Raleys Solicitors

The doors look set to open for same sex couples to hold their civil partnership ceremonies in religious buildings following a vote by the House of Lords to lift the ban on religious premises holding civil partnerships.

At present, UK law forbids religious venues from holding civil partnerships. Still, some liberal denominations of Christianity and Judaism have been happy to bless gay unions once the civil partnership has taken place elsewhere.

The lifting of the ban, which must still be approved by the House of Commons, has been declared a victory for equal rights by Gay rights activists but has caused controversy amongst religious figures who fear they may find themselves fighting legal battles not to hold same sex unions in their buildings.

However, Lord Ali underlined that the changes in the law will give religious venues the option of holding civil partnerships but will not oblige them to do so. As he pointed out, “there are many gay and lesbian couples who want to share their civil partnership with congregation they worship with and there are a number of religious organisations which want them to do just that.”

The vote has been welcomed as a major victory by some religious groups who have no theological problems with the idea of gay marriage such as the Religious Society of Friends, Liberal Judaism and the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, who have already said that they wish to hold legally recognised same sex partnerships.

No changes to the law will happen immediately because the amendment must yet be approved by the House of Commons.