Quakers welcome Equality Bill
Related pages: Same sex relationships, Equality
Quakers in Britain welcome the passing today of the Equality Bill by the House of Lords. Quakers have lobbied in support of Lord Alli’s Amendment to the Bill which will lift the ban on civil partnership ceremonies being held in religious premises in England and Wales.
The restrictions on civil partnerships had been introduced by the Civil Partnerships Act 2004. The amendment provided for an order-making power for registering religious premises for the conduct of civil partnerships. It made clear that nothing in the amendment could compel religious organisations to conduct civil partnerships against their conscience.
Gillian Ashmore, Recording Clerk for Quakers in Britain said: “Quakers welcome the passing of the Bill in the Lords. We look forward to the promised Government consultation on how to make it work.”
Ends
Notes to editor:
- For a briefing on the Quaker view on same sex marriage see www.quaker.org.uk/samesexbriefing
- Approximately 25,000 people attend Quaker Meetings for Worship in Great Britain, and there are more than 475 Meetings.
- Quakers are known formally as the Religious Society of Friends.
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