Source: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/schedule/23/crossheading/organisations-relating-to-religion-or-belief
Timestamp: 2017-10-21 10:02:44
Document Index: 359828530

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art. 1', 'art. 2', 'art. 15', 'art. 3']

Organisations relating to religion or belief
Equality Act 2010, Cross Heading: Organisations relating to religion or belief is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 21 October 2017. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Organisations relating to religion or beliefE+W+S
2(1)This paragraph applies to an organisation the purpose of which is—E+W+S
(2)This paragraph does not apply to an organisation whose sole or main purpose is commercial.
(4)A person does not contravene Part 3, 4 or 7, so far as relating to religion or belief or sexual orientation, only by doing anything mentioned in sub-paragraph (3) on behalf of or under the auspices of the organisation.
(5)A minister does not contravene Part 3, 4 or 7, so far as relating to religion or belief or sexual orientation, only by restricting—
(a)participation in activities carried on in the performance of the minister's functions in connection with or in respect of the organisation;
(b)the provision of goods, facilities or services in the course of activities carried on in the performance of the minister's functions in connection with or in respect of the organisation.
(6)Sub-paragraphs (3) to (5) permit a restriction relating to religion or belief only if it is imposed—
(a)because of the purpose of the organisation, or
(b)to avoid causing offence, on grounds of the religion or belief to which the organisation relates, to persons of that religion or belief.
(7)Sub-paragraphs (3) to (5) permit a restriction relating to sexual orientation only if it is imposed—
(a)because it is necessary to comply with the doctrine of the organisation, or
(b)to avoid conflict with strongly held convictions within sub-paragraph (9).
(8)In sub-paragraph (5), the reference to a minister is a reference to a minister of religion, or other person, who—
(a)performs functions in connection with a religion or belief to which the organisation relates, and
(b)holds an office or appointment in, or is accredited, approved or recognised for the purposes of the organisation.
(9)The strongly held convictions are—
(a)in the case of a religion, the strongly held religious convictions of a significant number of the religion's followers;
(b)in the case of a belief, the strongly held convictions relating to the belief of a significant number of the belief's followers.
[F1(9A)An organisation does not contravene Part 3, 4 or 7 only by refusing to allow premises owned or controlled by the organisation to be used—
(9B)A person (or a group of persons) does not contravene Part 3, 4 or 7 only by refusing to allow premises owned or controlled by the person (or the group) on behalf of an organisation to be used—
(9C)An organisation does not contravene section 29 only by allowing an approved celebrant of the organisation to act as set out in sub-paragraph (1) or (2) of paragraph 25B of Schedule 3.
(9D)In sub-paragraphs (9A) to (9C), “approved celebrant”, “relevant Scottish marriage” and “relevant Scottish civil partnership” have the same meaning as in paragraph 25B of Schedule 3.]
(10)This paragraph does not permit anything which is prohibited by section 29, so far as relating to sexual orientation, if it is done—
(a)on behalf of a public authority, and
(b)under the terms of a contract between the organisation and the public authority.
(11)In the application of this paragraph in relation to sexual orientation, sub-paragraph (1)(e) must be ignored.
(12)In the application of this paragraph in relation to sexual orientation, in sub-paragraph (3)(d), “disposal” does not include disposal of an interest in premises by way of sale if the interest being disposed of is—
(a)the entirety of the organisation's interest in the premises, or
(b)the entirety of the interest in respect of which the organisation has power of disposal.
(a)“disposal” is to be construed in accordance with section 38;
(b)“public authority” has the meaning given in section 150(1).
F1Sch. 23 para. 2(9A)-(9D) inserted (16.12.2014) by The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 and Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3229), art. 1(2), Sch. 5 para. 19(6)
I1Sch. 23 para. 2 wholly in force at 1.10.2012; Sch. 23 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 216; Sch. 23 in force for certain purposes at 1.10.2010 by S.I. 2010/2317, art. 2(14)(e) (with art. 15); Sch. 23 in force for remaining purposes at 1.10.2012 by S.I. 2012/1569, art. 3(g)