Government officials in Texas have promised to protect religious freedom following last week’s US Supreme Court ruling that there is a legal right to same-sex ‘marriage’ in all states.
The state’s attorney general, Ken Paxton, called the US Supreme Court’s decision on same-sex ‘marriage’ a “lawless ruling” and vowed to support the religious liberties of state officials who do not wish to ‘marry’ same-sex couples.
“For those who respect the rule of law, this lawless ruling presents a fundamental dilemma: A ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court is considered the law of the land, but a judge-made edict that is not based in the law or the Constitution diminishes faith in our system of government and the rule of law,” he said.
He warned that the Supreme Court’s judgment meant that any official who refused to issue a marriage licence citing a religious objection could face a fine or litigation but he went on to say that his office stood ready to defend any such official without charge.
“I will do everything I can from this office to be a public voice for those standing in defense of their rights,” he said.
‘Religious freedom is beyond the reach of government’
Meanwhile, Governor Greg Abbott wrote to the heads of all Texas government agencies, saying: “Texans of all faiths must be absolutely secure in the knowledge that their religious freedom is beyond the reach of government … The government must never pressure a person to abandon or violate his or her sincerely held religious beliefs regarding a topic such as marriage.”
“Yet in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision, the law’s promise of religious liberty will be tested by some who seek to silence and marginalize those whose conscience will not allow them to participate in or endorse marriages that are incompatible with their religious beliefs. As government officials, we have a constitutional duty to preserve, protect, and defend the religious liberty of every Texan,” he went on to say.
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