The Constitution guarantees everyone's right to practice religion as they prefer, but it does not enable people to impose their beliefs on others.
That's the crux of a federal court ruling in a Kentucky case where a county clerk refused to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple, claiming "God's authority" prohibited her from doing so.
But to defend that refusal on religious grounds combines church and state policies, which is banned by the Constitution. In effect, the clerk joined religious beliefs with government law.
Church officials can decline to perform a marriage ceremony for any couple, be they two-gender or same-gender, citing that institution's religious belief system, but that is separate from state law. In either case, the couple needs a marriage license, which is issued by the state and not the church.
The couple need only obtain a license from the state, and then sign their partnership. Whether there is a formal ceremony in doing so is entirely up to them. Marriage is a civil contract.
That's the crux of a federal court ruling in a Kentucky case where a county clerk refused to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple, claiming "God's authority" prohibited her from doing so.
But to defend that refusal on religious grounds combines church and state policies, which is banned by the Constitution. In effect, the clerk joined religious beliefs with government law.
Church officials can decline to perform a marriage ceremony for any couple, be they two-gender or same-gender, citing that institution's religious belief system, but that is separate from state law. In either case, the couple needs a marriage license, which is issued by the state and not the church.
The couple need only obtain a license from the state, and then sign their partnership. Whether there is a formal ceremony in doing so is entirely up to them. Marriage is a civil contract.
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