So are people who strongly believe that divorce is not religiously allowed free to not give out marriage licenses where one or both of the applicants are divorced? Are people who believe that God intended for the races to stay separate allowed to decline to assist marriage license applicants who are of mixed race? Are county clerks who believe that fornication is a sin allowed to give a pass to issuing marriage licenses to a couple who are sharing the same address (and, presumably, bed)?
'"There are some [deputy clerks] that have voiced some opposition to doing it — [they have] religious feelings about it … so it's basically my idea that they won't do any marriage at all," said Joan Williams, clerk of the St. Mary's County Circuit Court. "Some people are just very against same-sex marriages, and I have to respect their reasons and their decisions."'
If clerks who aren't willing to provide marriage licenses to same-sex couples are removed from doing marriage licenses as a whole, that's fine — no discrimination is taking place. If they are allowed just to give out licenses for marriages of which they religiously approve, then I sense a law suit or twelve coming on.
Embedded Link
Same-sex marriage faces some lingering resistance in Md. | WashingtonExaminer.com
When same-sex marriage becomes legal in Maryland next week, some employees in the St. Mary’s County Circuit Court will stop performing marriages, passing the duty on to other employees.
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