Last week, Tennessee Republican Governor Bill Lee signed a bill into law that allows public officials to refuse to perform same-sex marriages if their religious beliefs make them unable to do so in good conscience. Christian post reports that the author of the bill said, “The government has a responsibility to protect the exercise of religious beliefs. Those with the authority to perform civil ceremonies would also be permitted to refuse to solemnize marriage for reasons of conscience.”
Perhaps this Tennessee law will prove to be a model for other states, including ours. Religious freedom, unlike same-sex marriage or marriage of any sort, is constitutionally protected. Public officials should not have to set aside their strongly held religious beliefs or violate their conscience in order to serve in their respective office.
