Church leaders have called for a conscience clause in the same-sex marriage legislation in Scotland to protect individuals who believe marriage is between a man and a woman.
The Free Church of Scotland wants the Scottish Government to include a clause within the Bill that is similar to abortion legislation which protects medical staff who oppose the procedure. A spokesman said: ‘The legislation has worked well for abortion, another deeply contentious moral issue, and it would make sense to have similar provision for same-sex marriage’.
Individual celebrants are said to be protected under the new Bill, but the church says there is a ‘lack of clarity on how this legislation will affect individuals who believe marriage is only between a man and a woman’. An added conscience clause would offer protection to the likes of individual teachers who do not want to teach pupils about same-sex marriage.
