As he prepares to marry his longtime partner, David Furnish, Sir Elton John spoke on the controversial issue of same-sex marriage. In a new interview, he described the Church of England's refusal to let their gay clergy marry as "old and stupid," while saying that Jesus Christ would have no problem with it.

"If Jesus Christ was alive today," he told Sky. "I cannot see him, as the Christian person that he was and the great person that he was, saying this could not happen. He was all about love and compassion and forgiveness and trying to bring people together and that's what the church should be about."

John and Furnish, who have been together since 1994, had a civil union on Dec. 21, 2005, the first day such ceremonies were allowed to be performed in England. And although same-sex marriages have been performed in England since March, John's touring schedule does not seem to provide enough time at the moment for he and Furnish to officially tie the knot.

"I don't think we can get married until next year," he added. "However, when we do do, it will be very quiet and off the cuff - we had our big shebang when we had our civil union."

John says he plans to speak about gay rights with Russian President Vladimir Putin when the two meet in November, although he admits, "I don't know what good it will do, though."

More From WWMJ Ellsworth Maine