Two British Columbia women who accused a Catholic men's group of discriminating against them for cancelling their wedding hall booking in 2003 have been partly vindicated by the provincial Human Rights Tribunal.

Tracey Smith and Deborah Chymyshyn had signed a contract with the managers of the Knights of Columbus hall in Port Coquitlam.

But after they paid their deposit and sent out their wedding invitations, the hall's managers realized that the two women were marrying each other and cancelled the booking.

Smith and Chymyshyn complained to the Human Rights Tribunal that it was discriminatory to offer a facility to the public and then say a particular group can't use it.

The tribunal ruled the organization should pay the women $1,000 each for the embarrassment and hardship they suffered.

But the decision also says the Knights of Columbus cannot be forced to contradict its religious beliefs. The tribunal has told the fraternal group it should have assisted the women in finding another hall to mitigate the harm.

Knights of Columbus representative Elemer Lazar says he can't comment on the ruling because he hasn't read it yet, but did say he is disappointed by the outcome.