Cabinet agrees not to decide on anti-gay marriage registrars

Ministers have decided not to take any further action about the position of civil servants who refuse to carry out same-sex weddings, home affairs minister Liesbeth Spies told reporters after Friday’s cabinet meeting.


Spies said the cabinet had decided to leave the issue up to the next government, even though a majority of MPs have called for action.
In January, Christian Democrat Spies told MPs she would not enact a parliamentary motion calling for civil servants who refuse to carry out gay marriages to be sacked until a government advice group has published its recommendations.
Report
Nos television reported on Friday that the Council of State review had been completed several weeks ago and that it had been sent to the minister, who in turn had done nothing with it.
Spies said on Friday the Council of State did not see any reason to change the current law. ‘This confirms the cabinet’s position,’ news agency ANP quoted the minister as saying. The cabinet opposes change because the law says civil servants should be able to opt out if there are other registrars who are willing to marry gay couples.
According to research by gay rights campaign group COC last year, 58 local councils employ a total of 102 registrars who refuse to marry same-sex couples. Nearly all are orthodox Christians.
Earlier stories
No ban yet for civil servants who refuse to marry gays

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