The Scottish government has stood up to immense pressure from Catholic bishops and some other religious groups, and are moving ahead with plans for full marriage equality - including equality in church. Legislation will be introduced later this year, and if approved, should take effect some time in 2013. (Also expected next year - full marriage equality in France, Finland, and Colombia).
The Scottish government is to introduce new powers to legalise same-sex marriages in churches and in civil ceremonies, despite vigorous and bitter opposition from church leaders.
A draft bill that will enable gay and lesbian couples to marry with the same legal rights as heterosexual couples will be published later this year and is expected to be enacted next year, after Scottish ministers resisted intense pressure from the Catholic church to drop the proposals.
Providing full marriage equality in church does not mean that the Scots have ignored the Church’s concerns - far from it. The statement notes the strength of religious objections, and stresses that due attention has been paid to them; same - sex weddings will be permitted for those denominations that want to celebrate them (the Quakers, Unitarians, MCC and Reformed Jews, for instance), but will not be imposed on those that do not.
This is a genuine application of true religious freedom, unlike the version promoted so ardently by Catholic bishops - the freedom for each religious grouping to conduct its affairs in accordance with their own beliefs - but no to allow any one group to impose its beliefs on those who disagree.
The legislation will include significant new protections and “conscience clauses” for churches and individual clergy who object to gay marriageon religious grounds, said Nicola Sturgeon, the deputy first minister.
“We believe that in a country that aspires to be an equal and tolerant society, as we do in Scotland, then this is the right thing to do,” Sturgeon said.
“However, we recognise and respect the concerns that some have expressed, in particular the concerns that have been expressed by the churches. We are determined that the legislation which is brought forward will include protection for freedom of speech and freedom of religion.”
Just yesterday, The British Prime Minister confirmed his own government’s determination to press ahead with plans for same - sex marriage legislation for the United Kingdom as a whole (although I’m not at all clear whether in terms of the somewhat bizarre British consitutional arrangements, this would really apply to all of the UK, or just to England and Wales, leaving out Northern Ireland) . The Scottish initiative will undoutedly make things easier for Mr Cameron. By the time the Westinster parliament needs to vote on it (possibly not unitl 2014), equality will already be a fait accompli north of the border.
The Westminster plan as it stands, differs from the Scottish model in one important respect: it explicitly does not make any provision for gay weddings in church, even for those gruops that want it. There are notable forces at work, lobbying to have equaoity in church added to the plans, even so. The Scottish example could add strength to their arguments.
Related articles
- Scotland to legalise same-sex marriages in church and civil ceremonies (guardian.co.uk)
- Marriage Equality Coming to Scotland, Ministers Announce (towleroad.com)
- Scotland to bring in gay marriage (bbc.co.uk)
- Scottish Government plans to legalise same-sex marriage (scotsman.com)
- The Intra-Catholic Fight Over Marriage Equality (andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com)
Can we stop calling it equality? Many other types of relationship are also still not represented in law!!
Perhaps. But in terms of civil law, equality is what this is about.
We can cheer for marriage equality when it has been achieved for ALL kinds of partnership, not just for two-person-homosexual ones. Until then, we’ve surely just advanced equality for one demographic alone?
Agreed.