The enormous growth in popularity of humanist marriages in Scotland has been widely reported, including by the BBC, The Independent and The Sun in recent weeks – they have already exceeded Catholic marriages in number and may soon exceed those conducted by the Church of Scotland. Couples across the UK can choose to have a humanist ceremony, but they are only recognised as legal marriages in Scotland, where they have been binding in law since 2005. Humanist marriages are also legal in Australia, New Zealand, Ontario, Norway, Iceland, and Ireland. The British Humanist Association is supporting an amendment to the Marriage Bill currently going through the UK parliament, which would give legal recognition to humanist marriages in England and Wales. The amendment has been tabled by MPs from the Conservative, Labour, and Liberal Democrat parties.
BHA Head of Ceremonies Isabel Russo explained, ‘The amendment which would allow for humanist couples in the UK to have the same choices as those in Scotland and Ireland was debated at an earlier stage of the Marriage Bill and resulted in a tied 7/7 vote. We hope that it will now pass at the next stage, since it has been altered to meet all the (limited) opposition that was expressed to it earlier. There’s an obvious unfairness in a law which allows everyone to have a civil marriage but allows only religious couples to have legal recognition for the ceremony based on their most fundamental values and beliefs, conducted by a person who shares them. Humanist weddings are increasingly popular and legal recognition for them would be widely welcomed.’
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For further comment or information contact Pavan Dhaliwal, Head of Public Affairs at pavan@humanists.uk or on 0773 843 5059.
The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.