Two registrars working for Lambeth Council are under investigation having attempted to avoid officiating at homosexual civil partnerships. It is claimed that the registrars had swapped their shifts in order to avoid the ceremonies due to their religious beliefs. Their actions were brought into the open at an equality seminar last May when a complaint was made against them by another registrar who is a member of the Council’s homosexual forum.
A spokesman for the Council confirmed that an investigation had begun. The names of the two registrars alleged to have avoided conducting the ceremonies have not been disclosed.
The investigation follows the case of Lillian Ladele, a registrar working for Islington Council who refused to conduct civil partnership ceremonies because they were against her Christian beliefs. She had also tried to change her rotas but homosexual colleagues complained and she later had to resign. She lost her claim for discrimination last December when the Court of Appeal ruled that her refusal to conduct civil partnership ceremonies breached equality laws. Another registrar who worked for Islington Council, Theresa Davies, was demoted for similar reasons.
Andrea Minichiello Williams of the Christian Legal Centre commented: “This news saddens but does not surprise us, not least because of previous cases of Christians being demoted, put under investigation or having to resign in similar circumstances. It is now increasingly difficult for Christians to participate fully in public life whilst remaining faithful to their beliefs. In effect this amounts to a religious bar to office.”
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