IRD Questions California Marriage Ruling Impact on Clergy

IRD Questions California Marriage Ruling Impact on Clergy

"Dangerously, this new state legalization places mainstream followers of all those religions in the legal position of being regarded as bigots who are in opposition to state policy on a matter of fundamental human rights." -- IRD President Rev. James W. Tonkowich

WASHINGTON, July 29 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD) today called attention to the California Supreme Court decision mandating same- sex marriages, and the consequences of this legalization upon the clergy.

Some clergy are being approached by congregants seeking clergy blessing of their same-sex unions, and a signature on their civil marriage licenses. This can cause a tension between the policies of the State and the policies of the churches.

Most of the mainline Christian denominations in the United States, including the United Methodist Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have official church policies prohibiting the involvement of their clergy in solemnizing same-sex unions.

The Rev. James W. Tonkowich, IRD President, commented:

"The California Supreme Court's radical redefinition of marriage stands in stark contrast to the teachings of all major religions.

"Dangerously, this new state legalization places mainstream followers of all those religions in the legal position of being regarded as bigots who are in opposition to state policy on a matter of fundamental human rights.

"While a small minority is exalted as a specially protected class, the majority of religious people are marginalized from public life. We have already seen this process in places like Massachusetts and Great Britain, where churches have been driven out of adoption and traditional believers have been punished for supposed hate speech because they affirm the traditional definition of marriage."

The Institute on Religion and Democracy, founded in 1981, is an ecumenical alliance of U.S. Christians working to reform their churches' social witness, in accord with biblical and historic Christian teachings, thereby contributing to the renewal of democratic society at home and abroad.

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