UK Wedding News
03/02/2014
It has been reported that more than 50 ministers and church officials have written to the Scottish Government over a "deep concern" regarding proposed same-sex marriage laws.
The Scottish Parliament is to meet this week to debate the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill. The church figures are now appealing for Health Secretary Alex Neil to make amendments to the Bill before it reaches the next stage of the process.
The letter, which asks to ensure there are safeguards for individuals and organisations who oppose changes to the existing marriage laws, particularly those working in the public sector, reads: "Will people working in the public sector who express the view that marriage can only ever be between a man and a woman be disciplined, or even have their suitability for employment questioned, on the basis that their views are deemed incompatible with their employer's commitment to equality and diversity?
"Likewise, will young Christians seeking employment in professions such as teaching or the police, find themselves at a disadvantage in the recruitment process should they express their opposition to same-sex marriage?
"In the Policy Memorandum accompanying the Bill, it states that the Scottish Government respects the current view of marriage. We would urge the Government to have the courage of its convictions and to explicitly state on the face of the Bill that this view is indeed worthy of respect.
"This would provide us with some reassurance that public sector workers who disagree with same-sex marriage will indeed have their view respected by their employers.
"We would also welcome a specific amendment to the Equality Act clarifying that compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) means ensuring no person suffers any detriment because they express their belief in marriage as currently defined."
It also cited a concern that the Church's charitable status could be under threat if they were to refuse to marry same-sex couples.
"We are greatly concerned that following any change in the law some public bodies might refuse to enter into any partnerships or arrangements with a church which publicly states its opposition to same-sex marriage.
"We would therefore ask that the Scottish Government amends existing charity law so as to specify that holding or expressing the view that marriage is only between a man and a woman cannot be cited as a 'disbenefit' when administering the charity test.
"We would also support a clear principle of reasonable accommodation in ensuring churches and religious charities that are explicitly opposed to same-sex marriage can continue to openly provide services with public bodies, and to likewise make use of public facilities," the officials said.
Last November, MSPs voted in favour of introducing same-sex marriage legislation but it has yet to be passed into law. If the legislation is passed, ceremonies could take place as early as the beginning off 2015.
(JP)
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Concerns Raised Over Same-Sex Marriage
It has been reported that more than 50 ministers and church officials have written to the Scottish Government over a "deep concern" regarding proposed same-sex marriage laws.
The Scottish Parliament is to meet this week to debate the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill. The church figures are now appealing for Health Secretary Alex Neil to make amendments to the Bill before it reaches the next stage of the process.
The letter, which asks to ensure there are safeguards for individuals and organisations who oppose changes to the existing marriage laws, particularly those working in the public sector, reads: "Will people working in the public sector who express the view that marriage can only ever be between a man and a woman be disciplined, or even have their suitability for employment questioned, on the basis that their views are deemed incompatible with their employer's commitment to equality and diversity?
"Likewise, will young Christians seeking employment in professions such as teaching or the police, find themselves at a disadvantage in the recruitment process should they express their opposition to same-sex marriage?
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"In the Policy Memorandum accompanying the Bill, it states that the Scottish Government respects the current view of marriage. We would urge the Government to have the courage of its convictions and to explicitly state on the face of the Bill that this view is indeed worthy of respect.
"This would provide us with some reassurance that public sector workers who disagree with same-sex marriage will indeed have their view respected by their employers.
"We would also welcome a specific amendment to the Equality Act clarifying that compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) means ensuring no person suffers any detriment because they express their belief in marriage as currently defined."
It also cited a concern that the Church's charitable status could be under threat if they were to refuse to marry same-sex couples.
"We are greatly concerned that following any change in the law some public bodies might refuse to enter into any partnerships or arrangements with a church which publicly states its opposition to same-sex marriage.
"We would therefore ask that the Scottish Government amends existing charity law so as to specify that holding or expressing the view that marriage is only between a man and a woman cannot be cited as a 'disbenefit' when administering the charity test.
"We would also support a clear principle of reasonable accommodation in ensuring churches and religious charities that are explicitly opposed to same-sex marriage can continue to openly provide services with public bodies, and to likewise make use of public facilities," the officials said.
Last November, MSPs voted in favour of introducing same-sex marriage legislation but it has yet to be passed into law. If the legislation is passed, ceremonies could take place as early as the beginning off 2015.
(JP)
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