France's highest court has ruled that mayors who oppose same sex 'marriage' cannot refuse to marry homosexual couples on the basis of a conscientious objection.
The challenge was brought before the Court by a group of seven mayors after legislation introducing same sex marriage was passed in France earlier this year.
The Court ruled that "freedom of conscience is not violated by officiating at weddings", and commented that exemptions were not made for those with a conscientious objection within the legislation "to assure the law is applied by its agents and to guarantee the proper functioning and neutrality of public service".
Find out more (BBC) >
