Note the term the CHURCH is being forced to perform marriages. In the case of an individual who refuses, the article I read states the Bishop must appoint someone to take his place. Further using a church facility for “gay marriage” is an egregious trampling of religious rights and freedoms..
The article says individual priests can choose not to perform the ceremony. That does not sound like “forcing”.
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No, Fr. Z simply linked to the wrong news article. As someone else here noted, the new law, which was recently passed, only applies to the state Lutheran church.Edit: This story is also from June 2012
Under the law, individual priests can refuse to carry out the ceremony, but the local bishop must arrange a replacement for their church..
The article says individual priests can choose not to perform the ceremony. That does not sound like “forcing”.
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What about use of the Lutheran church? What if the congregation doesn’t want them there?.
The article says individual priests can choose not to perform the ceremony. That does not sound like “forcing”.
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Yes, but certain gay “marriage” activists have to spin this. :whacky:But it is possible that the couple might sue the priest for “discrimination” against them for the fact that he refused to perform the ceremony on the grounds of his conservative opinion.
What if the bishop does not want to arrange a replacement, i.e., does he not have the right to stand up for his beliefs just like the priest?Under the law, individual priests can refuse to carry out the ceremony, but the local bishop must arrange a replacement for their church.