Sorry, not judges, but closer to the end ofvthe article, “referred them to other officials who would officiate instead.”
Two people need a judge to marry them? I think not.
It also appears in that linked article Justices of the Peace don’t get the opt out of performing same sex marriage as marriage is 100% optional for them, for most an additional source of income.
So, this complaint filing official would rather have a resentful judge perform a same sex marriage than a JOP who would be willing to do it?
Another dirty little secret about getting married by a justice of the peace… They are allowed to collect a fee for performing the ceremony. Cash only… Guess who keeps the fee?
The state of Texas empowers these JOP’s to perform marriage ceremonies. As a representative of the state of Texas, they are not allowed to discriminate whether they exercise the power optionally or not.
Anyone can get ordained for $30 and about 10 minutes online and perform a wedding ceremony in Texas and sign a marriage license.
So how are these states getting away with religious freedom bills? And where in the U S Constitution do we not get the freedom to practice a faith?
I’m sure no one arguing with Judge Hensley would be O K with forcing Jewish butchers to provide certain cuts of beef, or Muslim merchants to provide pork cutlets, but have no problem with forcing a Christian to violate the part of her faith that states A MAN WHO LIES WITH ANOTHER MAN DIES SURELY AS ONE WHO LIES WITH A HARLOT.
“What are you using to gauge what you think the governor would want you to be doing? Because I’m not sure we’ve given you those tools yet, and that’s what I think our concern is ,” said Peggy Venable, Abbott’s appointments director, according to the recording of the meeting.
No one is at the courthouse asking the judge for a Christian religious ceremony. They are asking a government employee to perform a government function.
