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| Scotland's same-sex marriage opt-in clause is right, say gay campaigners | Scotland's same-sex marriage opt-in clause is right, say gay campaigners |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Churches wanting to conduct same-sex marriages in Scotland should opt in to the system, gay rights activists have told MSPs. | Churches wanting to conduct same-sex marriages in Scotland should opt in to the system, gay rights activists have told MSPs. |
| Tim Hopkins, of the Equality Network, and Colin MacFarlane, of Stonewall Scotland, were addressing the Equal Opportunities Committee. | Tim Hopkins, of the Equality Network, and Colin MacFarlane, of Stonewall Scotland, were addressing the Equal Opportunities Committee. |
| It is taking evidence about the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill. | It is taking evidence about the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill. |
| The Scottish government introduced the bill at the end of June. | The Scottish government introduced the bill at the end of June. |
| It is now undergoing scrutiny before committee members and in the Scottish Parliament chamber. | It is now undergoing scrutiny before committee members and in the Scottish Parliament chamber. |
| The government said it was aiming to revise the law while protecting rights of religious groups not to carry out ceremonies. | The government said it was aiming to revise the law while protecting rights of religious groups not to carry out ceremonies. |
| Mr Hopkins and Mr MacFarlane agreed that they would not ask an organisation to conduct same-sex marriage if they did not want to carry it out. | Mr Hopkins and Mr MacFarlane agreed that they would not ask an organisation to conduct same-sex marriage if they did not want to carry it out. |
| 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 be hearing from representatives of the Church of Scotland, Roman Catholic Church and Muslim community who have voiced their opposition to the plans. | The Equal Opportunities Committee will also be hearing from representatives of the Church of Scotland, Roman Catholic Church and Muslim community who have voiced their opposition to the plans. |
| During an evidence session on Thursday morning, Kieran Turner, of the Evangelical Alliance Scotland, urged the committee to address the worries of his organisation. | |
| He believed there were "wide implications" of the proposed legislation. | |
| Mr Turner said: "We have a huge amount of churches and organisations that provide a huge amount of social welfare in Scotland - running food banks and doing debt advice, homeless projects and groups like the Salvation Army. | |
| "It is partnered with local authorities and statutory agencies as they deliver these services - we think that is a good thing, we want that to continue. | |
| "But we are concerned that their views on marriage could become a hindrance to them in that partnership." |