Civil Partnerships In Churches Ban Lifted Following Late Night House Of Lords Vote

Late last night saw the House of Lords did something that many had begun to think would happen – vote in favour of civil partnerships being held in religious premises.

Passed by a majority of 74, the latest amendment to the Equality Bill, which was tabled by Lord Alli, gained cross party support, with both the former Conservative Party Chairman Lord Fowler and Lord Harries, the former Bishop of Oxford voting in favour.

Speaking about the result of the vote, Stonewall’s Chief Executive Ben Summerskill said:

“This further step towards equality is a real victory for religious reason over those Church of England and Roman Catholic bishops who’ve tried to bully other denominations in recent weeks”

During the debate itself, Lord Allli, who is the only openly gay peers criticised those who had raised issues about the impact that the amendment would have on religious freedom saying:

“Religious freedom cannot begin and end with what one religion wants. It has to apply equally to the Quakers as it does to the Church of England and to the Liberal Jews as it does to the Catholic Church.”

The Government had opposed the amendment, however it did permit its backbenchers to a free vote following the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats offering the same, with the proposal being passed by 95 votes to 21 at just before 11pm.

Ben Summerskill also spoke out on the issue of religious freedom saying:

“We’ve argued throughout that this is an important matter of religious freedom. Ministers have known for some months that we intended to table this measure and we regret that the Government didn’t stand up to the bullying it faced from some churches on this issue. We’ll now work closely with ministers to ensure that we secure implementation of this further step towards equality. This vote is hugely important to those gay people of faith (and, as Lady Neuberger pointed out, to their Jewish mothers too!) who wish to celebrate their civil partnerships in their own place of worship.”

Whilst there has been criticism from religious bodies and figures, including the Pope, both the Quakers and Liberal Jews have been denominations that have acted to supported the amendment.