The Irish Catholic reports (not sure of publication date) that there is growing support for a concientious objector or ‘religious freedom’ amendment to the Civil Partnership Bill. (h/t Ian)

Amongst the TD’s quoted as being supportive are Mattie McGrath (FF – Tipperary South) and Lucinda Creighton (FG Dublin South East)

Irish Catholic editor (and former Vatican Radio staffer) Michael Kelly writes that Creighton supports such an amendment and that there are several other FG TD’s in support of it.  There are lots of lesbians and gay men living and voting in Dublin South East (Ranelagh, Rathmines, Donnybrook, etc.) and you may feel the urge to respectfully contact Ms. Creighton (lucinda.creighton (@) oireachtas.ie) and tell her that there is no need for such an amendment and that this issue has nothing to do with religion.  No amendments have been published yet by the way. We’ll have to wait for the second stage to proceed on Thursday.

Labour are against including an amendment protecting registrars but say

”In general, the Labour Party would not support any measure that requires a religious organisation to be involved in any activity that is in conflict with its ethical position.”

Eh? It’s Civil Partnership.  However I’m sure they are referring to the church hall committee ruse.  Now if that parish hall has been in receipt of state funds and provides those facilities for groups that have nothing to do with religion I don’t see how it should be permitted to stop people using it for celebrations but I don’t think there is going to be massive queues to book the hall for a CP party.

I assumed the Labour Party won’t be supporting any amendment aimed at ‘protecting’ bigotry from an organisation or individual.  I’m sure that assumption is correct.