Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone has pledged there will be ‘no risk of successful legal challenge’ against religious bodies who are unable to marry gay couples as a result of the government’s gay civil marriage proposals.
Ms Featherstone reaffirmed the government’s position while responding to an oral question in the House of Commons from Conservative MP Dominic Raab last week on the proposals to allow gay couples to marry in civil ceremonies and the consultation currently underway.
Mr Raab asked the Liberal Democrat minister: “I personally support the proposal to allow gay marriage in civil ceremonies. “I am concerned, and constituents and local clergy have also expressed the concern, that, by redefining marriage, we may — may — expose churches and other religious institutions to legal challenge and force them to marry gay couples under the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Equality Act 2010. Will the Minister give a clear assurance that our churches will not end up in the dock in Strasbourg?”
Ms Featherstone said the government would “ensure that there is no risk of successful legal challenge against religious organisations that do not marry same-sex couples.”
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