. "In all of his teachings about multiple things -– he never said that gay people should be condemned. I personally think it is very fine for gay people to be married in civil ceremonies."

The 39th president, who is releasing a new book about his faith titled "NIV Lessons from Life Bible: Personal Reflections with Jimmy Carter," also discussed how all churches shouldn't be required to follow the same rules.

"I draw the line, maybe arbitrarily, in requiring by law that churches must marry people," he said. "I’m a Baptist, and I believe that each congregation is autonomous and can govern its own affairs. So if a local Baptist church wants to accept gay members on an equal basis, which my church does by the way, then that is fine. If a church decides not to, then government laws shouldn’t require them to."

[Photo credit: Flickr user Grace/I'm Not That Girl]