Posted on 10/31/2014 4:33:37 PM PDT by NYer
In the wake of a federal court decision legalizing same-sex “marriage” in North Carolina, at least six judges in the state have resigned rather than be forced to officiate such unions.
All stepped down, since October 10, because they believe marriage is a union between one man and one woman.
They are: John Kallam Jr. (Rockingham County), Gilbert Breedlove (Swain County), Bill Stevenson (Gaston County), Tommy Holland (Graham County), Gayle Myrick (Union County) and Jeff Powell (Jackson County).
The decision wasn’t easy for Stevenson, whose family depends on his $50,000 per year salary as their primary income.
"I prayed about it; I asked for wisdom," Stevenson told the Christian Examiner. "I think our hearts have been led away by the cares of the world, our desires, and ultimately, our intense arrogance – our hubris – against the Lord.”
"We've rejected the prime authority of the scriptures, something our Nation's Founding Fathers, such as John Adams, knew better than to do. ... In both the Old and New Testaments, homosexuality is something the Lord does not approve of, and since He doesn't, I could not put the sanction of the state on a relationship that runs afoul of scripture," Stevenson said.
In a separate interview with the Christian Post, Stevenson said of the decision to give up his income without a backup plan, "I hate to wax it so biblical but it says 'what good is it for a man to gain the whole world but lose his own soul? So, that's the stakes I put on this."
Holland, who had served as a magistrate for 24 years, said he made the decision to quit after the state issued a memo stating that there would be no religious exemptions for judges who believe same-sex “marriage” is immoral.
"When the federal judges ruled that gay marriage was legal and North Carolina honors that, and part of a magistrate's job is to perform marriage ceremonies, I knew I couldn't honor that law," Holland told The Christian Examiner. "It's against my belief. It's against what the Bible says.” As for his future prospects? “God has always taken care of me," Holland said.
“When you have convictions about something, you’ve drawn your line in the sand,” Myrick told the Winston-Salem Journal. “It [“marrying” gay couples] was not a consideration to me at any cost.”
“I believe marriage was ordained by God to be between a man and a woman," she told the Christian Examiner. "For me to do what the state said I had to do, under penalty of law, I would have to go against my convictions, and I was not willing to do that. I want to honor what the Word says."
Breedlove said that while the financial impact of walking away from the bench will certainly sting, he simply could not turn his back on his morals just to keep a job, and trusts that God will provide for him. “You either go for the finances or you go for the faith,” he told the Winston-Salem Journal. “I know the Lord has something for me to do.”
Four days after announcing his resignation, Kallam returned to the Rockingham Country courthouse for a rally alongside North Carolina Senate leader Phil Berger and 500 fellow residents, all supporters of true marriage. Berger vowed to fight for religious freedom protections for magistrates who oppose same-sex “marriage.”
“Here, in Rockingham County, forcing Magistrate Kallam to give up his religious liberties to save his job is just wrong,” Berger said at the rally.
Berger and 27 other Republican legislators have asked the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts to protect state officials who refuse to participate in gay marriages because of religious beliefs. He told the Winston-Salem Journal that plans to introduce a bill to allow state officials to opt out of issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples or conducting gay “marriages” if doing so would violate their religious beliefs.
Ping!
Incredible, judges with balls. Good for them.
WOW!! FINALLY!!! SOME DECENCY!!!! Hey Judges....GOD WILL PROVIDE!!! NEVER FEAR!!!
darn down right Unbelievable!! Im shocked! and Pleased
Great, now the RATs can nominate some more liberal-friendly judges to replace them. /s
“Dear Friends, we are gathered here to day to join two godless perverts into a state recognized abomination.
These two depraved individuals wish to forsake god’s law in order to enjoy their anal pleasures .....”
Yeah. But now they’re gone.
Uhg, not sure that I can approve of this. Now they can get 6 new uber socialist judges in there. These judges could have stayed and done what they could for America. Now they are gone, and 6 good men are no longer fighting. I understand it, but that’s not how America was won, nor why we have kept it so long.
But maybe it is time to fold and let the chips lay where they will.
Conscience trumps Caesar
Amen! I too have a similar choice to make working for the federal government. I think I’ll post what lies ahead for me in another thread, but suffice to say it’s either “get with the program (in allowing homosexuals to serve) or leave” type of mentality working for Uncle Sam.
I think I would have refused, been fired by the State, then turn around and sue the living ???? out of them and the Feds for the violation of my Constitutional rights.
For what it’s worth department. These are magistrates and work for the judicial system.
********
http://www.nccourts.org/Courts/OCO/Magistrates/
Magistrates
A magistrate is a judicial officer of the District Court who handles certain criminal
and civil matters. In criminal cases, a magistrate issues warrants and sets bail. A
magistrate may also accept guilty pleas and payments of fines and costs for traffic
violations and minor misdemeanors and, in some counties, may conduct trials in certain
worthless check cases. In civil cases, the magistrate presides over small claims court.
Magistrates are appointed to an initial two-year term and subsequent four-year-terms by
the senior resident Superior Court judge from among persons nominated by the clerk of
superior court. The chief District Court judge sets their work schedules. A magistrate
must have a four-year degree from an institution of higher learning or a two-year degree plus four years of relevant work experience. Magistrates m
ust participate in continuing professional education for as long as they serve. Their
salaries are set by statute and are based on years of service as a magistrate.
There are still a few judges left who believe in America. It’s too bad we just lost six of them.
Maybe they can be convinced to run for office. We need more decent people running at the local level these days.
And they are all going to be replaced by Slimeballs- Political activists who will further corrupt the system.
you cannot ask for better support than these six...
Judges with cojones so big they clank when they walk.
More! More!
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