On Saturday, Speaker of the House David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) announced his support for a Pastor’s Protection Act in Georgia. This bill would clarify that state government will not require clergy to perform any marriage ceremony that conflicts with their religious doctrine.
“We will reinforce our commitment to the separation of church and state as well as reaffirm the right of the clergy to carry out their duties as their religious beliefs – not government – prescribes,” said Speaker Ralston. “This is a narrowly-defined and specifically-crafted bill meant to ease the concerns of the faith community in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell vs. Hodges.”
Speaker Ralston announced that Representative Kevin Tanner (R-Dawsonville) will sponsor the bill and carry it in the House. Co-signers will be announced at a later time.
The bill’s language, which may change as the proposal moves forward, is similar to language adopted in Texas and currently being discussed in several other states. The draft reads as follows:
“No minister of the gospel or cleric or religious practitioner ordained or authorized to solemnize marriages according to the usages of the denomination, when acting in his or her official religious capacity, shall be required to solemnize any marriage in violation of his or her right to free exercise of religion.”
The bill will be taken up when the General Assembly reconvenes in January 2016.
Representative Kevin Tanner represents the citizens of District 9, which includes portions of Dawson, Forsyth, and Lumpkin counties.
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