Pastor To Challenge Bar On Same-sex Marriages
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2019-05-03 HKT 17:55
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The leader of a local religious community has filed a judicial review application, seeking protection from arrest and prosecution for ministers who perform same-sex marriages and holy union rites in church.
Reverend Marrz Balaoro is relying on the rights given under Basic Law, to freedom of religion, thought, and conscience for his judicial review, according to a statement issued by his lawyers.
Balaoro, a transgender man, was arrested in August 2017 “on suspicion of performing same-sex marriage rites” for others, in violation of the marriage ordinance.
He remained on bail until December 2017, when he was informed that a decision had been taken not to prosecute him.
The statement contends that the marriage ordinance is discriminatory and unconstitutional as it only allows the union of one man and one woman.
The LGBTS Christian Church in Hong Kong, where he is a pastor, is a community that "believes salvation is based on the good relationship amongst God’s creations, irrespective of sexuality."
“All we ask for is to be allowed to worship and practise our religious faith in the eyes of God, free from the threat of persecution,” Balaoro said.
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