Would A 'conscience Clause' In Equality Laws Drive A Horse And Cart Through Them?

[sandyRoe]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-30385535

[ludwig]

// Paul Givan's Private Members Bill aims to create a legal exemption on grounds of strongly held religious beliefs. //

This wouldn't be right. We should all be equal under the law - it's a fundamental principle. No-one should be entitled to special dispensation from the law on the grounds of some belief they may or may not have.
Where there's a conflict, the law should take precedence over any religious notion of right or wrong.

If you know your religion is going to bring you into conflict with the law you should either avoid scenarios where that may happen (e.g don't open a bed and breakfast if you intend to discriminate against certain customers), or go with your conscience, but don't whinge about being prosecuted.

The gay cake thing is a total red herring. No-one was discriminated against. The baker was completely within in his rights to refuse that particular commission in my opinion

[Peter Pedant]

as ever it depends on the details

the conscience clause in the Abortion Act doesnt work too badly.

But in the NHS - ooh I dont want to care for this patient ( because he has AIDS ) because of my religious beliefs you see
would work less well.