Federal judge declines to block Mississippi religious freedom law

[rug]

Thursday 23 June 2016 at 10:11 AM ET

(JURIST) A judge for the US District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi on Tuesday declined to block Mississippi's HB 1523 , which would allow clerks to refuse marriage licenses to same-sex couples citing "sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction." The law, set to take effect July 1, recognizes and protects three beliefs: that &quot a) marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman; (b) Sexual relations are properly reserved to such a marriage; and (c) Male (man) or female (woman) refer to an individual's immutable biological sex as objectively determined by anatomy and genetics at time of birth." While some contend the ruling is a "reasonable accommodation" to religious beliefs, others believe it is legalized discrimination. The judge is set to hear arguments in related challenges later this week.

Mississippi's governor signed this bill into law in April, just days after a federal judge struck down Mississippi's ban on adoption by same-sex partners. In November the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled that same-sex divorce is legal within the state. In a 5-4 decision, the high court granted the divorce order citing to the recent US Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges as the main legal authority.

http://www.jurist.org/paperchase/2016/06/federal-judge-declines-to-block-mississippi-religious-freedom-law.php

http://www.jurist.org/paperchase/miss%20marriage%20order.pdf

[Stonepounder]

1. Does that me that a clerk could refuse to issue a marriage licence

to a mixed race couple on religious grounds? Or maybe because the couple was Muslim and the clerk felt it conflicted with his/her 'sincerely held religious beliefs'?

I just don't think this decision will hold.

[rug]

3. As of next Friday.

http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2016/html/HB/1500-1599/HB1523SG.htm

[RKP5637]

5. This is what really irks me. Anything goes, as long as one links to some F'en religious belief.

Look at all the violence in the world, the discrimination, the bigotry, and then look at what it's linked to for support of these inane beliefs. IMO religion is often the root cause of much of the grief and misery on earth. Someone tells me they've got religion, and all the red flags go up for me. And how does this law fit in with separation of church and state. What a crock!

[rug]

8. It also applies to "moral convictions", provided those convictions are that:

SECTION 2. The sincerely held religious beliefs or moral convictions protected by this act are the belief or conviction that:
(a) Marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman;
(b) Sexual relations are properly reserved to such a marriage; and
(c) Male (man) or female (woman) refer to an individual's immutable biological sex as objectively determined by anatomy and genetics at time of birth.

[RKP5637]

4. Why don't they call it for what it is! Mississippi's Religious Freedom Law to Discriminate

and Favor Bigotry. Religion is gross and often so damn destructive. How intelligent individuals can believe in this crap from eons ago is beyond me to comprehend. Most of it is primitive and reflex actions/stimulation/thoughts. And for many $$$$$'s for the taking from the brainwashed faithful.

[rug]

9. Well, this law protects nonbelievers, so long as they are homophobes, transphobes, or puritans.

[RKP5637]

11. Yep, exactly! I'm always amazed at those that have such a perverse interest in others

sexual orientation and relationships. In my book, the "homophobes, transphobes, or puritans" have some serious personality disorders. They really are obsessive compulsive to say the least. Years ago, this would have made for an interesting research topic for me to do.

[lapfog_1]

6. Sexual relations are properly reserved to such a marriage

What is the implication of holding this belief?

Does this mean that a police officer can arrest and charge someone engaged in premarital sex or adultery?

And if the DA and judge also hold the belief you could be convicted of a crime?

[rug]

10. That's exactly what it means.

Except prosecutors and judges would be required to uphold this law regardless of their own opinions of it.

[RKP5637]

7. I have a friend that had to work in Mississippi for two years. Our company gave him a two year

contract with a huge pay differential for having to live and work in Mississippi. At the end of two years he left and was back in a sane state. I think the company also let him keep the pay differential permanently as a thank you.