‘States at risk of litigation over marriage celebrants’ fees’

It comes as Humanists UK calls for urgent action to address what they feel is a discriminatory fee structure.

It has urged authorities to prioritise equality in the provision of services.

Deputies St Pier and Lindsay de Sausmarez have laid a motion to annul the marriage regulations.

‘The regulations provide for lower or no fees for religious officials on the basis that they are trained by their religious orders, while civil celebrants are trained by HM Greffier,’ Deputy St Pier said in the motion explanation.

‘Presently, there is no oversight or specified requirements of the training provided by religious orders.

‘The regulations discriminate against humanists as they are required to pay for additional training as civil celebrants, despite not being civil celebrants, as they represent a non-religious belief and, in any event, they receive training and annual accreditation from Humanists UK.’

He said that according to the European Convention on Human Rights and Guernsey’s human rights law, non-religious beliefs must be treated on par with religious beliefs.

‘The regulations expose the States and taxpayers to the risk of litigation from humanists,’ Deputy St Pier said.

There is presently one humanist celebrant in Guernsey.

‘The litigation risk is therefore wholly disproportionate to the revenue received from humanist celebrants.’

A handful of politicians have been trying to address the issue for some time.

Deputy St Pier, along with Heidi Soulsby and Jonathan Le Tocq, have met representatives from Humanists UK.

‘I’ve been concerned abut this issue for a couple of years,’ Deputy St Pier said.

Humanists UK said it supported the proposal.

A humanist wedding is a non-religious ceremony conducted by a humanist celebrant, who shares the beliefs and values of the couple.

Humanist marriages have been legally recognised in Guernsey since 2021, but because the law recognises them alongside civil marriages, humanist celebrants must pay an annual fee much higher than that charged for religious officiants.

Humanists UK said that the Greffe maintained this was because religious organisations facilitate their own training, without recognising the celebrant training facilitated by Humanists UK.

The States of Deliberation recently laid regulations that raise fees even further to reflect inflation since 2020.

Humanists UK director of public affairs Kathy Riddick said it was engaging with Deputies and HM Greffier to find a mutually beneficial solution.

‘We believe this issue can be resolved amicably, thereby avoiding the need for the motion to annul to be debated.’

Deputy St Pier said there would be no material loss of revenue to the States provided Policy & Resources was prepared to make new regulations.

They should reflect the increases in fees set out in the present regulations, other than making provision to treat humanists as authorised religious officials for the purposes of the regulations.