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| Scientology Supreme Court case couple get married | |
| (1 day later) | |
| A couple who won a Supreme Court challenge have got married in a Church of Scientology chapel in London. | A couple who won a Supreme Court challenge have got married in a Church of Scientology chapel in London. |
| Louisa Hodkin started the legal action after officials refused to register the Church of Scientology chapel as a place for marriage for her and fiance Alessandro Calcioli. | Louisa Hodkin started the legal action after officials refused to register the Church of Scientology chapel as a place for marriage for her and fiance Alessandro Calcioli. |
| In December, five Supreme Court judges ruled the church was a "place of meeting for religious worship". | In December, five Supreme Court judges ruled the church was a "place of meeting for religious worship". |
| After the wedding, Mr Calcioli said he was "ecstatic" about the occasion. | After the wedding, Mr Calcioli said he was "ecstatic" about the occasion. |
| He added he was "a little bit speechless but just so, so happy that this day has finally come". | He added he was "a little bit speechless but just so, so happy that this day has finally come". |
| The couple emerged from the chapel at about 15:00 GMT. | The couple emerged from the chapel at about 15:00 GMT. |
| Ms Hodkin said she was proud her victory had ended "inequality". | Ms Hodkin said she was proud her victory had ended "inequality". |
| The chapel had initially been refused as a wedding venue due to a 1970 High Court ruling which said Scientology services were not "acts of worship". | The chapel had initially been refused as a wedding venue due to a 1970 High Court ruling which said Scientology services were not "acts of worship". |
| Ms Hodkin had argued that the 1970 ruling should not be binding because Scientologist beliefs and services had evolved during the past four decades. | Ms Hodkin had argued that the 1970 ruling should not be binding because Scientologist beliefs and services had evolved during the past four decades. |
| She said services were "ones of religious worship" and likened Scientology to Buddhism and Jainism. | She said services were "ones of religious worship" and likened Scientology to Buddhism and Jainism. |
| Ms Hodkin and Mr Calcioli, both 25 and from East Grinstead, West Sussex, said: "It has been a long, five-year battle to achieve a simple freedom - the right to marry in our own church with a service in accordance with the rites and customs of our religion and surrounded by our friends and family. | Ms Hodkin and Mr Calcioli, both 25 and from East Grinstead, West Sussex, said: "It has been a long, five-year battle to achieve a simple freedom - the right to marry in our own church with a service in accordance with the rites and customs of our religion and surrounded by our friends and family. |
| "We are pleased and proud that our victory brings to an end inequality and unfairness, not just for Scientologists, but for people of all faiths - because the Supreme Court have now provided a definitive description of what a religion is, which had not existed before in English law." | "We are pleased and proud that our victory brings to an end inequality and unfairness, not just for Scientologists, but for people of all faiths - because the Supreme Court have now provided a definitive description of what a religion is, which had not existed before in English law." |
| A Church of Scientology spokesman said: "We are delighted that Louisa and Alessandro can now be married in their church in front of their family and fellow parishioners. They have paved the way for other Scientologist couples." | A Church of Scientology spokesman said: "We are delighted that Louisa and Alessandro can now be married in their church in front of their family and fellow parishioners. They have paved the way for other Scientologist couples." |