The House and Senate [of New Hampshire] have approved allowing gay couples to marry.<\/p>\n
But Gov. John Lynch, a three-term Democrat, said last week he would sign a same-sex marriage bill only if it provides \u201cthe strongest and clearest protections for religious institutions and associations, and for the individuals working with such institutions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lynch said any such measure needs to \u201cmake clear that [clergy and other religious officials] cannot be forced to act in ways that violate their deeply held religious principles.\u201d<\/p>\n
The House on Wednesday fell two votes short of approving Lynch\u2019s language, 186-188.<\/p>\n
The chamber then voted to send the legislation to a committee to be considered further.<\/p>\n
The language would specify that religious organizations can decline to take part in any marriage ceremony without incurring fines or risking lawsuits.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
And 188 legislators thought that that exception language wasn\u2019t OK. Why not, if it\u2019s only about 2 men or 2 women wanting to be \u201cmarried\u201d? No, something else is at work here \u2014 as Mark always puts it, it\u2019s not about tolerance. It\u2019s about getting everyone\u2019s forced approval. At least seems that way from the story.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Yup. This is not about \u201ctolerance\u201d. This is about punishing those who so much as *think* that homosex is not the glorious and noble summit of all human perfections.<\/p>\n