Madam, – I think that by including a “freedom of conscience” amendment in the Civil Partnership Bill we would be supporting the continued discrimination against homosexuals. What gives a certain registrar the right to decide to discriminate against a same-sex couple if he wishes to?
This homophobic behaviour is on the same level as racism, yet society continues to condone it, even though racist activity has long been recognised as unacceptable. Attitudes need to be changed and this opt-out option will not do anything to help. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I write to support the 19 evangelical Protestant pastors’ call (May 5th) on the Minister for Justice, to insert a freedom of conscience clause in the Civil Partnership Bill. The Irish Catholic bishops issued a similar call (March 11th), describing the Bill as “an extraordinary and far-reaching attack on freedom of conscience ”.
In other jurisdictions similar legislation has had a severe effect on Christian organisations, eg: 1. In New Jersey, a Methodist church was successfully sued when it refused to hire its hall to a lesbian couple following registration of their civil partnership.
2. Some UK Catholic adoption agencies were forced to close rather than accept same-sex couples as prospective adoptive parents.
When enacted, the Civil Partnership Bill will change the pensions, employment equality and equal status Acts. The words “marital status” will be replaced with “civil status”, to outlaw discrimination. Then if a church refuses to allow a gay couple to hire its hall, it could breach the Equality Status Act, as could a Christian printer or photographer who conscientiously objects to printing, say, the invitations to a same-sex civil ceremony, or photographing the ceremony.
Three of the five US states permitting same-sex marriage – Maine, Vermont and Connecticut – have clauses in their laws protecting religious freedom. I call on Dermot Ahern to do similarly and allow a conscience clause in his Bill. – Yours, etc,
