Scottish registrars given ‘conscience clause’

The Scottish Government has given registrars a conscience clause not to take part in ‘gay marriage’ ceremonies.

The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 provides that local authorities must provide a registrar to conduct a same-sex ‘marriage’ but does not say that every individual registrar is obliged to participate.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Government told the homosexual website PinkNews.co.uk: “Each local authority must provide an authorised registrar to conduct a marriage or civil partnership in the area chosen by the couple, regardless of that couple’s sexual orientation. It is a matter for local authorities to manage the provision of that service.

“There is no opt-out for individual registrars included in the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014.

“However, we have been clear that we expect local authorities to handle with sensitivity any registrar who objects to carrying out a same sex marriage on the basis of their religion or belief.”

Naturally, if the expression does not fall too awkwardly, the pro-gay National Secular Society is upset.  It’s homosexual president, Terry Sanderson, complained: “The Scottish Government is putting local authorities in an invidious position of having to decide individually whether it is OK for religious registrars to discriminate against gay couples.

“There should be a clear policy to guide them and that policy should be that gay couples are entitled to equal treatment from all registrars.”

But Sanderson goes on to argue that the conscience of Christian registrars is increasingly being supported by the European Court of Human Rights.

Referring to the case of Lilian Ladele, who was sacked by the London Borough of Islington after she voiced concerns about participating in civil partnerships, he declared: “The court said that any policy aimed at restricting religious opt outs should have been agreed before any case is brought.

“Local authorities will have to make a very strong case for not allowing religious registrars to refuse to even administer same-sex marriages, let alone carry out ceremonies. If Lillian Ladele brought her case today, she would probably win.”

Indeed, a Christian registrar who was previously dismissed by Central Bedfordshire Council after refusing to conduct same-sex weddings was reinstated last year.

Margaret Jones, a senior deputy registrar at Bedford register office, was sacked by her employers after confirming that she would be unwilling to conduct same-sex weddings on the basis of her Christian beliefs.

However, Ms Jones was offered her job back after an internal appeal hearing in August last year (2014) found her employer had not taken a “balanced view” of her beliefs.

The tribunal overturned the decision by Central Bedfordshire Council, noting Equality and Human Rights Commission guidance “[encourages] employers and employees to find reasonable solutions to religion or belief issues at work”.

That outcome also had the National Secular Society convulsed by impotent fury, writing to the Council asking it to ‘clarify’ its position regarding employees’ requests to opt out of part of their job requirements.

Margaret Jones declined the job reinstatement offer, but Stephen Evans, National Secular Society campaigns manager, raged: “Discriminatory acts have a moral significance beyond the deprivation of the relevant service and the fact that other registrars could conduct the ceremonies is irrelevant.”

This may be no more than a faint glimmer of good news, but welcome as the homosexual juggernaut rumbles on.

Find out how to join Christian Voice and stand up for the King of kings (clicking on the link below does not commit you to join)

Please note that persons wishing to comment on this story must enter a valid email address. Comments from persons leaving fictitious email addresses will be trashed.