David Quinn appeared on Morning Ireland, debating Colm O’Gorman of Amnesty International about the introduction of a “conscience clause” protecting the freedom of conscience rights of bakers, printers, and other citizens who don’t support same-sex marriage, in the event that the referendum was passed.

Listen to the item here.

It’s an important and relevent debate to have, as the Asher’s Bakery case in Northern Ireland is currently ongoing. In that case, a small family-run bakery was asked to bake a cake bearing the slogan “Support Gay Marriage” and then taken to court by Northern Ireland’s equality commission when they refused.

A public meeting held in support of the bakery drew thousands of people – the Belfast Telegraph reported on it here.

Ultimately, the question of freedom of conscience gives the lie to the idea that same-sex marriage won’t effect anyone else: the truth is that without a conscience clause, anyone who won’t publically affirm same-sex marriage through their businesses risks being made a criminal.