Senate: More religious snags in gay marriage bill

[xchrom]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_GAY_MARRIAGE_NY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-06-17-13-18-00

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- Senate Republicans in New York say protecting religious groups that won't perform gay weddings or offer services to gay couples is a major factor in their refusal so far to bring same-sex marriage to a vote.

They emerged from the latest closed-door caucus Friday no closer to legalizing same-sex marriage.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo's bill already has some protections. No clergy would be forced to preside over a gay marriage.

Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos (SKEH'-lohs) did not say when negotiations might end or when the conference could vote to send the bill up for a vote, or kill it.

Conservative Rev. Duane Motley says that shows growing opposition to the gay marriage bill in the Senate, the last hurdle in New York.

[William769]

1. Just goes to show the homophobia

"Senate Republicans in New York say protecting religious groups that won't perform gay weddings or offer services to gay couples is a major factor in their refusal so far to bring same-sex marriage to a vote."

They are already protected! I should note that there are plenty of Church's that will gladly perform the ceremonies.

[xchrom]

2. talk about not hard to figure out --

nothing bad will happen to any clergy that does not wish to perform the services for a same sex union -- period.

& let the many clergy who will -- reap the benefits.

[HereSince1628]

3. No hurdle will be left unraised. n/t

[Jazz Ambassador]

4. Let's parse this

"Senate Republicans in New York say protecting religious groups that won't perform gay weddings or offer services to gay couples is a major factor in their refusal so far to bring same-sex marriage to a vote."

Ok, since protections regarding refusal to perform gay weddings is already in the bill, the sticking point must be that churches are demanding the right to refuse to "offer services to gay couples." So you have to ask -- what services? (Let's assume it wouldn't be marriage counseling -- what gay couple would seek counseling at a church that wouldn't marry them to begin with?) Off the bat, I can think of only two "services" offered by churches that might be of interest to non-parishioners: (1) food banks and other charity, and (2) education via religious schools. So you gotta wonder: are they holding out for the right to refuse to feed and clothe the poor, for the right to refuse to educate young, or both? You also gotta wonder how anyone lobbying for that could call themselves "Christian."

[justiceischeap]

5. You're so right.

The Salvation Army is opposed to ENDA because they may have to stop discriminating against LGBT*.*er's legally. I know that ENDA and the NY marriage equality bill don't seem like the same thing but I bet it's a similar sticking point.

[Chaillot]

6. Government Officials

According to a good friend who's very active in the current marriage equality fight in New York, the Republicans are now asking for a "conscience" carveout for, like, county clerks who might not want to officiate at gay weddings for religious reasons. Like the idea of pharmacists not having to fill abortion pill prescriptions if they're "morally" opposed to abortion.

Obviously this is something that can't be allowed in the bill, so I the fear is that Republicans might use it as an excuse not to bring the bill to a vote.

[Chaillot]

7. Yeah, yeah ...

It's my first post. But I've been lurking a looong time and I am not a troll. Honest. ;-)