'The Secretary of State for Communities and Local
Government, the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre and Christian Concern have
reached a settlement following the cancellation of Christian Concern’s
conference on marriage at the Westminster conference centre.'
The event, entitled 'One Man, One Woman - Making the case
for marriage for the good of society' had been booked for 23 May 2012 but was
cancelled by the QEII Centre the night before it was due to take place. Concerns
over compatibility with the Centre's diversity policy were cited.
The
conference had originally been booked at the Law Society but was cancelled by
the Law Society shortly before it was due to take place, with the Society saying
that the event was 'contrary to its diversity policy'.
Christian Concern
took legal action against the Law Society. Settlement was reached with the Law
Society in June 2013. A joint statement about that settlement can be
read here.
A
copy of the joint statement made by Christian Concern, the Queen Elizabeth II
Conference Centre and the Department for Communities and Local Government
follows.
Joint public statement
Resolution of dispute as to May 2012 marriage conference
booking
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Christian Concern, the Queen Elizabeth II
Conference Centre
("the Centre") and the Department for Communities and Local
Government are pleased to announce that agreement has been
reached in relation
to the cancellation of Christian Concern's
booking for a conference on marriage
on 23 May 2012.
The Centre regrets that its decision to cancel the
contract
caused Christian Concern, as well as its invited speakers
and
delegates, disappointment and inconvenience.
The parties uphold the
rights and freedoms of other members of
society based on the principles of a
democratic society.
The Centre accepts that some people have deeply held
views about
the nature of marriage, and that every individual has the freedom
to
express these in accordance with the law. The Centre also
respects Christian
Concern's view that marriage should be between
a man and a woman, and that view
is sincerely held.
We live in a multi-faith society with a deep Christian
ethos.
The Government reaffirms its commitment to the long-standing
British
liberties of freedom of religion, freedom of speech and
freedom of association
with mutual respect for the dignity and
rights and freedoms of others, including
the right of Christian
Concern to debate their views.
The Centre confirms
that there was no intention to discriminate
against Christian Concern. Going
forward, the Centre is happy to
work closely with Christian Concern to stage a
future event about
marriage or other issue of interest.
ENDS
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