http://www.wral.com/gay-marriage-religious-objections-bill-back-before-nc-house/14671713/

Whether or not this bill signed into law, should public servants be allowed to opt out of their duties on religious/moral grounds?

5/28/2015 11:29:21 AM

no, absolutely not. of course not, no one of any background should support that.

5/28/2015 11:31:39 AM

How would this be any different than an atheist couple asking a magistrate to reside over their ceremony? How come magistrates with "sincerely held religious beliefs" haven't been complaining about those?

To be fair though, the bill states that magistrates who opt-out of gay marriages would be opting out of all marriages, so it isn't like they could pick or choose.

I hope that they will get a pay cut as well, because if I came up and told my boss that I didn't want to do a portion of my job anymore...well, first he'd fire me, but if he didn't, I could expect less pay for less duties.

5/28/2015 11:48:18 AM

I agree. Duties as a public servant should trump personal beliefs. I don't believe one's religious freedoms are at stake when acting as a government official. However, I'm wondering if there are considerations or precedents I'm overlooking

5/28/2015 11:48:32 AM

Could a muslim public official refuse to certify a wedding between a muslim/atheist or muslim/christian because of their beliefs? Seems like this allows for that.

5/28/2015 1:04:48 PM

Ostensibly but I doubt they view it that way.

5/28/2015 1:19:02 PM

Nope. Employment is voluntary. Don't like the job requirements, don't do the job.

^x4 Yeah, pretty much the only redeeming (and fair) feature of this bill is that it's an "all or nothing" bill.

^^^ Well, we do have exemptions for miltiary service and jury duty but both of these are exemptions for people essentially being drafted into the public service. Objector status doesn't apply to voluntary members of the military. Likewise, someone with religious objections to jury duty (JW's IIRC) don't get to "object" out of being a judge if they run for office.

^^ It should. Religous objection is religious objection.

5/28/2015 3:00:07 PM

http://www.wral.com/mccrory-to-veto-same-sex-marriage-opt-out-for-magistrates/14675024/

Veto incoming.

5/28/2015 5:32:29 PM

Which means they'll try to override.

5/28/2015 9:09:37 PM

can we just get the govt out of these religious ceremonies and private contracts?

http://truthinmedia.com/alabama-senate-approves-bill-to-abolish-marriage-licensing/?utm_source=jes&utm_medium=fb&utm_campaign=jes25

5/28/2015 9:34:31 PM

Undoing centuries of case law is hard. It's an admirable long term goal, but the short term fix is to just give the gays their licenses.

5/28/2015 10:14:43 PM

Quote :

"Objector status doesn't apply to voluntary members of the military."

Actually, it does. You can have a change in your beliefs after you volunteer.

5/29/2015 8:45:47 AM

^ My understanding of that process was that they discharge you in that event (effectively the same as resigning). Do they also have an option to switch jobs to a supply side position out of combat allowing you to remain employed but not have to fight?

5/29/2015 9:16:06 AM

You can, although it is very rare, be reclassed into something else. The military is more likely just to give you a discharge though.

5/29/2015 10:43:10 AM