The Government’s Civil Partnership Bill is “a direct attack upon freedom of conscience and religion”, Ireland’s top evangelical leaders have said.

In a letter in yesterday’s Irish Times, 19 evangelical leaders across the country expressed profound concern about the Bill.

In particular, they referred to the fact that the Bill imposes a €2,000 fine and up to six months imprisonment on a registrar who refuses to facilitate a civil partnership.

They also suggested that proprietors of guest houses and B&B establishments may similarly be subject to penalty.

Despite repeated calls, Justice Minister Dermot Ahern has refused to insert a clause into the Bill to protect freedom of conscience or religion.

In correspondence, voters calling for such an amendment were told by the Department of Justice that such an amendment could lead to “unintended consequences”, such as a Christian member of the Garda Siochana refusing to deal with a domestic violence incident, because of the Bible’s injunction that a husband has a right to chastise his wife.

The leaders pointed out that their sincerely held religious beliefs meant that they could not cooperate in anyway with same-sex civil unions.

The letter said: “We believe from God’s word that the sole context for all sexual activity is to be within a marriage union between one man and one woman. The Bible is clear that all sexual activity outside of this state is sinful, including homosexual practice.”

The letter said that the Bill, “in accordance with normal good practice…..should respect freedom of conscience and religion”.

The letter concluded by calling upon Minister Ahern “to move to protect freedom of conscience and religion for Christians employed in the registry service and hospitality sector”.