Skip to main content

A student walks past the bell tower at Trinity Western University in Langley, B.C., on August 24, 2015. B.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson ruled in favour of the controversial university, reversing a B.C. Law Society decision to deny accreditation for graduates of its proposed law school who want to practise in the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckThe Canadian Press

The Law Society of British Columbia is appealing a court ruling in favour of a Christian university that would ban sex outside of heterosexual marriage at its proposed law school.

Last month's B.C. Supreme Court ruling quashed the society's 2014 decision not to accredit graduates of the proposed law school at Trinity Western University in Langley, B.C.

Society president David Crossin says the B.C. Court of Appeal should decide the charter issues raised by the case that pits equality rights against religious freedom.

Trinity Western requires students to sign a so-called community covenant pledging to abstain from sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman.

Law societies in Ontario and Nova Scotia have opposed granting the university accreditation, and rulings on those matters are under appeal.

Observers say the case could ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court of Canada.

Interact with The Globe