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| Why can’t England and Wales have humanist weddings, as Scotland has? | Why can’t England and Wales have humanist weddings, as Scotland has? |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| They looked the perfect couple, Robyn in her long white dress and Andrew in his kilt. They were married in Edinburgh in August by Caroline Lambie, a humanist celebrant, who had her own humanist wedding in 2007. But this couldn’t happen in England and Wales, where humanist weddings are not legally recognised and humanist couples are obliged to have a civil ceremony in addition to one that reflects their beliefs. This not only involves more greater cost and more organisation, it patently discriminates against their human rights. | They looked the perfect couple, Robyn in her long white dress and Andrew in his kilt. They were married in Edinburgh in August by Caroline Lambie, a humanist celebrant, who had her own humanist wedding in 2007. But this couldn’t happen in England and Wales, where humanist weddings are not legally recognised and humanist couples are obliged to have a civil ceremony in addition to one that reflects their beliefs. This not only involves more greater cost and more organisation, it patently discriminates against their human rights. |
| Humanist weddings are the antidote to out-of-touch marriage ceremonies | Vonny Leclerc | Humanist weddings are the antidote to out-of-touch marriage ceremonies | Vonny Leclerc |
| Change came to Scotland in 2005 when the registrar general changed the law. Since then humanist marriages have mushroomed in number. Last year there were 28,440 weddings in Scotland; the Church of Scotland conducted 3,166, the Roman Catholic Church 1,182. In contrast, there were 5,912 humanist weddings, 3,283 of them conducted by Humanist Society celebrants. More and more couples are opting for a non-religious belief ceremony that reflects the strong values held by humanists – values that do not depend on a deity or supernatural source for their convictions. | Change came to Scotland in 2005 when the registrar general changed the law. Since then humanist marriages have mushroomed in number. Last year there were 28,440 weddings in Scotland; the Church of Scotland conducted 3,166, the Roman Catholic Church 1,182. In contrast, there were 5,912 humanist weddings, 3,283 of them conducted by Humanist Society celebrants. More and more couples are opting for a non-religious belief ceremony that reflects the strong values held by humanists – values that do not depend on a deity or supernatural source for their convictions. |
| Humanist weddings were recognised for the first time in Jersey and in Northern Ireland this summer. There were almost similar changes in England and Wales five years ago but the government muffed it. The passage of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act in 2013 could have encompassed the required legislation. Instead the bill was amended in two ways: it required a public consultation first and a statutory instrument, a form of delegated legislation that is relatively straightforward to enact. | Humanist weddings were recognised for the first time in Jersey and in Northern Ireland this summer. There were almost similar changes in England and Wales five years ago but the government muffed it. The passage of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act in 2013 could have encompassed the required legislation. Instead the bill was amended in two ways: it required a public consultation first and a statutory instrument, a form of delegated legislation that is relatively straightforward to enact. |
| But humanists wait patiently for change. Since 2015 there have been two official reports, one from the Ministry of Justice, which found overwhelming support for a change in the law, and one from the Law Commission. Both raised concerns about venues for humanist ceremonies. Religious services are mostly held in buildings designated as sacred: churches, mosques and synagogues. Humanists would like to hold ceremonies outdoors, which is not, you might think, a serious issue of contention. Other considerations were raised about the legitimacy of ceremonies, including forced and sham marriages, and the risk of profit-making enterprises getting involved. And all along Humanists UK has addressed the concerns, explaining the range of our activities, the integrity of our organisation and our commitment. We are still waiting. | But humanists wait patiently for change. Since 2015 there have been two official reports, one from the Ministry of Justice, which found overwhelming support for a change in the law, and one from the Law Commission. Both raised concerns about venues for humanist ceremonies. Religious services are mostly held in buildings designated as sacred: churches, mosques and synagogues. Humanists would like to hold ceremonies outdoors, which is not, you might think, a serious issue of contention. Other considerations were raised about the legitimacy of ceremonies, including forced and sham marriages, and the risk of profit-making enterprises getting involved. And all along Humanists UK has addressed the concerns, explaining the range of our activities, the integrity of our organisation and our commitment. We are still waiting. |
| Humanists UK has 70,000 members, all adhering to a set of moral principles that define and serve human life here on Earth. Humanist ceremonies are individually created to reflect the life and nature of those involved. The jazz singer George Melly’s humanist funeral was a wonderfully crafted service that encompassed readings from King Lear, his son, Tom, reading the Death of Falstaff, a good deal of jazz and a recording of George singing Autumn Leaves. We all left warmed by the sunshine of his life, our grief consoled by the intimacy of which we had been a part. There is every reason to think such ceremonies will become more popular. | Humanists UK has 70,000 members, all adhering to a set of moral principles that define and serve human life here on Earth. Humanist ceremonies are individually created to reflect the life and nature of those involved. The jazz singer George Melly’s humanist funeral was a wonderfully crafted service that encompassed readings from King Lear, his son, Tom, reading the Death of Falstaff, a good deal of jazz and a recording of George singing Autumn Leaves. We all left warmed by the sunshine of his life, our grief consoled by the intimacy of which we had been a part. There is every reason to think such ceremonies will become more popular. |
| In parliament, humanists are pressing for change. Correspondence with the Church of England has established that it believes couples who espouse humanism as their belief system should not suffer discrimination. But the church has questioned “whether the major task of unpicking current legislation was commensurate with the objective desired”. | In parliament, humanists are pressing for change. Correspondence with the Church of England has established that it believes couples who espouse humanism as their belief system should not suffer discrimination. But the church has questioned “whether the major task of unpicking current legislation was commensurate with the objective desired”. |
| The task is not to unpick legislation at all. The legislation is there. In February 2017, Oliver Heald MP, the then minister responsible for marriage law, said he was not opposed to humanist marriages in principle. He invited two humanist peers (Baroness Meacher and Viscount Ridley) to draft an order pursuant to section 14 of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013. That draft was published in the all-party parliamentary humanist group report Any Lawful Impediment? this year. It concludes: “Marriage law is extremely complex and may call for wider reform, but we don’t think any need for wider reform remotely justifies continuing delay in granting recognition to humanist marriages.” Surely change must come soon. | The task is not to unpick legislation at all. The legislation is there. In February 2017, Oliver Heald MP, the then minister responsible for marriage law, said he was not opposed to humanist marriages in principle. He invited two humanist peers (Baroness Meacher and Viscount Ridley) to draft an order pursuant to section 14 of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013. That draft was published in the all-party parliamentary humanist group report Any Lawful Impediment? this year. It concludes: “Marriage law is extremely complex and may call for wider reform, but we don’t think any need for wider reform remotely justifies continuing delay in granting recognition to humanist marriages.” Surely change must come soon. |
| • Joan Bakewell is a journalist, television presenter and Labour party peer | • Joan Bakewell is a journalist, television presenter and Labour party peer |
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