ChristianView Network condemns same-sex marriage ruling as 'infringement of rights'
ChristianView Network believes the ruling by the High Court in Pretoria on same-marriages in the Dutch Reformed Church is an infringement on the right of the church to make its own decisions.
The court on Friday as overturned a decision by church not to recognise same-sex marriages.
In 2015, the church gave its blessing to same-sex unions but later changed its stance amid pressure from some congregants.
The church also decided that homosexual people could become ministers only if they are celibate.
Twelve congregants who are in same-sex relationships subsequently turned to the courts to force the church to reverse its decision, with the court finding in their favour on Friday.
The leader of ChristianView Network, Philip Rosenthal, says the church's merely affirmed its position on homosexuality.
"The ruling is seriously overstepping the court's legitimate right to make decisions which is an infringement of the constitution itself. The other element is the basis on which this decision has been made, the same argument can be used to just incrementally take away more and more freedoms. It's a completely unsound argument and interpretation of the constitution.”
The judgment has been lauded by gay-right groups but Rosenthal hopes the church will lodge an appeal.
"The Christian church, over the broad sweep of history since the beginning, has always taken this policy of opposing same-sex marriage and homosexuality both in terms of ceremony and in terms of clergy. The fact that they have previously compromised and allowed certain other practices has been used by the court as an argument as to why they have a right to interfere in these processes."
The Dutch Reformed Church said it will first have to study the judgment before deciding on a possible appeal.