Public officials empowered to perform marriages, Whitehead said, may be able to refuse to perform any weddings, but an official who performs only heterosexual marriages likely will be declared in violation of the Constitution.Whitehead cited events in North Carolina as a microcosm of what could happen across the nation. Last fall, the state's 670 magistrates received a memo from North Carolina's Administrative Office of the Courts stating that because a federal court had legalized gay marriage in the state, magistrates were required to perform same-sex weddings or face possible criminal prosecution.
At least six magistrates resigned rather than marry homosexual couples. Later, the state legislature passed a bill allowing magistrates to opt out of performing weddings altogether. Gay marriage advocates are challenging the law in court.
Gilbert Breedlove, a former magistrate in Swain County, N.C., who resigned rather than perform gay weddings, told BP other Christian officials should prepare to "respond in faith" to the Supreme Court's ruling even "if it takes resigning your commission."
Breedlove, pastor of an independent Baptist church in Bryson City, N.C., predicted Christian public officials generally will choose to resign rather than defy the law. But he acknowledged that some officials might "feel the Lord leading them to face criminal charges."
I am not expecting any issues in the near future. And I WON’T be performing ANY gay marriages.
Military chaplains will be he first victims...
Note to the Marxist Pope; ex-communicate any Catholic who officiates at a same sex wedding. Of course it’s what he should do but he won’t just as Catholic politicians who support abortion receive Communion.
OKAY... do your way... it BUT do it in a way they DON’T WANT....
have them sign a document allowing you to direct the proceedings.. (i.e. legal contract)...
YOUR WAY OR NO WAY....
Read biblical references to SODOMY and God’s judgement on SODOMY...
AND charge them an arm and a leg...
The court’s edict has been issued despite the fact that these issues have not even begun to be resolved.
Anyone who gets an Online Certificate making them a Minister in the Church of Whatever Floats Your Boat.
Start educating the flock about what could happen. First, business as usual but letting them know that when the “plant” comes, as you know they will, then the pastor gets out of the state witnessing of the marriage and witnesses before God alone. Tell them in advance that this will mean they have to be “married” twice if they want to be married in the church and that they should marry first in the church. Then dump the legal responsibilities for the state recognized marriage on the state, where it belongs. It may reduce the number of church weddings but the ones who get married in the church will really want to be there.
Hmm...well, I’m technically a state employee myself. I suppose I could offer to officiate and save everyone a lot of trouble. Not sure every detail of the ceremony would be entirely well-received, the blindfolded tightrope walk over the flaming tank of oil, for one thing...
Can they turn a couple down for a ceremony based on skin color? No? Well then, they can't turn down the deviants, either. Both are now a "civil right".
The Federal courts are very diligent about protecting their decisions and their implementation. Any government official who has taken an oath to uphold and defend will be forced to perform these marriages or resign. Kennedy has made it clear that at this time, he will not entertain efforts by individuals or the government to coerce religious institutions or clergy. Why overplay a winning hand. However it will be interesting to see how the courts deal with ordinary individuals who based on their conscience refuse to take an oath to uphold and defend or perform civic duties such as jury duty. If the US Constitution is really the basis for the widespread carnage of abortion on demand and the implementation of the decadent and hedonistic homosexual agenda, then people of conscience like the 2nd and 3rd century Christians may as a form of civil disobedience refuse service. “Your honor with all due respect to your court, I would prefer not to be a juror or take this oath. In my heart I am have a deep antipathy for the institution that made the widespread killing of human life possible. If you force me to serve it is doubtful I will be able to concentrate and perform this service.” In the 1960s Mohammed Ali based on his religious convictions and conscience was excused from his civic duties. Will people of conscience be afforded the same courtesy today?
Just trying to “play chess” with it. Gays who are not following religion won’t be a problem. Gays who enjoy religion and wish to be married in a church or synagogue will naturally gravitate to the church in town that wants to marry them. Which there will be. I see those churches having more people and more money. Straight people will say to each other, Church X wouldn’t even marry Tom and Steve! And some of those people will be cowed to go to the more “accepting” church Y. That could be a problem, though for a generation there might be a goodly portion of people who prefer Church Y and support it. But for how long?
Churches are not required to marry just any couple who asks now. Pastors have the right to refuse to marry couples they believe will divorce later and they do so all the time.
To demand that every church begin to marry just anybody who asks will be a violation of current law and religious freedom.
When CA allowed same sex marriages, our County Clerk ceased performing any marriages. They do, however, issue marriage licenses to both. They also issue a permit allowing any adult the authority to perform a one time marriage ceremony. That was the couple can have anyone of their choice.
The pastor of the church I attend said under no circumstances will he officiate, approve of, or support homosexual “marriage,” and the same goes for every assistant pastor and elder. It ain’t happenin’ here.
The libs would be wise to avoid this fight. Some of the most vocal, vehement opponents to homo “marriage” are black churches.
Isn’t this just the perfect distraction for the regime’s other actions to destroy America going on while we debate the damnation of the degenerates? Let them go to hell on their own, and do not performs for them a sacrament which God instituted for one man and one woman. A dash of poison in a gallon of spring water is still a pale of poison.
If I were a preacher and was forced to perform a gay marriage ceremony. I think it would be a very easy solution.
I would tell the couple getting married that I am against gay marriage and that if they choose to force me to do it, my entire sermon would be dedicated to preaching against it. I would make it perfectly clear that while they may be able to force me into performing, they can’t force me into saying what they want me to say.
Same thing if I were a baker or a photographer.
I would simply say, “I am really against this and don’t want to do it but I realize the legal ramifications. If I am forced to bake your cake, take your pictures, etc...under penalty of law, I will not do a good job because my heart will not be in it. I don’t work well with a gun pointed at me. If you are unhappy with the result, I am sorry but you were warned in advance.”
This really isn’t that difficult of a problem.
Does your church ban gay marriage? Then it should start paying taxes.
OBAMA: WE NEED TO HELP PEOPLE OVERCOME THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
Tax-Exempt Status of Churches Imperiled
Obama Admin Admits Tax-Exempt Status of Churches at Stake in Supremes' Gay 'Marriage Case
Y'all are in a tizzy over nothing. Churches will be just fine because, religious liberty, or something...