A NUMBER OF religious groups have written to the Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald asking for a ‘conscience clause’ to be included in any marriage equality legislation if the upcoming referendum passes.
The Irish Examiner reports that some Muslim, Quaker and Christian groups maintain that if it passes, the changes would discriminate against people opposed to gay marriage for religious reasons. They fear they could be at risk of being prosecuted if they hold firm on their beliefs “in employment, worship or social interaction”.
The groups cite the recent controversies where businesses have refused gay couples as customers and asked the minister to introduce the “safeguard”. It would mean that businesses would be allowed to refuse services related to gay marriage.
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