The United States Constitution may arguably protect equality when it comes to same-sex marriage, but there may be other constitutional issues that pose a problem ("US Constitution protects equality" by Mr Robbie Straughan; last Wednesday).

The First Amendment in the Bill of Rights guarantees freedom of religion.

With the US Supreme Court's decision to declare same-sex marriages legal, the issue of whether churches or other religious bodies will be required to comply - when, in fact, many of them may be opposed to it - comes into question.

There have already been several Christian businesses in the US that have faced lawsuits for refusing to cater to same-sex couples because they believe homosexuality is against their beliefs.

I abhor discrimination, but what constitutes discrimination is not always clear.

Upholding the constitutionality of one aspect of the issue presents questions on whether it becomes unconstitutional in other areas.

Perhaps the choice of whether to conduct same-sex marriage ceremonies should be left to religious bodies, as the individual states still have the authority to recognise these unions.

Marc Servos