Dan Patrick: Churches, clergy need protection if court upholds gay marriage
AUSTIN — A late push by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to have the Texas Senate leap to the defense of clergy and religious institutions on same-sex marriage issues has given social conservatives new hope that Texas lawmakers will push back on federal court victories by gays and lesbians.
With just more than a month to go in the session, only three of 23 conservative bills on gay-related issues have taken the first step toward passage, getting out of committee in a chamber. Each advanced from a House panel.
On Tuesday, the same day the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments about whether same-sex marriage should be a constitutionally protected right in all 50 states, Patrick jumped into the fray.
Patrick asked Sen. Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls, to introduce a bill saying clergy, churches and religious organizations don’t have to be involved in gay weddings if they don’t want to be. It is similar to a measure in the House.
Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/state-politics/20150430-patrick-churches-clergy-need-protection-if-court-upholds-gay-marriage.ece
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