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IT WILL NOT be possible to compel churches or individual ministers in Northern Ireland to provide same-sex marriage, under proposals published by the British government for consultation.
The ceremony has been legalised and from this month couples were able to register to marry, meaning the first ceremonies will take place from Valentine’s Day, 14 February.
For couples who are already married, their status is now legally recognised.
Those who are already in a civil partnership were initially unable to convert it to a marriage.
The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) has begun a consultation on changing civil partnerships to marriage and the role of churches. Many of the proposals are drawn from existing practice in England, Scotland or Wales.
It said: “It will not be possible to compel any person to be registered by the registrar general as empowered to solemnise same-sex religious marriages; apply for a temporary authorisation to solemnise one or more same-sex religious marriages.
“It will not be possible to compel an officiant to solemnise marriages of same-sex couples, where the reason for the officiant not wishing to solemnise the marriage is because it is a marriage of a same-sex couple.”
Same-sex marriage campaigners have called for the law in Northern Ireland to be updated to allow weddings in churches and for the conversion of civil partnerships to marriages.
The NIO document added: “It will not be possible to compel religious bodies (or persons acting on their behalf or under their auspices) to apply to the registrar general for a member to be registered as empowered to solemnise same-sex marriages in Northern Ireland; give consent to same-sex marriage; or provide, arrange, facilitate or participate in, or be present at the solemnisation of a same-sex marriage.”
Individuals will be bound by the decisions of governing authorities of churches on whether to permit same-sex ceremonies under the consultation.
The Rev Chris Hudson – minister of All Souls Church in Belfast, and a member of the Non-Subscribing Church of Ireland – says his counterparts in the rest of the UK and the Republic of Ireland can already officiate same-sex weddings and he wants the same freedom of religion in Northern Ireland.
“There should be legally protected freedom of religion for those churches who want to offer weddings to same-sex couples, as well as to those who do not wish to provide this service to their LGBT+ believers.
“In Northern Ireland, that is a legal right which is currently denied to churches, ministers like me and same-sex couples of faith, who want to conduct their wedding in a religious setting. The government must address this clear inequality without further delay.”
Patrick Corrigan, Northern Ireland director at Amnesty International, said freedom of religion is an important human right.
He added: “If a church wishes to offer weddings to same-sex couples of faith, then the law should not get in the way.
Equally, those churches which do not wish to offer such weddings should face no compulsion to do so – that should simply be a matter for internal debate and decision within the particular faith.
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If I were gay, I wouldn’t be rushing to be married by an institution which considers me ‘disordered’. Humanist weddings are FAR more personal anyways. They’re all about the couple being wed, just like it should be.
@Beyond Belief: I agree with you completely. But we cannot deny that some people who want to enter a same-sex marriage still have faith of some sort and would like a religious ceremony.
I doubt the Catholic church would ever allow it but there are other churches that are more open.
@Beyond Belief: I don’t understand it myself but there are a fairly significant number of queer people who still subscribe to religious beliefs. They have faith based meet up groups and are involved at a local level.
When churches are allowed this special dispensation from the law (as they are also allowed here) it is essentially state sanctioned religious discrimination.
@Cormac: not at all. They accept the church sees Marriage as both unitive and procreative.
@Beyond Belief: the catholic church doesn’t consider anyone “disordered” just their relationship. They also consider an unmarried heterosexual couple involved in a sexual relationship to be in a “disordered” relationship.
Unsure as to why this is news. Their church their choice. We keep hearing that gay marriage is nobody’s business but those taking part, so the church have every right to say no.
@Mr. Grumble: You’ve misunderstood the issue. Of course religious groups shouldn’t be compelled to carry out same-sex marriages. The problem is that the few religious groups that want to allow it are forbidden by the law, for some weird reason.
@Chris Judge: The new law allows same sex marriage for the first time in NI, but classifies that it is not compulsory on churches to provide the ceremony.
@Mr. Grumble: You’re unsure because you didn’t read the story. Why don’t you give that a go?
@Morning Gus: I’m aware of that – and agree it shouldn’t be compulsory for churches and religious groups to perform the ceremony.
Maybe I’m confused with the issue myself – does the law block all religious group from performing same-sex marriages, even if the religious group is willing to?
@Chris Judge: Actually the article is rather poorly written lacks simple clarity. My understanding is that all parties can conduct a ceremony of same sex marriage, but none are obliged to. They can refuse if it’s contrary to their beliefs/ teachings and will not be breaking the law by refusing.
@Morning Gus: And the rest can perform same sex marriages to their hearts content.
Why is this even news? A Church of any denomination doesn’t have to marry a hetero sexual couple either if they don’t meet their own guidelines on faith etc.
Fair nuff. Sky fairies and a couple of thousand years old books rules are more important to some. Can’t see too many people affected by this who’d want the churches approval in the first place.
@gm_cmanning: but bakers have to make cakes.
@gm_cmanning: the Church is a Club, just like any Club, if you don’t like the Club rules move on!
@SF Knee Knockers: That couple should have been allowed to say no to the cake alright.
If they asked me to make them something I disagreed with I’d like to right to say no too. Like a cake promoting line dancing or something.
@Dom Layzell: where am i disagreeing with you? Tis not much of a club but you’re spot on.
@gm_cmanning: Ah now, surely any club that can boast, not one, but two popes among its membership must be top notch.
Same in Southern Ireland not really surprising as these Churches don’t recognise same sex love anyway .
@Deirdre Gosson: “same sex love” Is that right. What an unreasonable statement. I loved my mother, my sisters and my daughter. Is that not possible in your eyes?
@Patrick Short: *sigh* You know EXACTLY what she was referring to.
This really isn’t as smart a retort as you think it is.
That makes no sense! What same sex couple would want that? If we could go back in time my husband and I would have not chosen a church marriage ourselves. Each to their own and all that but considering church views on same-sex couples, the mind boggles! Unless the churches as a whole send out a message of embracing all love as real love no matter what and invite same-sex couples in! That’s different. The Catholic Church sees IVF as wrong and yet will christen an IVF baby! Hmmm
@523StarBar: the church are unable to christen the unused embryos not used which is the main objection.
Religion is for snowflakes anyway, they’re upset by everything.
@BillyCroft: Nah, you have that wrong. The Snowflake/Millennial generation are the least likely to engage with religion as it’s way too offensive.
Reading a lot of The Bible, especially the Old Testament would give them nightmares.
@Reuben Gray: something wrong with you if it doesn’t! it’s a strange, crazy, contradicting evil story.
You can’t compel churches here either.
There are three denominations on both sides of the border which already marry same gender couples in the South and will do in the North.
have your say