(Untitled)

[zevabe]

I am perplexed by what I read here.  In short, the governor of NH wants an amendment added to the bill legalizing gay marriage in that state.  The amendment the governor wants, and says he would veto the bill without, is to specifically allow clergy to refuse to perform same-sex marriages.  The point is somewhat moot as the bill was defeated, but

Comments

[yonihamagid]

The bill wasn't defeated. The conference bill was approved by the Senate, but not by the House. This, if I understand correctly, sends the bill back to the conference committee, and will likely be back. While it's by no means a sure bet at this point, calling it defeated is premature.

As for the rest of it, you're absolutely correct. However, I'm comfortable with laws occasionally restating what is already encoded in other laws.

[cellio]

Yeah, I think it's all fear-mongering -- "your priest might be forced to marry them!". Guess what -- he can already refuse to marry non-Catholics or divorcees, and no one can compel him in this. I know of no successful attempt to compel a rabbi to perform an interfaith wedding (unless he agreed in his employment contract, which is a private matter between him and his congregation, not involving the state). The only people I think could be compelled to perform marriages are justices of the peace -- that being their (government) job, after all.