FOR SA secured conscience rights in marriage law!

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Facts

‍The Marriage Bill aims to unify South Africa's varied marriage laws under a single, comprehensive statute. This Bill is rooted in the White Paper on Marriages in South Africa and aims to recognise all religious marriages with balanced safeguards. It also broadens the categories of eligibility for those who can apply to become marriage officers.

FOR SA has been instrumental throughout the policy process and continues working to ensure that religious freedom rights are fully protected in this Bill. Initially, the draft omitted protection for religious marriage officers who conscientiously object to solemnising marriages that conflict with their beliefs. Thanks to FOR SA’s extensive lobbying and public participation campaigns, a robust clause has now been included to protect these officers from being compelled to perform marriages that violate their convictions.

Without FOR SA's Involvement

‍Religious officers could have been legally forced to officiate marriages against their beliefs, setting a troubling precedent. However, there is more work to do. FOR SA is still advocating for state-employed marriage officers to be protected in their right to freedom of conscience. Working for the State must not mean that your religious freedom right is compromised.‍

Appeal

‍Religious officers could have been legally forced to officiate marriages against their beliefs, setting a troubling precedent. However, there is more work to do. FOR SA is still advocating for state-employed marriage officers to be protected in their right to freedom of conscience. Working for the State must not mean that your religious freedom right is compromised.