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Same-sex couples in Northern Ireland can apply to have a religious wedding ceremony following a change in the law.<\/p>\nSame-sex couples in Northern Ireland can apply to have a religious wedding ceremony following a change in the law.<\/p>\n
From today, couples will be able to register to marry in a religious setting, and religious bodies can choose to opt in to provide same-sex weddings.<\/p>\n
With a statutory 28-day waiting period, the earliest date for a same-sex religious wedding will be September 29th.<\/p>\n
Amnesty International has welcomed the move, which came after a long-term campaign, but urged the Northern Irish government to \u201cfinish the job\u201d by allowing same-sex couples with an existing civil partnership to be able to convert their partnership into a marriage.<\/p>\n
There are 1,200 same-sex couples in Northern Ireland who currently have civil partnerships.<\/p>\n
Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International\u2019s Northern Ireland Director and part of the Love Equality coalition, described Tuesday as a \u201cmilestone for equality in Northern Ireland\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter years of campaigning, same-sex couples of faith can finally register to marry in a church or other religious setting,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn line with our campaign, we are pleased that the law will protect religious freedom, and that churches will neither be compelled nor prevented from offering wedding ceremonies to same-sex couples.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an important issue for many couples in Northern Ireland, who have previously been prevented by law from marrying in their own church.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe now urge the Government to finish the job of marriage equality in Northern Ireland, by allowing couples in civil partnerships to convert to married status if they so wish.\u201d<\/p>\n
Same-sex civil marriage became legal in Northern Ireland on January 13 this year.<\/p>\n
The first wedding took place on February 11, when Sharni Edwards and Robyn Peoples married in Carrickfergus.<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in vice president Michelle O\u2019Neill tweeted: \u201cToday the North took another welcome step towards full marriage equality and I want to congratulate all those couples who are now planning their big day.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll remaining barriers to equality should now be removed.\u201d<\/p>\n