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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.<\/p>\nIt 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.<\/p>\n
The ceremony has been legalized and from this month couples were able to register to marry, meaning the first ceremonies will take place in February.<\/p>\n
For couples who are already married, their status is now legally recognized.<\/p>\n
Those who are already in a civil partnership were initially unable to convert it to a marriage.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
It said: \u201cIt will not be possible to compel any person to be registered by the registrar general as empowered to solemnize same-sex religious marriages; apply for a temporary authorization to solemnize one or more same-sex religious marriages.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will not be possible to compel an officiant to solemnize marriages of same-sex couples, where the reason for the officiant not wishing to solemnize the marriage is because it is a marriage of a same-sex couple.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The NIO document added: \u201cIt 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 solemnize same-sex marriages in Northern Ireland; give consent to same-sex marriage; or provide, arrange, facilitate or participate in, or be present at the solemnization of a same-sex marriage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Individuals will be bound by the decisions of governing authorities of churches on whether to permit same-sex ceremonies under the consultation.<\/p>\n
The Rev. Chris Hudson \u2013 minister of All Souls Church in Belfast, and a member of the Non-Subscribing Church of Ireland \u2013 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Patrick Corrigan, Northern Ireland director at Amnesty International, said freedom of religion is an important human right.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cIf a church wishes to offer weddings to same-sex couples of faith, then the law should not get in the way.<\/p>\n
\u201cEqually, those churches which do not wish to offer such weddings should face no compulsion to do so \u2013 that should simply be a matter for internal debate and decision within the particular faith.\u201d<\/p>\n