Special rights for the religious in Saskatchewan
Marriage commissioners in Saskatchewan who want special rights to opt out of performing same-sex marriages might just get their wish.
The Saskatchewan Party government is proposing legislation that would allow the province's marriage commissioners to refuse to perform same-sex marriages.
In a news release Friday, the government said the proposed law would ensure there are other marriage commissioners available to fill in if someone refused to perform the service because it violated his or her religious beliefs.
So, let's break it down. You have a government job performing marriages. Not a church job, a government job - and you want special rights to refuse to perform your lawful duty, using religion as an excuse. Here's a thought - get a different job. If your religious convictions are that strong that they prevent you from doing your government job, you could enter the seminary and become a priest or pastor. That might be more to your liking. (Here's a clue, someone hiring a marriage commissioner instead of getting married in church or other religious setting might be more on the secular side anyway. Like Mr. Dr. Prole and me.) Same goes for pharmacists who don't want to dispense birth control. If you cannot or will not perform the duties required of you, YOU ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO DO THE JOB. Period.
They're always harping about "teh gays want special rights", which is BS - they just want the same rights as the rest of us. Equal rights. But somehow a marriage commissioner who wants to opt out of a legal function of their government job is not asking for special rights? Bullshit. Get a different job.
Next?
well said.
Like that "conscience" thingy they were going to try to put in a couple years ago.
If you won't do yer fucking job, go elsewhere.
Keep in mind these are often enough the same fuckers who decry unions and their worker protections. But they are speshul. Yanno.
It's a fact: 100% of all the people who ate carrots in 1850, are dead.
The marriage commissioner
who married us - we called her "The Commish". She actually specialized in same-sex weddings. She was a pretty awesome lady. Seriously why do a job that you're not willing to do? And why use your religion as an excuse not to do something that is essentially a secular function? People who want religious weddings generally get married in a religious setting by an ordained person. Yeesh. Just another perceived persecution for these jerks to get off on, I suppose.
A Poem for Brave Sarah
Brave Dame Sarah ran away.
("No!")
Bravely ran away away.
("I didn't!")
When danger reared it's ugly shead,
She bravely turned her tail and fled.
("no!")
Yes, brave Dame Sarah turned about
("I didn't!")
And gallantly she chickened out.
Bravely taking ("I never did!") to her feet,
She beat a very brave retreat.
("all lies!")
Bravest of the braaaave, Dame Sarah!
("I never!")
-P.Z. Myer's blog, Pharangula
Cute!
Sarah has now never completed a term in office. Sounds real presidential, eh?
Montreal Simon
has something to say on this. Dang, I just LOVE that guy!
Prepare for incoming!
Mwahahahahahaha.....
ok!
Got my galoshes on.
It's a fact: 100% of all the people who ate carrots in 1850, are dead.
I'm not happy about this.
Allowing marriage commissioners an out on performing same sex marriages is the wrong way to go. Simon's link to Dr. Dawg is very good.
There have been a few articles in the Regina Leader-post about this. One of them had this from Saskatchewan's Justice Minister Don Morgan:
I didn't know that PEI had already gone down that road. But it did. They passed an amendment to their marriage legislation in 2005 (pdf).
Well that's a very broad brush. What if this commissioner's religion says it doesn't care for ... oh ... the Irish marrying a Spaniard. Hmmmmmmm. Not a road that any province or country should be on.
But the interesting part was the last little bit.
Perhaps Mr. Morgan would like to clarify that.