Britain To Permit Civil Partnership Ceremonies On Religious Premises

On Wednesday, Britain's Equalities Office published a summary of the responses to its consultation on regulatory changes that would permit same-sex civil partnership ceremonies to take place on the premises of religious institutions in England and Wales. The report includes a draft of The Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Approved Premises) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 to implement the changes. (Full text of report.) The report says:

Making this change will allow those religious organisations that wish to do so to host civil partnership registrations on their religious premises. This voluntary provision is a positive step forward for both LGB rights and religious freedom.

The decision by any particular faith group on whether they wish their premises to be designated for civil partnership ceremonies is entirely voluntary.  The proposed regulations will leave it up to local authorities to decide whether they will as well designate clergy who apply to become civil partnership registrars. The draft Regulations will be laid before Parliament so they can come into force by the end of 2011.  The government also promised to publish a consultation document in March 2012 on equal civil marriage. Anglican Journal on Wednesday reported on developments.