Priest disciplined for marrying 'gay' partner

A British employment tribunal has endorsed the discipline imposed by the Church of England on a member of its clergy after he "married" his same-sex partner.

"The claimant would never have been in this position had he not defied the doctrine of the church," said the ruling from an employment tribunal that reviewed a complaint brought by Jeremy Pemberton against the Church of England.

"The claimant knowingly entered into that marriage and knew what the potential consequences could be for him," the ruling said, adding there was "no doubt whatsoever that the present doctrine of the church is clear."

Last year, Pemberton became the first Church of England clergy member to enter a "same-sex marriage."

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Shortly after, the Right Rev. Richard Inwood, then acting bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, said he had revoked Pemberton's license to act as a priest.

Pemberton then took a claim of harassment to a government employment tribunal and had his case rejected.

The church diocese said in a statement to the Christian Institute that "we are thankful to the tribunal for its work on this complex case and for its findings in favor of the former Acting Diocesan Bishop, the Rt Revd Richard Inwood, on all the claims made against him."

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"We recognize that it has been a long and difficult process for all concerned, and we continue to hold them in our thoughts and prayers."

The BBC reported the 58-page decision dismissed Pemberton's claim outright.

"Mr. Pemberton claimed that the Church of England's stance on same-sex marriage breached the 2010 Equality Act," the report said. "The case has shown the complexities of a church whose doctrine and canon law now diverges significantly from secular law in Britain on the issue of same-sex marriage."

The BBC pointed out there's at least one other church official who has "married his same-sex partner" but who has yet to be disciplined, "giving bishops some discretion in how to handle the issue."

BBC reported Pemberton was working as a chaplain in a Lincolnshire hospital and had been planning to move to a new position in Nottinghamshire but could not because his permission to act as a priest was suspended after he married his partner in 2014.

While Pemberton launched his discrimination complaint based on his sexual orientation, the tribunal was told that his actions violated the church's beliefs.

Pemberton issued a statement expressing disappointmen and said he was considering an appeal.

When Pemberton got "married," the divorced father of five said: "I love this man and I want to be married to him. That's what I want."

The church's response at the time was a letter that said, "All are in agreement that the Christian understanding and doctrine of marriage as a lifelong union between one man and one woman remains unchanged."

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