Religious marriages
Application by religious bodies for registration of member to solemnise marriages10
1
A religious body may apply to the Registrar General for a member named in the application and aged 21 or over to be registered under Article 11 as empowered to solemnise marriages in Northern Ireland.
2
The Registrar General shall refuse to register a person under Article 11 if he considers that—
a
the body making the application is not a religious body;
b
the marriage ceremony used by that body does not include, or is inconsistent with, an appropriate declaration; or
c
the person named in the application is not a fit and proper person to solemnise a marriage.
3
In paragraph (2)(b) an “appropriate declaration” means a declaration by the parties, in the presence of—
a
each other;
b
the officiant; and
c
two witnesses,
that they accept each other as husband and wife.
4
An application under paragraph (1) shall be in such form and contain such particulars as the Registrar General may determine.
5
A religious body shall not make an application under paragraph (1) unless it is satisfied that there is a need for a larger number of its members to be registered under Article 11.
6
If the Registrar General refuses to register a person under Article 11, he shall inform the body of his reasons.