Black Community News News and Commentary for Christians
Marriage is the God-ordained union between one man and one woman. Sex outside marriage and with someone other than a spouse are sins.
This is what the Bible teaches.
The God of the Bible calls homosexuality an abomination. There is no such thing as a marriage between two men or two women. To say otherwise — to believe otherwise — contradicts what the Bible teaches about marriage and sexuality.
Christian business owners, especially those who use their artistic talents in the services they provide, have the right to refuse to perform services that conflict with their faith. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees their rights, and the U.S. Supreme Court has protected their rights.
Government officials like judges and clerks of court also have the right to actually practice their faith and not just declare their beliefs and worship in church. Former Kentucky County clerk Kim Davis is still fighting for courts to protect her rights. Davis recused herself from issuing marriage licenses to couples of the same sex. As a Christian, doing so would conflict with her beliefs.
Judge Dianne Hensley, a justice of the peace in McLennan County, Texas, is facing the same problem. One of her duties is to conduct weddings, which includes same-sex “weddings.” She recused herself for the same reasons as Davis. And like Davis, Judge Hensley was punished for it.
The State Commission on Judicial Conduct reprimanded Judge Hensley. She filed a lawsuit. Her legal counsel, Mitchell Law LLP and First Liberty Institute, argued her case to judges on the Texas Supreme Court last week. From First Liberty:
To ensure all residents of McLennan County have access to low-cost wedding ceremonies, at her own expense, Judge Hensley invested extensive time and resources to compile a referral list of alternative, local wedding officiants. The list included one within walking distance of her office who agreed to reduce the cost of the wedding to the same amount Judge Hensley received and who would do same-sex weddings within the same timeframe as Judge Hensley.
But government officials don’t care about Judge Hensley’s accommodations. You must bake the cake. But this is Texas. Surely this red state will protect her religious freedom.
“Judge Hensley has been adhering to the law and the legal guidance provided by the Attorney General of Texas,” said Hiram Sasser, Executive General Counsel for First Liberty Institute. “Her way of reconciling her religious beliefs while meeting the needs of her community is not just legal but should be a model for public officials across Texas.”
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When a judge dons his/her robe and presides over his/her courtroom, they should not “bring their faith” with them when hearing a court case. That can ultimately cloud their judgement and does no service to the matter at hand.
However, this judge isn’t “presiding over a courtroom.” She’s just declining to officiate at certain ceremonies that violate her conscience.
And, even in a court case, every judge is free (and perhaps should be required) to recuse him/herself if there’s a conflict of interest. That’s all this judge is doing.
Hopefully, you would agree that the judge who tried David Daleiden for exposing Planned Parenthood’s unethical and illegal practice of selling the remains of aborted children should have recused himself, since he’s a staunch supporter of Planned Parenthood.