text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill - New Clause 3 - Conscientious Objection From Registrars to Marrying Same Sex Couples
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  @ MP voted no to require registrars to carry out same sex marriages even if they object to them on the basis of sincerely held religious or other beliefs.
  @ MP voted aye to allow registrars not to carry out same sex marriages if they object to them on the basis of sincerely held religious or other beliefs.
  
  The majority of MPs voted to require registrars to carry out same sex marriages even if they object to them on the basis of sincerely held religious or other beliefs.
  
  The text of the proposed new clause which was rejected in the vote was:
  
  :(1) No person shall be under any duty, whether by contract or by statutory or other legal requirement, to conduct a marriage to which he has a conscientious objection if he is employed as a registrar of marriages on the date this Act comes in force.
  :(2) For the purposes of this section, a âconscientious objectionâ exists where the refusal to conduct a marriage is only that it concerns a same sex couple, and is based on the personâs sincerely held religious or other beliefs.
  :(3) This section is without prejudice to the duty of a registration authority to ensure that there is a sufficient number of registrars and superintendent registrars in that area to carry out the required functions.
  :(4) In any legal proceedings the burden of proof of conscientious objection shall rest on the person claiming to rely on it.â.
  
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  * [1] [http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2013-14/marriagesamesexcouplesbill.html Parliament's webpage on the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill (now the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013)]
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  