Religious exemptions to officiating gay marriages

Delta4Embassy

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Dec 12, 2013
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Browsing around Washington state's marriage statutes I found how they already allow gay mariage, but at the same time exempt any religious organization for being forced to perform such marriages. Thought I'd mention it since it sems to be a thing for many objecting to gay marriage:

(4) No regularly licensed or ordained minister or any priest, imam, rabbi, or similar official of any religious organization is required to solemnize or recognize any marriage. A regularly licensed or ordained minister or priest, imam, rabbi, or similar official of any religious organization shall be immune from any civil claim or cause of action based on a refusal to solemnize or recognize any marriage under this section. No state agency or local government may base a decision to penalize, withhold benefits from, or refuse to contract with any religious organization on the refusal of a person associated with such religious organization to solemnize or recognize a marriage under this section.

(5) No religious organization is required to provide accommodations, facilities, advantages, privileges, services, or goods related to the solemnization or celebration of a marriage.
RCW 26.04.010: Marriage contract ? Void marriages ? Construction of gender specific terms ? Recognition of solemnization of marriage not required.

And the one legalizing gay marriages:

(3) Where necessary to implement the rights and responsibilities of spouses under the law, gender specific terms such as husband and wife used in any statute, rule, or other law must be construed to be gender neutral and applicable to spouses of the same sex.
 

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