Opposite sex civil partnership, same sex marriage in Northern Ireland, “best interests”, beards, blasphemy – and more…

Opposite sex civil partnership

On Friday 1 March, the Lords debated the Report stage of the Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc) Bill, one objective of which is to provide that opposite sex couples may enter a civil partnership. Lord Faulkner of Worcester moved  Amendment 1, which would have inserted a new Clause after Clause 1 which removed the exemption for clergy in the Church of England and Church in Wales under the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 and permit the Churches to opt in to the provisions of that Act allowing the solemnization of the marriage of same sex couples. Continue reading →