Page 3, 16th April 1993
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THERE were doubly big smiles last week when Leicester Catholic NIP Keith Vaz finally wedded his fiancee not once, but twice!
The campaigning Labour MP for Leicester East and his new bride, lawyer Maria Fernandes, decided to hold two ceremonies one at Westminster Cathedral in the morning, and one at St Mary's Undercroft, the preReformation crypt chapel in the House of Commons, in the afternoon.
The numerous nuptials became necessary after the couple, both Goan Catholics, were told they would only be permitted to marry in the crypt chapel where MPs traditionally tie the knot and baptise their children if they carried out the formal exchange of wedding vows in front of an Anglican priest. Outraged fellow MPs demanded action to end what they saw as discrimination against Catholics caused by archaic laws, but happy compromise in the form of the dual ceremony plan finally won the day.
Diplomats from Pakistan and India as well as parliamentary colleagues from all parties attended both ceremonies, celebrated by Fr Daniel Cronin, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Westminster.
Fr Cronin was joined at the Commons service by Revd Dr Donald Gray, the official Anglican chaplain to the House of Commons, whose presence ensured that the marriage was recognised in law.
Mr and Mrs Vaz are currently honeymooning in India.
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