Posted on 08/12/2015 2:43:49 AM PDT by flfreedom
TALLLAHASSEE – In what could become a rallying point for social conservatives next year, state Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, filed legislation Monday to prevent clergy members and churches from being sued because they refuse to preside over same-sex marriages.
He filed HB 43 in reaction to this summer's landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision ruling same-sex marriage legal throughout the country.
"We think that this is something that people on all sides of the debate should at least be able to agree on is that pastors and religious practitioners should never be compelled to perform a ceremony that violates their sincerely held religious beliefs," Plakon said.
The legislation, known as the "pastor protection" bill, specifically prevents churches or clergy members from being required to "solemnize" or provide goods or services to same-sex marriage ceremonies that conflict with their "sincerely held religious beliefs." It also prevents governments from targeting churches' tax-exempt status or ability to contract with governments as a way to punish churches that don't participate in same-sex marriages.
Although Plakon didn't cite specific concerns about threats to target churches with lawsuits, he pointed to the uncertainty of future litigation as a reason to have additional protection for churches refusing to participate in same-sex marriage ceremonies.
"In light of how quick the trajectory of all this has been moving nationally, it's impossible to predict where this ends up in the courts," Plakon said.
Similar legislation was signed into law in Texas and other states are considering "pastor protection" bills in the wake of the court decision.
(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...
Maybe the U. S. Supreme Court needs to repeat Biology 101, and visit Kenya to learn that men and women are different and complementary.
Assuming that men and women are interchangeable for political purposes and a warped view of social justice is evidence of a disordered mind.
It looks like this is a State bill if so it will be struck down by Feral, er I mean Federal Courts if challenged.
in about 2 seconds
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