Quaker voice at Westminster
Quakers represented at the Public Bill Committee for the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill
Quakers were represented at the Public Bill Committee for the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill held at Westminster on Thursday 14 February. The role of a Public Bill Committee is to collect evidence from a cross section of groups who would be affected by new legislation. The evidence is reported to the House of Commons to assist in drawing up the legislation.
Michael Bartlet, parliamentary liaison secretary of Britain Yearly Meeting, answered questions on the position of the Religious Society of Friends in relation to aspects of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill.
Evidence was taken from representatives of many different churches and religious groups by the committee over several days. Michael Bartlet gave evidence in company with Derek McAuley, chief officer of the general assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, and talked of the importance of the new Bill for Quakers, explained the nature of a Quaker wedding and welcomed the legislation.
Michael Bartlet said: ‘From the point of view of Quakers, we are very comfortable with the legislation. We also feel it is important that no denomination is compelled to do something that they would not wish to do. From our point of view, we feel that the legislation strikes a fair balance between different denominations in enabling those who would like to, such as ourselves, to be able to, while not compelling others who do not currently feel that that is what they want to do.’
‘We see our commitment to same sex marriage as one aspect of equality. Equality, for Quakers, is something much deeper, on both a religious and a secular basis. We are concerned that everyone in this country has access to the full goods of society as much as is possible.’
