In a move sure to highlight the limits of freedom of conscience and religion, one New York town clerk is saying she’ll refuse to sign any documents relating to a same sex marriage.
Something like this is great for your soul but it’s probably bad for your career prospects.
The Politico reports:
New York’s gay weddings victory lap has not extended to all parts of the Empire State, with a rural town clerk determined to not sign any same-sex marriage licenses.
Barbara MacEwen, the town clerk in upstate Volney who is responsible for signing marriage licenses in the town, said she’s morally opposed to same-sex weddings and does not intend to affix her signature to any marriage documents for gay or lesbian couples.
“If there’s any possible way to not do it legally, then yes, I would not want to put my name on any of those certificates or papers,” MacEwen told POLITICO. “That’s their life, they can do it, but I don’t feel I should be forced into something that’s against my morals and my God.”
MacEwen said she’s written her state senator — Republican Patty Ritchie, who voted against legalizing gay weddings — to determine her legal options.
While the legislation Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed late Friday night includes exemptions for religious organizations that disapprove of same-sex couples, it does not extend such protections to public officials.
Cuomo spokesman Josh Vlasto did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
MacEwen, a 75-year-old Republican, said she will be on the ballot this fall for a fifth, full four-year term as clerk of the town of about 6,200 people.
What’ll be interesting is if she wins reelection. Does the Governor forcibly remove her from her job?
Maybe she shouldn’t have the job if she can’t do the job as detailed by today’s laws. Here’s the thing -in America today we’re going to see this all the time. Freedom of conscience is going to match up poorly against the power of the state. All you have to do is look around the world to see how that fight usually ends. Hint- it doesn’t go well for conscience.
The rules that NY legislators put into effect will be meaningless in the future. Somewhere down the road (not that far) some legislators are going to say Catholic schools must accept people who are married to someone of the same sex. And when they don’t the state will toss their tax exempt status. And that’ll start the landslide of taking away tax exempt status from hate groups like…the Catholic Church.
July 1, 2011 at 6:19 pm
If we're seeing it in abortions foisted on the medical community then why should we be surprised at this?
And what about school teachers who don't want to teach homosexuality to their students? I'm telling you, this is a downward spiral on all sides of the debate…
July 1, 2011 at 6:37 pm
It would be interesting to see what would happen if a Muslim New York town clerk refused to sign them because of his or her religious beliefs. Those legislators would be falling all over themselves to be sure those religious rights were protected.
Kathy
July 1, 2011 at 7:48 pm
They would be falling all over themselves because they know the Muslim would probably blow them up or cut off their heads on youtube if forced to go against their "conscience".
I'll say one thing, the Muzzies aren't going to be pushed around on these sorts of issues.
July 1, 2011 at 10:17 pm
We can be sure that there are plenty out there who already see the Catholic Church as a so-called "hate group"
Only sadness
July 2, 2011 at 12:35 am
It's all about sodomy. For a surprise, do a search: First Scandal.
July 2, 2011 at 1:41 am
I've been convinced for a long time that the Church is headed towards hate group status. I'm almost certain We'll see it within a generation. Father Hardon once said that in the 21st century it will take heroic sanctity to follow the Church. Either we'll become saints or we'll fall away. There will be no in between. I thought he was being a bit extreme when I first heard that, but it's no longer so hard for me to believe.
July 2, 2011 at 3:02 pm
God likes Christianity. It will survive.
July 2, 2011 at 3:26 pm
Okay, I guess I need to think my comments through to someone else's logical conclusion before posting them.
My point wasn't to slam the Muslims, it was to point out the inequality in this country. It seems everyone's beliefs (or lack thereof) are respected except Christians'. I could have said the same thing about an atheist clerk, except I'm pretty sure atheists have no problem with gay "marriage", at least on religious grounds…..
Kathy
July 2, 2011 at 6:41 pm
I'm a Catholic church organist who subcontracts out to other churches. I've played at Lutheran, Methodist, Episcopalian and Baptist Churches. I wonder if I'm going to have to stop playing at non-Catholic churches for fear of being sued for discrimination.
This is going to be hard on my livelihood as Catholic parishes will continue to merge and there will be fewer playing jobs.
July 2, 2011 at 7:08 pm
The 1st amendment prevents congress making any law that restricts the 'free excise' of religion. The only way to undo this mess is to show that it will interfere with our ability to freely exercise our faith. This woman is on the front lines. I hope she wins, but if this goes the way of adoption in Massachusetts, she'll have to depend on someone like Mitt Romney to cut her slack. Unions get a break on Obama care from the great dictator. Some non-Catholic adoption agencies get a break from Romney… Do you see where this is going?
July 2, 2011 at 7:14 pm
Somewhere down the road (not that far) some legislators are going to say Catholic schools must accept people who are married to someone of the same sex. And when they don't the state will toss their tax exempt status.
What does that mean? As employees? Or accepting, as students, the children of same-sex couples?
July 2, 2011 at 7:19 pm
I don't mean to be anonymous, I just don't know how to sign in differently on the comments. janet.fernandez1@yahoo.com, that's my facebook e-mail. The question above about Catholic schools was me.
janf
July 2, 2011 at 7:58 pm
Catholic schools have already had to go to court to fight when they fired teachers who were openly living with a someone outside of marriage. Whenever I've taught in Catholic schools I've signed a moral turpitude clause. That may be the only recourse schools have for employees. But it won't apply to parents.
July 3, 2011 at 1:30 am
Nothing is worse than homosexuality. I would rather see Catholic married people commit adultery or divorce and remarry than our secular state tolerate something as disgusting as gay marriage.
July 3, 2011 at 4:01 am
Anonymous at 8:30–
I'm with ya'.
July 3, 2011 at 4:06 am
Only when the Church loses its tax exempt status will it begin to be free. But go ahead and fight it, since things have been going so swimmingly well this last century for the Catholic Church in America.
July 4, 2011 at 1:16 pm
The Catholic church and schools' tax exempt status comes from the fact that parishioners and church members have paid their taxes as citizens and to tax churches would be taxation without representation, that is, double taxation, two taxes for one vote.
Mary De Voe
July 4, 2011 at 1:24 pm
Anonymous said…
Nothing is worse than homosexuality. I would rather see Catholic married people commit adultery or divorce and remarry than our secular state tolerate something as disgusting as gay marriage.
Gay marriage is assault and battery.Any violation of natural law, adultery, divorce, rampaging sodomy is contrary to the Divine, telling God one cannot behave even with His Divine Grace which is a LIE and makes of us LIARS.
Mary De Voe
July 4, 2011 at 1:31 pm
Anonymous said…
I don't mean to be anonymous, I just don't know how to sign in differently on the comments. janet.fernandez1@yahoo.com, that's my facebook e-mail. The question above about Catholic schools was me.
janf
Thanks Janet. I share the same situation. Do not know how to use facebook or any of this technology. I write what I think and hope it gets read. mary_devoe@yahoo.com
July 4, 2011 at 1:45 pm
@Ranting Catholic Mom "the great dictator" right on the money.
Mary De Voe