CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch and same-sex “marriage” supporters insist that proposed revisions to legislation that would make New Hampshire the sixth state to redefine marriage will not infringe on religious liberties. But ADF attorneys argue that Lynch’s added protections--and the anticipated concession by the drafters--is merely smoke and mirrors geared to divert attention from the fact that recognizing same-sex “marriage” in the Granite State would open up a Pandora’s Box of new attacks on religious freedom.
“Contrary to what marriage redefinition activists might argue, redefining marriage in New Hampshire would have serious consequences for the religious community beyond the limited protections the governor has proposed,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Austin R. Nimocks. “The governor is right to recognize the threat to religious liberty, but he underestimates the threat by a long shot. Where are the protections for business owners with religious objections to recognizing same-sex ‘marriages’? Formally affiliated organizations are not the only ones who need their religious liberty protected.”
The governor released a statement Thursday confirming his newfound support for the passage of a same-sex “marriage” bill--with supposedly protective revisions--stressing that it wouldn’t force pastors to perform same-sex “marriages.”
Nimocks will be testifying before the New Hampshire Senate to address Gov. Lynch’s proposed revisions on Tuesday at 1:45 p.m. EDT.After reviewing the proposed language of the statute, ADF attorneys claim that religious organizations would be forced to recognize counterfeit “marriages” of potential clients or customers in many situations or face severe consequences.
“The protection of religious organizations in the proposed legislation is misleading at best,” said ADF Litigation Counsel Tim Tracey. “Even though religious organizations would be protected from performing, celebrating, or promoting counterfeit ‘marriages,’ they could be forced to recognize such relationships in a number of ways that would directly compromise their religious beliefs.”
According to
U.S. Census Bureau statistics, same-sex couples represent only 0.4 percent of the total population of New Hampshire.
ADF is a legal alliance of Christian attorneys and like-minded organizations defending the right of people to freely live out their faith. Launched in 1994, ADF employs a unique combination of strategy, training, funding, and litigation to protect and preserve religious liberty, the sanctity of life, marriage, and the family.
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