Christian registrar loses discrimination case

A Christian registrar has lost her appeal against a north London council after it disciplined her for refusing to conduct same-sex civil partnership ceremonies.

Lillian Ladele said her stance was a “matter of religious conscience” and claimed that Islington Council had discriminated against her after it told her to perform the ceremonies for same-sex couples or face dismissal.

An employment tribunal found in favour of Ladele in July 2008 but the ruling was overturned a few months later by an appeal tribunal, which found that although she had been treated unfairly the actions of Islington Council did not amount to religious discrimination. The appeal tribunal’s decision was upheld by the Court of Appeal today.

Lord Neuberger, who handed down today’s ruling, said: “It appears to me that, however much sympathy one may have with someone such as Ms Ladele, who is faced with choosing between giving up a post she plainly appreciates or officiating at events which she considers to be contrary to her religious beliefs, the legislature has decided that the requirements of a modern liberal democracy, such as the United Kingdom, include outlawing discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services on grounds of sexual orientation, subject only to very limited exceptions.”

The Court of Appeal today refused to allow Ms Ladele to take her case to the Supreme Court.

The National Secular Society and gay rights group Stonewall said they were “pleased” with the outcome of the case.

“You can’t refuse a service to a person based on their gender, race or disability and you can’t on the basis of their sexual orientation either,” said Stonewall’s Director of Public Affairs Derek Munn.

Mike Judge, head of communications at The Christian Institute, the group supporting Ladele’s case, said he was disappointed at the decision.

“Several local authorities have been able to accommodate the religious beliefs of registrars who have a moral objection to same-sex partnerships. It is a shame Islington didn’t take the same approach,” he said.

“It is important to realise that not a single same-sex couple was denied, or would have been denied, access to a civil partnership registration at Islington Council due to Miss Ladele’s stance. There are plenty of registrars at Islington to meet the Council’s obligations.

“Looking at the matter more widely, government regulations in this area have not done enough to protect religious liberty.

“Time and again, equality and diversity laws mean Christians are pushed to the back of the queue.”