Texas AG: County clerks can refuse gay couples

[CatWoman]

County clerks can refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples based on religious objections to gay marriage, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Sunday.

Paxton noted that clerks who refuse to issue licenses can expect to be sued, but added that “numerous lawyers stand ready to assist clerks defending their religious beliefs,” in many cases without charge.

The formal opinion did not specify what constitutes a sincerely held religious belief, noting that “the strength of any such claim depends on the particular facts of each case.”

Paxton said Friday’s “flawed” opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court, which overturned bans against same-sex marriage in Texas and other states, placed religious people in conflict between following their faith and the U.S. Constitution.

“Friday, the United States Supreme Court again ignored the text and spirit of the Constitution to manufacture a right that simply does not exist. In so doing, the court weakened itself and weakened the rule of law, but did nothing to weaken our resolve to protect religious liberty and return to democratic self-government in the face of judicial activists attempting to tell us how to live,” Paxton said.

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/texas-ag-county-clerks-can-refuse-gay-couples/nmnRZ/?ecmp=statesman_social_twitter_2014_sfp

[HooptieWagon]

1. Ok. Jail them then.

[randys1]

2. NO, you cant deny them licenses and yes, I want them JAILED

[NightWatcher]

3. If your religion prevents you from doing part of your job, quit.

I don't care what your imaginary friend or imaginary god tell you to do. Suck it up, do your job, or go home and (expletive deleted because most people are not that flexible or double jointed).

I'm growing more sick and tired of religious people using it as an excuse to act like a (expletive deleted).

[marym625]

10. I have no problem saying it.

Excuse to act like a bigoted asshole.

[Liberal Veteran]

15. I agree. Much like pharmacists who are allowed to not dispense birth control or morning after pill.

If you can't do your job without religion getting in the way, you have no business being in the job.

[RKP5637]

23. I am so totally fucken fed up with religion, it's an evilness that stalks the land, a brain rotting

disease for many.

[hifiguy]

31. A great quote

"Religion is an insult to human dignity. Without it you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.”

- Nobel prize-winning physicist Steven Weinberg

[RKP5637]

33. Quite true. Do evilness in the name of god and one gets a free pass. And do some really evil

sh**, ask god for forgiveness, and god told them they were forgiven. And that gets a lifetime pass from the moronic brainwashed flocks.

[Warren DeMontague]

39. Yep.

Anyone can claim anything as a "religious belief". Is McDonalds going to let ethical vegans refuse to serve burgers? Doubtful.

[Bonx]

4. Why do they think their religious beliefs matter in performing gov't duties ?

Stupid.

[hifiguy]

5. What an asshat.

[irisblue]

6. No they can't nt

[Spazito]

26. OT but I absolutely love your avatar...

it is awesome!

[Ilsa]

7. Will those that issue the licenses be harassed

By coworkers or supervisors? What happens if one clerk breaks unity with the bigoted group and is threatened?

[marym625]

8. Anyone know if they pulled this shit after Loving?

[Eugene]

18. North Carolina in 1977

On their wedding day, turned away by NC magistrates (The News & Observer)

[marym625]

34. Damn!

And that was a decade later.

Thank you very much

Sigh.

[Agschmid]

9. Here comes RFRA.

[Texasgal]

11. Fucking asshole Paxton!

ARG!!!

Thank GAWD my county is cool and has issued countless certificates!

[Ham Sandwich]

12. The Texas Bar Association should immediately call Paxson's license into question

and disbar him on the spot.

[jwirr]

13. Marriage is a function of government not of religion. Give them their license you work for the

government. If you do not want to do your job then I am sure someone else will.

[Liberal Veteran]

14. Some clerk needs to refuse to issue licenses to any non-virgins, divorcees, different religions.

And then kick back and demand they get a paycheck for doing nothing claiming that their religion doesn't recognize marriage between people who are not virgins and of the same faith at time of marriage.

[prayin4rain]

29. Seriously. They're so ridiculously stupid. n/t

[safeinOhio]

36. +1

[csziggy]

43. Some clerk needs to use this video as a guide to who can be married

That would confuse the hell out of the religious bigots and pretty much destroy any semblance of understanding "traditional marriage" for them.

[pugetres]

16. Can an AG

advise public servants to break the law without himself facing some punishment?

[Agnosticsherbet]

17. This is going to go to the courts

Which, of course, is what Republicans want.

The Supreme Court is going to be a major campaign issue for them.

[etherealtruth]

19. If you can't or won't do your job ... you need to be fired

[tymorial]

20. Would someone please tell Paxton

That the 1st Amendment prohibits the government from imposing religious belief on people.

[Skittles]

38. ONLY 2A COUNTS IN TEXAS

[notadmblnd]

21. Religious people can get a job in the private sector if they have objections

However, I think that as long as they are paid agents of the government (state or national) they need to comply with the law of the land.

[RKP5637]

24. Exactly! n/t

[truebrit71]

22. No. They can't.

.... Fuck your religious privilege, do your fucking job, or get ready to get fucking sued.

Ignorant, ignorant assholes...

[gratuitous]

25. Then quit collecting their taxes

It's not like there's a competing county courthouse across the street or down the block. If public servants aren't going to serve all of the public, then stop collecting taxes from those segments of the public you don't intend to serve.

[luvspeas]

27. when the attorneys general says lawyers stand ready to assist clerks...

it implies that the state will take on their case. This sounds like an illegal use of taxpayer money to me. throw the bums out and impeach the asshats.

[Liberal Veteran]

28. So if I work at the DMV and my religion says women aren't allowed to drive....

Can I only issue driver licenses to men and get away with it?

[treestar]

30. No as clerks they must carry out the ministerial duties of the state

Ridiculous. The State's duties have nothing to do with religious beliefs. If it is against your religion, don't take the job.

[Spazito]

32. I don't get how, as the state Attorney General, he can do this without losing his job...

this is advocating breaking the law seeing as there was no 'religious exemption' written into the USSC decision I believe.

[geek tragedy]

35. Texass strikes again. nt

[TheDebbieDee]

37. County clerks that cannot perform all their duties

because some of those duties are in conflict with their religious views - these people need to find new jobs!

The Constitution guarantees your right to practice your favored religion but it doesn't guarantee your right to a particular job!

Same thing goes for pharmacists - the Constitution doesn't guarantee you the right to have that job.

Oh, and Green family (Owners of HobbyLobby) the Constitution doesn't guarantee you the right to own a business either......

[Warren DeMontague]

40. Texas.

Once again fighting being dragged, kicking and screaming, into the 21st century.

[JaneyVee]

41. SCALIA LAW!

[Solly Mack]

42. Fuck bigots.