The Government has today published its response on Marriages by non-religious belief organisations. The nub of the response is as follows:
- The majority of respondents to the consultation are in favour of legally valid marriage ceremonies for those with non-religious beliefs, and allowing these marriages to take place in unrestricted locations, including outdoors [57].
- But there are a number of complex issues raised which have implications for marriage solemnization more broadly [58] because, unlike in Scotland (where individual celebrants are registered to solemnize marriages), in England and Wales the law is based on registration of buildings [59].
- Allowing non-religious belief marriages could be considered to advance equality of opportunity between couples with a religious belief who those holding a non-religious belief [60].
- But the Government cannot think of an option that would not create a further difference in treatment within marriage law and provide for complete equality of treatment between those with religious beliefs, those with humanist or other non-religious belief, and couples more generally [60].
- Restricting ceremonies to buildings registered by belief organisations would provide parity with the majority of religious groups; but humanists do not have buildings of their own to register [61].
- Allowing belief marriages in unrestricted locations might be seen as unfair by couples who are neither religious nor humanist but who also may want a greater choice of marriage venues [63].
- In making any changes, the Government would have to guard rigorously against increasing the risk of forced and sham marriages [64].