On the heels of last week's ruling legalizing same-sex marriages in California, a city clerk in England is suing her employer for the right not to officiate at homosexual weddings because of her faith.

"I feel strongly about maintaining my Christian beliefs and conscience," Lillian Ladele told the London Telegraph. "I can't go against what it says in the Bible. I don't understand why the council can't use other people who have no problem with the ceremonies."

Islington council in London informed the registrar she could be fired unless she agrees to preside at the ceremonies.

Ladele claims "discrimination or victimization on grounds of religion or belief."

Britain introduced its Civil Partnership Act in 2004, giving same-sex couples the same rights as married couples. Ladele, who has worked at the council since 1992, believes she should be given exemption.

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The paper notes registrars of births, marriages and deaths had the freedom to opt out of civil-partnership ceremonies until last year when a new law changed their employment status.

A spokesman for the council said: "Islington council will be robustly defending its position at the employment tribunal."

Rev. Michael Scott-Joynt, the bishop of Winchester, said it was important to recognize objections on grounds of conscience.

But Ben Summerskill of the homosexual rights group Stonewall told the paper: "Doctors and nurses can't choose who they treat, and nor should a registrar be allowed to discriminate."

Last Thursday, the California Supreme Court trashed society's traditional institution of marriage, opening it up for same-sex duos because retaining the historic definition "cannot properly be viewed as a compelling state interest."

Despite that decision, with a voter initiative drive already under way, pro-family groups in California believe the battle over marriage in the Golden State is far from over.

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