FL Legislature Seeks to Protect Churches Refusing Gay Marriages

The Florida state Senate passed a bill last week that protects churches from being forced to marry same-sex couples.  The bill will take effect July 1st … if Governor Rick Scott (R) signs it into law.

FL Senate Democrats who opposed the bill argued that churches are already protected by the U.S. Constitution.  But Republican state Senator Aaron Bean said the measure would protect churches after the U.S. Supreme Court decided last year that same-sex marriage is legal.  He said the bill is about protecting churches from what could happen in the future.

“Have you ever heard of a senator or a representative that hopes their bill is never used or tested?  I’m the first,” said Bean.  “Hopefully no one will ever challenge somebody in the practice of their religion.  That will be a sad day in our nation, in our state.  Some say that's where our nation is headed.”

I wish my own state of Minnesota would do the same.  This is why, after 40-years of delightfully officiating a weddings, I’m not longer participating in civic marriages.  As long as I’m signing a government issued marriage license as an ‘agent’ of the court, without protection from a legal charge of discrimination, I can’t do weddings.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel