Jersey civil partnership venues under review by panel

A government panel is looking at whether churches and other religious sites in Jersey could be used for civil partnership ceremonies.

The States of Jersey is due to decide whether to approve a law that gives gay couples similar rights to married ones.

The draft law does not allow ceremonies to be held in religious buildings, such as churches or synagogues.

Deputy Montford Tadier is leading the review into the law.

Deputy Tadier has invited the Dean as well and the Deputy Chief Minister to give evidence.

He said: "One of the aspects that we're looking at regards the possibility of enabling civil partnerships to be registered in religious premises, which isn't currently in their proposals.

"We thought it appropriate to hear from the religious community, first of all from the Dean, but also from other members of that community who may have different and differing opinions on the way forward."

The draft civil partnership law would see such partnerships legalised under certain criteria and checks.

The plan also details how partnerships would be recorded in Jersey and where they would be allowed to happen.

The draft civil partnership law is due to be debated in the States on 18 July.