This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The vast majority of Utahns don't want to see a Mormon bishop, a Catholic priest or any other religious cleric being forced to perform same-sex marriages.

Even though constitutional scholars see little danger of such a mandate ever occurring — given the freedom-of-religion clauses enshrined in the First Amendment — some Utah lawmakers are planning legislation to buttress that protection for faith groups now that gay marriage is legal in the Beehive State.

The latest survey, released Wednesday, shows 80 percent of Utah's registered voters would support such religious safeguards (64 percent "strongly" and 16 percent "somewhat").

Fewer than two in 10 (13 percent) would oppose them.

The UtahPolicy.com poll, conduced by Dan Jones & Associates Oct. 14-16, asked voters the following:

"Several legislators say they will introduce bills to make it even more clear that clergy don't have to perform same-sex marriages or conduct or condone same-sex marriage associations. Do you support or oppose such a bill?"

The margin of error was plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.