Fears over marriage laws being ‘watered down’ mounted last night after Labour raised the prospect of legalising humanist weddings.
Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones made clear that the non-religious marriages – recognised in law in Scotland but not in England and Wales – could be included as part of wider wedding law reform.
However, the move has sparked fears that the institution of marriage could be weakened by such an action.
Tory MP Martin Vickers, a member of the Christians in Parliament all-party group, said: ‘I would be concerned about any proposal that watered down the current meaning of the institution of marriage.
‘Marriage is the bedrock of our society and we must tread very carefully about any changes to the existing law.’
Fears over marriage laws being ‘watered down’ mounted last night after Labour raised the prospect of legalising humanist weddings (stock image)
There have also previously been fears that allowing the rule change would lead to ‘other sects’ having legally recognised weddings – including Star Wars-themed Jedi ceremonies.
However, that was dismissed as ‘scaremongering’ by the Humanists UK organisation last night.
It says that thousands of couples across England and Wales tie the knot each year with specially tailored, non-religious humanist ceremonies. Spokesman Richy Thompson described the weddings as ‘non-religious ceremonies conducted by a celebrant who shares the couple’s non-religious beliefs, spends a long time getting to know them and creates a completely bespoke, unique ceremony which reflects who they are’.
Tory MP Martin Vickers, a member of the Christians in Parliament all-party group, said: ‘I would be concerned about any proposal that watered down the current meaning of the institution of marriage’
But unlike in Scotland, which legally recognised the ceremonies nearly 20 years ago, couples in England and Wales must then have their marriage recognised in a Register Office or other approved venue.
Calls for a change in the law in England and Wales have fallen on deaf ears, with a Tory government source in 2013 claiming that such proposals ‘seek to undermine and dilute the institution of marriage’. However, the new Labour Government signalled a potential change last week after Liberal Democrat MP Daisy Cooper asked about the ‘potential merits’ of the move.
Ms Davies-Jones told her: ‘We are aware that weddings are an important issue for humanists.’ She noted that a Law Commission report in 2022 had called for wholesale change of weddings law, adding: ‘We will take the time as a new government to properly consider this issue.’
There have also previously been fears that allowing the rule change would lead to ‘other sects’ having legally recognised weddings – including Star Wars-themed Jedi ceremonies (stock image)
That report concluded that imposing unnecessary restrictions meant that ‘weddings law is not working for many couples’.
It set out reforms to ensure that ‘the same legal rules apply to all weddings, whether the wedding consists of a civil ceremony, a religious ceremony or (if permitted by government) a non-religious belief ceremony, for example, a humanist ceremony.’
Last night, Mr Thompson said that as well as in Scotland, these non-religious marriages were recognised in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic and had proved hugely popular.
He dismissed the idea that legalising humanist weddings would weaken marriage, saying that ‘in Scotland, couples who get married through humanist marriage are less likely to end up getting divorced’.
The Ministry of Justice was approached for comment.
