11 Dec 2013

Supreme court rules in favour of Scientology wedding

The supreme court grants a couple the right to marry in a Church of Scientology chapel after officials refused to accept it as a place for “religious worship”.

Scientologist Louisa Hodkin took her fight to the supreme court after a high court judge ruled that services run by Scientologists were not “acts of worship”.

Five Supreme court justices heard the case in July and ruled in her favour today, announcing the Scientology church was a “place of meeting for religious worship”.

Miss Hodkin wants to marry her fiance Alessandro Calcioli at a Church of Scientology chapel in central London.

But the registrar general of births, deaths and marriages refused to register the London Church Chapel for the solemnisation of marriages under the 1855 Places of Worship Registration Act.

Supreme deity

Supreme court justices said religion should not be confined to faiths that involve a “supreme deity” and that the Church of Scientology held religious services, therefore its is a “place of meeting for religious worship”.

When the Church of Scientology launched a similar case in 1970 the court of appeal ruled that Scientology did not involve religious worship because there was no “veneration of God or of a Supreme Being”.

In December 2012 miss Hodkin lost her high court fight when Justice Ouseley said he was bound by that 1970 court of appeal decision.

He said that as the supreme court was a more senior court than the court of appeal, supreme court justices might take a different view.

Miss Hodkin argued that the 1970 ruling should not be binding because Scientologist beliefs and services had evolved during the past four decades.

Speaking after the supreme court ruling Miss Hodkin said: “My fiance and I have always believed in the fairness of the British legal process.

“It’s been a long and demanding journey, but the supreme court’s decision today has made it all worthwhile.

“We are really excited that we can now get married, and thank our family and friends for all of their patience and support.”

Tax status

Local government minister Brandon Lewis said his department would be taking legal advice following the ruling; “I am very concerned about this ruling, and its implications for business rates.

“In the face of concerns raised by Conservatives in opposition, Labour ministers told Parliament during the passage of the Equalities Bill that Scientology would continue to fall outside the religious exemption for business rates.

“Scientology may be eligible for rate relief and that the taxpayer will have to pick up the bill, all thanks to Harriet Harman and Labour’s flawed laws.

“Hard-pressed taxpayers will wonder why Scientology premises should now be given tax cuts when local firms have to pay their fair share.”