Iowa Magistrate to Stop Performing Marriages

[ccharles000]

With marriage equality for gay and lesbian families now a reality in Iowa, some judges in that state may opt out of performing marriage ceremonies entirely, rather than preside over a union between same-sex couples.

One magistrate who has announced that he will no longer preside over weddings for either heterosexual or same-sex couples is Francis Honrath, Third District Magistrate, reported the Des Moines Register in an April 23 article.

In Honrath’s case, however, same-sex marriage equality is not the only factor behind the judge’s decision.

The article quoted Honrath, the married father of seven, as saying, "The Supreme Court ruling had something to do with it, but the truth is it’s not just same-sex marriage I had problems with."

The article cited another judge, District 3 Chief Judge Duane Hoffmeyer, as giving voice to the opinion that the court’s decision, which cleared the way for marriage equality, would precipitate the refusal of other judges to perform marriages, as well.

http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=news&sc3=&id=90310

[Trocadero]

1. buh bye then! take your ball and go home, crybaby

[MADem]

2. What a bunch of whiners and wimps!

Time for some new judges, I'm thinking!!

[xchrom]

3. Francis -- Miss Thing --

you should really grow a thicker skin.

[Oeditpus Rex]

4. SEE?!?

Teh Gay is destroying the institoot of marriage. :cry:

[ccharles000]

6. lol

[adiabatic]

5. Here's another one GOP State Senator under ethics probe for encouraging lawbreaking

http://www.tips-q.com/862362-iowa-marriage-equality-opponent-faces-ethics-charge

[msongs]

7. or they could just perform christians only marriages nt

[Fuzz]

8. "...it’s not just same-sex marriage I had problems with."

Um, yeah, right.

[ccharles000]

9. kick

[LWolf]

10. There will be plenty of people to perform marriage ceremonies.

My son does. He is ordained by the "universal life church," and has performed marriages in a few states.

You don't have to do much to be ordained and able to perform marriage ceremonies. Any friend of the couple could become ordained quickly and easily.

That doesn't negate the issue of a public official refusing to conduct a civil ceremony, but it certainly ensures that no one in Iowa should have any trouble finding someone to do so.

My son is in CA, and won't be marrying any gay/lesbian couples there any time soon. He is following the progress of prop 8 through the legal system, though, and ready to work to make it possible on the left coast, as well.

[Cairycat]

11. The magistrates in my county stopped performing marriages in the courthouse for free

They will still marry couples off-site, on their time off from official duties, for a fee ($200). Still, I thought the timing of that announcement was a little coincidental. Here's an article about it: http://wcfcourier.com/articles/2009/04/25/news/local/doc49f22b1b22522851793307.txt

-Cairycat in northeast Iowa

[BlooInBloo]

12. Huh. Looky at that. I guess gay marriage really DID threaten hetero marriage.

:rofl:

[NightWatcher]

13. too bad they couldnt be fired for failure to do their job

what the hell are they so scared of?
they must not be too certain with their own marriage/sexuality, that someone else's would frighten them