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A Christian registrar who was demoted after refusing to conduct civil partnership is suing Islington Council for discriminating against her.

Theresa Davies claimed that her religious beliefs made it impossible for her to conduct same-sex ceremonies. Davies took four months’ sick leave with stress from her £24,000-a-year job, and on her return was told she must perform the ceremonies or be demoted to the position of receptionist.

Miss Davies, who has worked at the London council for 18 years, told the Telegraph: “Doctors can opt out of performing abortions on conscience grounds so why can’t I opt out of civil partnerships?”

This is the second civil partnership scandal for Islington Council.

In July 2008 Lillian Ladele took the council to court after she was threatened with dismissal for refusing to carry out ’sinful’ civil partnerships.

Ladele initially won the case, but an Employment Appeal Tribunal ruled in December 2008 that the council had acted lawfully in expecting all its registration staff to perform the ceremonies. Ladele now plans to challenge that decision in the Court of Appeal.

Theresa Davies claims that her refusal to conduct civil partnerships is not homophobia. “I have nothing against homosexuals,” she said. “My colleagues in the office will tell you that – and the openly gay ones have no problem with me.

“All I am asking is that the system can be arranged so I do not have to perform civil partnerships.

“I know of other councils that have allowed Christian registrars to carry on by ensuring that colleagues are given civil partnerships – but I was told this was not Islington’s policy.”

Davies is now launching a grievance procedure against the council  with the support of the Christian Legal Centre. She is claiming discrimination on the grounds of her religious beliefs.

A spokesperson for Islington Council commented “Ms Davies indicated that she is not willing to conduct civil partnerships because of her religious beliefs. As a consequence, and following detailed discussion with Ms Davies, a year ago she accepted another job in the same team which did not require her to conduct civil partnerships or marriages.

“Ms Davies made no formal response to a recent consultation on a restructure in the registrars’ department, and we had no reason to think she was unhappy with her role.

“Islington Council expects its employees to provide services to all sections of the community. A recent court ruling backed the council’s stance that registrars must carry out civil partnerships as well as marriages.”

As well as attempting to sue the council, Davies has also sent a letter to all members of the House of Lords complaining of an alleged ‘militant political-sexual libertarian lobby’ at the council.

“Britain is supposed to be a nation that respects freedom of conscience,” said Davies. “But my conscience is not being respected. If Islington Council believes in dignity for all, why can’t my beliefs be accommodated and why is my dignity not being respected?

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