State
Rep. John Bennett (R-Sallisaw) on Wednesday praised the House passage of a bill
to protect pastors who participate in same-sex marriage ceremonies. Senate Bill
788, which Bennett co-authored, provides pastors and churches with legal
protection for acting in accordance with their religious beliefs. It is similar
to House Bill 1007, also co-authored by Bennett.
“There is
a movement on the left to persecute pastors and churches to the point that they
must accept whatever the societal norm is of the day,” Bennett said. “We must
pass laws to protect their First Amendment rights and their religious rights as
Christians. Just recently the Muslims demanded a Christian church take down a
cross because it offends them. The city forced the Christian church to take the
cross down. In another event as reported by the Washington Times, Coeur
d‘Alene, Idaho, officials have laid down the law to Christian pastors within
their community, telling them bluntly via an ordinance that if they refuse to
marry homosexuals, they will face jail time and fines. I refuse to sit around
and do nothing. I am a Christian and I will protect religious freedom and
I will support any law that protects our pastors and churches.”
The
bill is as follows:
Language
for SB788: An Act relating to marriage; amending 43 O.S. 2011, Section 7, which
relates to solemnization of marriages; establishing exception to certain
requirements; and providing an effective date.
E.
Unless otherwise prohibited by law, no person who is authorized by law to
perform or solemnize a marriage shall be required to perform or solemnize any
marriage in violation of his or her right to the free exercise of religion
guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. No
church or qualified church-controlled organization, as defined pursuant to 26
USC 3121, shall be required to participate in a ceremony performing or
solemnizing a marriage in violation of the religious beliefs of such church or
qualified church-controlled organization.
The legislation is headed to the governor’s desk.
Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director
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