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Supreme Court judges allow Scientology wedding Supreme Court judges allow Scientology wedding
(35 minutes later)
A woman who wants to marry in a Church of Scientology chapel has won her Supreme Court challenge.A woman who wants to marry in a Church of Scientology chapel has won her Supreme Court challenge.
Louisa Hodkin took the action after the High Court ruled Scientology services were not "acts of worship".Louisa Hodkin took the action after the High Court ruled Scientology services were not "acts of worship".
But five Supreme Court judges disagreed, ruling the church was a "place of meeting for religious worship".But five Supreme Court judges disagreed, ruling the church was a "place of meeting for religious worship".
Miss Hodkin wants to marry Alessandro Calcioli in a Church of Scientology chapel in central London.Miss Hodkin wants to marry Alessandro Calcioli in a Church of Scientology chapel in central London.
She took legal action after the registrar general of births, deaths and marriages refused to register the London Church Chapel for the solemnisation of marriages under the 1855 Places of Worship Registration Act because it was not a place for "religious worship".She took legal action after the registrar general of births, deaths and marriages refused to register the London Church Chapel for the solemnisation of marriages under the 1855 Places of Worship Registration Act because it was not a place for "religious worship".
Evolution of beliefs
The Supreme Court justices said religion should not be confined to faiths which involve a "supreme deity".The Supreme Court justices said religion should not be confined to faiths which involve a "supreme deity".
They said as the Church of Scientology held religious services, its church was a "place of meeting for religious worship". They said that, as the Church of Scientology held religious services, its church was a "place of meeting for religious worship".
The justices unanimously allowed Miss Hodkin's appeal against the High Court ruling.The justices unanimously allowed Miss Hodkin's appeal against the High Court ruling.
The Church of Scientology launched a similar case in 1970, in which the Court of Appeal ruled that Scientology did not involve religious worship because there was no "veneration of God or of a Supreme Being". In his judgment, Lord Toulson described the earlier judgement as "illogical, discriminatory and unjust".
Miss Hodkin said: "It's been a long and demanding journey, but the Supreme Court's decision has made it all worthwhile. We are really excited that we can now get married, and thank our family and friends for all of their patience and support."
The Church of Scientology launched a similar case in 1970, in which the Court of Appeal ruled it did not involve religious worship because there was no "veneration of God or of a Supreme Being".
In December 2012, High Court Judge Mr Justice Ouseley said he was bound by that decision and therefore had to dismiss Miss Hodkin's challenge.
But he said Supreme Court justices should consider the question of whether Scientologists worshipped and, as it was a more senior court, its justices might take a different view.
Miss Hodkin argued that the 1970 ruling should not be binding because Scientologist beliefs and services had evolved.
She said services were "ones of religious worship" and likened Scientology to Buddhism and Jainism.