The Christian social support charity CARE has sent out letters to Scottish churches urging them to contact their local councils on the issue of ceremonies for same-sex couples registered under the new Civil Partnerships Act due to come into force in December.
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CARE, in the letter, spoke against ceremonies for same-sex couples registering under the new Act.

The letter read: “CARE believes that it is not appropriate for there to be ceremonies associated with civil partnership registration. To hold a ceremony would suggest that registering a civil partnership has the same status as a heterosexual wedding, which it doesn’t.”

The new Act excludes any provision for ceremonies, with the Scottish and Westminster Parliament also remaining silent on the issue. The kind of ceremony that will be offered to same-sex couples remains, therefore, at the discretion of local authorities.

CARE warned: “Some registrars are unwilling to perform such ceremonies and there may be issues of freedom of conscience if registrars are compelled to perform these ceremonies.”

Local councils will have to make their final decision on whether they will offer ceremonies or not between now and the end of November.

CARE urged all church leaders “as a matter of urgency” to contact their local council to find out whether or not they will allow ceremonies for civil partnerships and also their local councillor to find out their position on the issue.