Some of Ireland most senior evangelical leaders and pastors have called the Government's Civil Partnership Bill “a direct attack upon freedom of conscience and religion.” In a letter in Wednesday's Irish Times, 19 evangelical leaders across the country expressed profound concern about the Bill.
The criticism comes after Cardinal Brady attacked the Bill on similar grounds last year.
Speaking in Limerick Cathedral, he described the Bill, which is set to pass later this year, as "an alarming attack on the fundamental principle of freedom of religion and conscience.”
The pastors' letter expressed particular anxiety about the fact that the Bill imposes a €2,000 fine and up to six months imprisonment on a registrar who refuses to facilitate a civil partnership.
Proprietors of guesthouses and B&B establishments might also be subject to penalty, they warned.
Despite repeated calls, Justice Minister Dermot Ahern has refused to insert a clause into the Bill to protect freedom of conscience or religion.
In correspondence, voters calling for such an amendment have been told by the Department of Justice that such an amendment could lead to “unintended consequences,” such as the possibility of a Christian member of the Garda Síochána refusing to deal with a domestic violence incident, because of the Bible's injunction that a husband has a right to chastise his wife.
Government officials have not responded to the suggestion that a religious freedom amendment could be drafted in such a way as to avoid such consequences.
The leaders pointed out that their sincerely held religious beliefs meant that they could not cooperate in any way with same-sex civil unions.
The letter said, “We believe from God’s word that the sole context for all sexual activity is to be within a marriage union between one man and one woman. The Bible is clear that all sexual activity outside of this state is sinful, including homosexual practice.”
The letter said that the Bill, “in accordance with normal good practice... should respect freedom of conscience and religion.”
The letter concluded by calling on Minister Ahern “to move to protect freedom of conscience and religion for Christians employed in the registry service and hospitality sector.”
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