Professor Rex Ahdar, Faculty of Law, University of Otago, comments on the conscience clause inserted into section 29 of the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill by the Government Administration Committee, to protect religious liberty. He asks:
“Will all marriage celebrants be immunized?
“Will marriage celebrants who object, on the ground of religious belief or conscience, to conducting marriage ceremonies for homosexual and lesbian couples be protected in law?”
Read his blog post:
Gay marriage and preserving religious freedom for celebrants
http://pundit.co.nz/content/gay-marriage-and-preserving-religious-freedom-for-celebrants
Martin Platt says
Has anything changed in the wording of the bill yet, to clarify individual freedom for the individual? If not what can we do in protest and appeal to good sense? Religious freedom has to apply to the individual, not just the prevailing opinion of the religious body someone belongs to. Otherwise it is not religious freedom!