The UK government confirmed that Northern Ireland will have some free speech and religious liberty protections in place when civil same-sex marriage becomes law in mid-January, followed by religious ceremonies in April.
The Christian Institute had warned the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) that it faced possible legal action if protections were not in place when the law came into force.
Criticism not an offence
Public-order law will be amended to underline that criticism of same-sex marriage is not an offence.
Northern Ireland Secretary, Julian Smith, said that equality law will be amended so that religious bodies and staff cannot be sued for declining to take part in a blessing or other event marking a civil same-sex wedding.
Changes will also protect the ability of religious organisations to dismiss a staff member who enters a same-sex marriage if that is incompatible with the organisation’s values.
The Secretary of State said he is also in discussion with Northern Irish equalities bodies about guidance for employers and schools to make clear that beliefs and opinions about marriage should be respected.
Religious weddings
Additional legal changes will be needed to protect ministers of religion and places of worship from being obliged to facilitate same-sex weddings. Only a small fraction of places of worship are registered for same-sex weddings in England and Wales.
The first civil ceremony is due to take place on February 14.
