Posted on 06/30/2015 6:29:57 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Tennessee lawmakers are drafting a new bill expected to protect pastors who refuse to perform same-sex wedding ceremonies for religious reasons.
The bill, named the "Tennessee Pastor Protection Act" by its creators Republican Reps. Bryan Terry of Murfreesboro and Andy Holt of Dresden, say their goal is to provide legal protection for clergy who might be forced to perform same-sex marriages on church property after Friday's Supreme Court ruling that made same-sex marriage legal across the U.S.
image: http://images.christianpost.com/full/84701/republican-rep-andy-holt.jpg?w=262
Republican Rep. Andy Holt (Photo: Press Release/andyholt4tn.com) Dresden, Tennessee, Republican Rep. Andy Holt. image: http://graphic.christianpost.com/images/homepage11/enlarge4.png
"It comes as no surprise that the Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage. I have had multiple constituents concerned with how the ruling may impact their church and their religious beliefs. If the issue is truly about equality of civil liberties and benefits, then this ruling should have minimal legal impact on churches," said Terry in a press release. "However, if the issue and the cause is about redefining marriage to require others to change their deeply held religious beliefs, then the concerns of many will be valid."
Holt fiercely rejected Friday's Supreme Court ruling as valid and has vowed to "never give up."
"God is the ultimate Supreme Court and He has spoken. Marriage is between one man and one woman," said Holt.
Terry is worried that the Supreme Court ruling will set off what he called a "chain reaction" of judicial activism.
"The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom of religion. Article 1 Section 3 of the Tennessee Constitution states that personal freedom of religion is protected and that no human authority can interfere in the rights of conscience," said Terry. "Under normal circumstances, I would expect the Court to honor the Constitution of the United States and Tennessee, but, as recently confirmed by activist judges, we no longer are under normal circumstances."
Vanderbilt Law School professor Brian Fitzpatrick noted, however, that pastors' rights are already protected under the First Amendment, making the proposed Tennessee bill unnecessary.
"The Constitution only restricts what the government can do. It does not restrict what private citizens can do," said Fitzpatrick to Nashville's WSMV.com. "Thus, nothing in today's ruling can compel any pastor to do anything."
Dallas megachurch pastor Robert Jeffress isn't comforted by just First Amendment protections after the Supreme Court ruling. He warned that churches refusing to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies will become easy targets for lawsuits.
"Anybody can be sued for any reason at all. But what has happened as a result of today is, those who want to sue the Church have been emboldened as well as equipped by the Supreme Court to bring such as suit," said Jeffress to The Christian Post. "I believe that today, an unintended consequence, but a very real consequence of this decision, is the Supreme Court just declared open season on those who believe in traditional marriage and they granted liberals a hunting license to go after those who resist same-sex marriage."
Texas governor Greg Abbott passed similar legislation in his state earlier this month signing the "Pastor Protection Act" which affirms Texas clergy's right to not be forced into marrying same-sex couples.
"Religious leaders in the State of Texas must be absolutely secure in the knowledge that religious freedom is beyond the reach of government or coercion by the courts. Today I am proud to sign into law SB 2065 — the Pastor Protection Act — to ensure that clergy in Texas cannot be forced to violate their religious beliefs," said Abbott during the bill's signing on June 11.
I will send them a copy of the Texas version if they would like.
If you ask me....the trend here will end up being a number of states simply halting or stopping marriage...period. It’s not their job, will be the excuse given. It’d take two simple lines to each state Constitution to outline a ‘union’ contract situation....where you could get a union bond or a union contract at the county office. Beyond that....the state wouldn’t recognize marriage or define it, or help it.
Maybe it’s a odd way to go, but if you gaze at the landscape...how exactly would you prevent me from showing up and asking for a license to have a second, third or fourth wife, along with a husband (maybe a five-some marriage deal)?
If you can’t handle the business....get out of the business. It’s that simple.
It’s already starting:
“Hitching Post Wedding Chapel”
Not a real church.
“It’s already starting:”
The wedding chapel mentioned in the article is a “for profit” business, not a non-profit religious organization that conducts marriages only for members.
Given the history of civil rights legislation and judicial decrees it is doubtful any court will uphold religious freedom arguments by ministers operating a public business marrying people for money and seeking to realize a profit. A business is a commercial institution, not a religion.
Are they planning to hold a special session to vote on this ???
Our TN Legislature only meets Jan thru June every year..
This article is from October, 2014, but, it might as well be yesterday.
For forty years “pro-life” Republicans have been embedding the lawless, illegitimate Roe vs. Wade court opinion in our statutes with bills that in effect end with “and then you can kill the baby.”
Now we’re seeing the beginnings of the embedding of illegitimate “gay marriage” into the codes. Watch and see.
Let’s hope they do call a special session. This is an emergency situation that won’t wait.
“Tennessee lawmakers are drafting a new bill expected to protect pastors”
These laws will quickly be declared unconstitutional by federal courts.
The American people are now officially at war with the obamanation.
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