DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Key social issues: homosexuality and Orthodox positions

**MannoFr** · 04-12-2010, 09:56 PM

Andreas Moran wrote:

If this situation is in the public sphere then you are legally obligated to allow the booking on this basis. If it is not legally obligated then that is different- but to my knowledge only religious groups have the legal right to differentiate on this basis (at least in Canada and the US; ie as a clergyman I have the legal right to refuse marriage & communion to those who infringe the moral discipline of our church body).
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In Christ- Fr Raphael

Father, please correct me if this is incorrect, as I recall from being told my Protestant ministers during my years as a Protestant: no clergyman is required to perform a marriage - he is not a government employee, but rather is allowed by the government to officiate at weddings on the state's behalf. I do know of Protestant ministers who have refused to marry couples for various reasons - age, family situation, questions about divorce/previous marriage, etc. All of this was at a time before homosexual marriages were even thought of, but wouldn't the principle be the same?

An Orthodox wedding is a sacrament, a blessing, and I don't see how any government can require that any more that it can require that the Holy Mysteries be offered to anyone who requests them. The solution might be for Orthodox clergy to simply separate from civil legal requirements for all people who would then need a civil marriage for legal purposes, and perform the wedding for those who truly wish to receive the sacrament of marriage. This "two weddings" arrangement does happen elsewhere in the world.

04-12-2010, 09:56 PM	#48
MannoFr Join Date Mar 2007 Posts 4,451 Senior Member	Andreas Moran wrote: If this situation is in the public sphere then you are legally obligated to allow the booking on this basis. If it is not legally obligated then that is different- but to my knowledge only religious groups have the legal right to differentiate on this basis (at least in Canada and the US; ie as a clergyman I have the legal right to refuse marriage & communion to those who infringe the moral discipline of our church body). .... In Christ- Fr Raphael Father, please correct me if this is incorrect, as I recall from being told my Protestant ministers during my years as a Protestant: no clergyman is required to perform a marriage - he is not a government employee, but rather is allowed by the government to officiate at weddings on the state's behalf. I do know of Protestant ministers who have refused to marry couples for various reasons - age, family situation, questions about divorce/previous marriage, etc. All of this was at a time before homosexual marriages were even thought of, but wouldn't the principle be the same? An Orthodox wedding is a sacrament, a blessing, and I don't see how any government can require that any more that it can require that the Holy Mysteries be offered to anyone who requests them. The solution might be for Orthodox clergy to simply separate from civil legal requirements for all people who would then need a civil marriage for legal purposes, and perform the wedding for those who truly wish to receive the sacrament of marriage. This "two weddings" arrangement does happen elsewhere in the world.
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