Religion and the law: exploring the boundaries between the right to equality based on sexual orientation and religious freedom.

Abstract

The intersection of religion and law remains complex. It is not simple to find a solution to an issue that falls within the realm of this area. The right to freedom of religion and equality are constitutionally protected and sometimes these two constitutional rights become competing fundamental human rights. The religious injunction against same-sex marriage is an issue which falls squarely within the complexity of religion and law. With both equality and freedom of religion at odds with each other, it becomes important to balance these rights. This cannot be done without acknowledging the fact that religion has always featured predominantly in our past and influenced many aspects of our lives. However, our history of past discrimination directed at vulnerable groups must also be acknowledged. It is for this reason that this thesis examined the legal soundness of the injunction against samesex marriage in some Christian denominations. With our constitutional objective being to bring about a cohesive society, a strong presumption in favour of equality must be considered. On this basis the thesis found that the religious injunction against same-sex marriage was unconstitutional and therefore legally unsound. In dealing with these matters our courts need to approach the issue sensitively by considering transformative remedies without criminal sanctions. It is for this reason that the thesis also attempted to identify the most appropriate litigation strategy that affected parties can rely on when challenging the injunction against same-sex marriage. The Equality court was deemed the most appropriate forum for resolving disputes between religious denominations and their LGBTQI+ congregants. The transformative remedies which the court will consider are potentially available in the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act 4 of 2000. Transformative remedies are in principle more acceptable to religious denominations as they refrain from interfering with the core doctrinal beliefs of the church but also allow these religious denominations the time to review their policies and motivate for change. It also minimises the possibility of a split in the church and adheres to the doctrine of constitutional subsidiarity.

Iqoqa

Ukuxhumana kwenkolo nomthetho kuseyinto enzima ukuyixazulula. Kunzima ukufumana isixazululo odabeni olungena kulezi zinto ezimbili. Inkululeko yenkolo kanye nokulingana yinto evikelwe ngokoMthethosisekelo kanti kwesinye isikhathi lawa malungelo amabili angcina ashayisana namalungelo oluntu. Indlela inkolo ephethe ngayo udaba lwabantu bobulili obufanayo abashadile igcizelela ubunzima bokuhlanganisa inkolo nomthetho. Ukungqubuzana phakathi kokulingana kanye nenkululeko yenkolo kwenza kube nesidingo esikhulu sokucubungulisisa lawa malungelo. Lokhu akusho ukuthi kumele sikhohlwe ukuthi inkolo yinto esikhule ikhona futhi ilawula imvelaphi yethu kanye nokuningi okuthinta izimpilo zethu. Nokho, umlando othinta ukucwaswa nokucindezelwa kwalabo abangenamandla okuzivikela kumele ungalitshalwa. Kungalesi sizathu-ke lolu cwaningo lwacubungula ukuthi kusemthethweni kanjani okushiwo ngabezenkolo namabandla ahlukene mayelana nomshado wabantu bobulili obufanayo. Ngenxa yokuthi uMthethosisekelo ugqugquzela ukubumbana kwemiphakathi eyahlukene, kufanele ukuba ngaso sonke isikhathi kuvikelwe ukulingana kwabantu. Ngenxa yale nkolelo, lo mqingo wocwaningo wathola ukuthi ukucwasa abantu bobulili obufanayo abashadile kuphambene noMthethosisekelo futhi akukho emthethweni wezwe. Ukubhekana nalezi zinkinga, izinkantolo zethu kumele lolu daba zilubuke ngeso elivulekile futhi zilethe izinguquko ezingancikile kuphela emthethweni. Kungalesi sizathu-ke lo mqingo wocwaningo uphakamise izindlela zokungenelela kulolu daba ngokuthi labo abathintekayo bazilandele uma belwa nalokhu kucwaswa nokubukelwa phansi kwamalungelo abantu bobulili obufanayo abashadile. INkantolo yoKulingana iphakanyiswe njengefanele ukubhekana nokuqhamuka nezisombululo zengxabano phakathi kwamabandla ezenkolo kanye namalungu esonto aqhamuka emphakathi we-LGBTQI+. Izindlela zokungenelela eziza nezinguquko inkantolo engazilandela zikhona emthethweni ogqugquzela ukulingana nokunqanda ukuphathwa ngendlela engafanele, iPromotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act 4, ka-2000. Ukungenelela okuza nezinguquko kufanele kwamukeleke emabandleni ezenkolo ngoba kunganqanda ukuba inkolo igxambukele ezinkolweni zabantu mayelana nendlela abaphila ngayo futhi kunganikeza amabandla ezenkolo ithuba lokuba abuyekeze imigomo yamasonto ukuze kube khona izinguquko. Lokhu kungaphinde kugweme uqhekeko emabandleni, kuqinisekise nokulandelwa kwezimfundiso zoMthethosisekelo.