Irish Wedding News
05/09/2013
Tim Hopkins, from the Equality Network, and Colin MacFarlane of Stonewall Scotland were speaking to the Equal Opportunities Committee.
The Committee is taking evidence about the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill.
In June, the government introduced the Bill, and it is currently undergoing scrutiny before committee members and in the Scottish Parliament chamber.
The government has said it aims to revise the law, while also protecting the rights of religious groups who do not wish to carry out same-sex marriages.
Both campaigners agreed that they would not ask an organisation to conduct same-sex marriage if they did not want to.
Mr MacFarlane said: "The opt-in is right and the balance is right within this bill.
"I don't think it is for any of us here on this panel to tell a religious organisation what they should do. That is for the religious organisation, through discussion, through prayer, to come to that conclusion themselves."
The Equal Opportunities Committee will also hear from representatives of the Church of Scotland, Roman Catholic Church and Muslim community who have all voiced their opposition to the plans.
Kieran Turner, of the Evangelical Alliance Scotland, urged the committee to address the concerns, saying he felt there would be "wide implications" as a result of the proposed legislation.
(JP/CD)
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Gay Marriage 'Opt-In Option Is Right'
Gay rights activists in Scotland have told MSPs that churches wanting to conduct same-sex marriages in the country should 'opt in' to the system, the BBC has reported.Tim Hopkins, from the Equality Network, and Colin MacFarlane of Stonewall Scotland were speaking to the Equal Opportunities Committee.
The Committee is taking evidence about the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill.
In June, the government introduced the Bill, and it is currently undergoing scrutiny before committee members and in the Scottish Parliament chamber.
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The government has said it aims to revise the law, while also protecting the rights of religious groups who do not wish to carry out same-sex marriages.
Both campaigners agreed that they would not ask an organisation to conduct same-sex marriage if they did not want to.
Mr MacFarlane said: "The opt-in is right and the balance is right within this bill.
"I don't think it is for any of us here on this panel to tell a religious organisation what they should do. That is for the religious organisation, through discussion, through prayer, to come to that conclusion themselves."
The Equal Opportunities Committee will also hear from representatives of the Church of Scotland, Roman Catholic Church and Muslim community who have all voiced their opposition to the plans.
Kieran Turner, of the Evangelical Alliance Scotland, urged the committee to address the concerns, saying he felt there would be "wide implications" as a result of the proposed legislation.
(JP/CD)
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