Comments on: Santa Rosa Clerk To Stop Performing Marriages

By: DS

DS — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 20:55:28 +0000

chris in Molino on December 30th, 2014 11:25 am:
” I was under the impression during the time our forefathers wrote the constitution, people of “non-traditional lifestyles ” were hung high by the neck. Just sayin…”

Yes Chris and blacks were hung by the neck not too long ago also. Leave it to a conservative to applaud lynching. Gays still are in backward, religious-run countries in the Middle East and in African Christian nations. Maybe you and your little conservative comrades should move there where the mindset is more 16th century. You should all fit right in (if they aren’t lynching you for believing in the wrong God and holy book, that is).

By: DS

DS — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 20:49:29 +0000

I love how the Christians/conservatives here always point to tradition and the “will of majority.” Civil rights are NOT up to majority rule. Our laws and constitution were in fact designed to PROTECT the rights of the minority. Strict adherence to tradition, and majority rule are not a sound basis for successful, freedom loving societies. Christianity and The Bible aren’t either for that (as history clearly shows us – people came here FLEEING FROM Christian nations). If there was a Muslim majority in this country you all would be singing a far different tune about freedom of religion and separation of church and state.

So if a clerk has strong religious views then they should not take jobs that require them to perform duties to people whose religion, beliefs, race or innate sexual orientation offends them. If you take the job, you perform the ceremony. End of story. This is the same situation as interracial marriages were a few decades ago, with clerks and churches refusing to perform them. Conservatives were on the losing side of history (and morality) then just as they are now.

By: DavidHuieGreen

DavidHuieGreen — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 07:24:39 +0000

REGARDING THE STATEMENT:
“This is an attempt to subvert a court ruling the Clerk disfavors, but it will backfire. Most people who get married at the ‘courthouse’ do so because they can’t or won’t get married in a church.”

Actually, no, it isn’t an attempt to subvert the court.
Legal status desired will be achieved.
What you seem to REALLY want is to force folks to give their personal approval by performing a religious-type of ceremony.
I’m reasonably certain you would force churches to give their unqualified blessings if you had the power — or just dissolve them all altogether.
Even if you don’t agree with what others think, you shouldn’t try to force them to bow to your idol any more than you would want to bow to theirs.

David for better people

By: chris in Molino

chris in Molino — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 17:25:46 +0000

If it is an attempt to subvert a court ruling, i applaud it and fully support it. This isnt the will of the people, well, maybe a few people. Certainly not the majority. I can remember my parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents saying how this country was goin to hell in a handbasket. However right they were, this country, our society has not ever been so adulturated so fast as it is now. We spend billions a year on social services and speak about constitutional rights for people who arent supposed to be here in the first place. No they have taken away your rights and freedoms a little at a time until one day soon youll look around to notice you have no rights, no freedoms.
So Florida is marrying people of “non-traditional lifestyle”. Why, because its their constitutional right? I was under the impression during the time our forefathers wrote the constitution, people of “non-traditional lifestyles ” were hung high by the neck. Just sayin…

By: Bryan Bethea

Bryan Bethea — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 01:21:01 +0000

There is zero chance of coincidence here. The Santa Rosa County Clerk has chosen to stop providing this service in light of the stay expiration which would have otherwise required same-sex marriages to be performed starting January 6. I’m perfectly fine with this. This is an attempt to subvert a court ruling the Clerk disfavors, but it will backfire. Most people who get married at the ‘courthouse’ do so because they can’t or won’t get married in a church. How long before those heterosexuals start complaining that the Santa Rosa Clerk no longer provides this service? Santa Rosa County residents deserve better, but it will be up to them to demand it at the ballot box.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 16:44:13 +0000

@jeeperman—Tradition means nothing these days, as is shown with what is happening with Nativity scenes on public grounds. Unless required by law as part of the duties of the clerk, they will not be required to perform marriage ceremonies, only to issue marriage licenses. Law trumps tradition.

By: jeeperman

jeeperman — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 14:43:52 +0000

To clarify:
Moments prior to the “stay” being issued, the same judge ruled the ban unconstitutional. The “stay” was issued and is in effect thru Jan. 5th meaning the ban stays in place until the “stay” expires.
And if county clerks have traditionally performed marriages, I believe the courts will force the clerks to continue that tradition. Unless they can show the court that doing so is a substantial financial burden. There are many other public service functions they do on a daily basis that they are not required by law to do.

Religious or personal beliefs should not impede your performance as an elected official. If it does, step down.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 04:38:13 +0000

@jeeperman—You state “Basically means same sex marriages are unconstitutional”. Did you mean that the BAN on same sex marriage is now unconstitutional after the stay expires on January 1? As far as I know, it has never been required by law for any clerk to perform a marriage ceremony, only to issue a marriage license, if all requirements were met.

By: jeeperman

jeeperman — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 23:47:59 +0000

There is no “new law” taking effect 01-01-2015 related to same sex marriage.
The stay (suspension) of the constitutional ban on same sex marriage becomes null and void after Jan. 6th 2015 unless more legal mumbo jumbo changes things further.
Basically means same sex marriages are unconstitutional.

Any county clerk that decides to now not perform marriages are going to find themselves in the crosshairs of the ACLU and others.
No matter what excuse the county clerk comes up with.

By: W.T.F.

W.T.F. — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 12:28:13 +0000

What everybody is slightly over looking is the fact that the courthouse don’t have to perform any type of marriages. That was just a service provided to the public. So now with the equal rights marriage taking place on Jan 1,2015 they figure they can easily weasel themselves out and still look good. But it all has to do with the new law taking place. Nobody is forcing anything on anyone. So unless you really know the subject don’t put it don’t…..