My fear – and I don’t think it unreasonable in light of some court decisions in recent litigation – is that I could potentially be opening myself up to action if I refused to perform that duty for same-sex couples. Because of that, I’ll require couples in Charleston County and any other jurisdictions that have granted same-sex marriage licenses to provide me a copy of a license signed by a judge, notary public, or some other civil official before I’ll officiate at the religious service.
This was written by an Anglican Priest and posted on Oct. 10 here:
Why I Will No Longer Sign Charleston County Marriage Licenses
The Priest, having anticipated whatever problems he is likely to have in light of the recent SCOTUS decisions, has declined to sign same sex marriage licenses, and is refusing to perform the ceremony. Personally, I think refusing to perform weddings at all is the way to fly here.
Taking this position to it's logical conclusion, bakers, caterers, and photographers have this same problem and the same option: there will be no more wedding cakes for anybody, no more wedding pictures, no more Anglican weddings and no more wedding receptions. Photographers will just have to stick to school pictures and portraits, bakers will have to just offer dessert cakes, and Priests will just have to decline to do weddings unless they are finalized by a public official.
I don't think it will end here. I suspect that, although there are plenty of churches that will solemnize a gay "marriage", it is my opinion that troublemakers like the ones who caused a farm in New York to have to pay heavy fines for refusing to host their gay wedding ceremony will seek us out and try to force our hand. This Priest has come up with a creative way to head that off at the pass. We are not public officials and not representatives of the state.
