Republican Gov. Nathan Deal of Georgia, who is a Southern Baptist, has criticised a bill that would protect ministers, clerics or religious leaders from being compelled to solemnise same-sex marriage in the state, saying it is un-Christian.
Deal vowed on March 3 that he would reject any bill that would allow "discrimination in our state in order to protect people of faith," the Christian News Network reported.
The governor is referring to H.B. 757 or the Pastor Protection Act and S.B. 284 or the First Amendment Defense Act of Georgia, which lawmakers are working to combine. H.B. 757 already passed the state House.
It provides that "no minister of the gospel or cleric or religious practitioner ordained or authorized to solemnize marriages, perform rites, or administer sacraments according to the usages of the denomination, when acting in his or her official religious capacity, shall be required to solemnize any marriage, perform any rite, or administer any sacrament in violation of his or her right to free exercise of religion under the Constitution of this state or of the United States."
S.B. 284 will mandate that the "government shall not take any discriminatory action against wholly or partially on the basis that such person believes, speaks or acts in accordance with a sincerely-held religious belief or moral conviction that marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman or that sexual relations are properly reserved to such a marriage."
But Deal sees that two bills as against Christian ways.
"I think what the New Testament teaches us is that Jesus reached out to those who were considered the outcasts, the ones that did not conform to the religious societies' view of the world and said to those of belief, 'This is what I want you to do,'" he said.
He added, "We do not have a belief—in my way of looking at religion—that says we have to discriminate against anybody. If you were to apply those standards to the teaching of Jesus, I don't think they fit."
Deal said, "We have a belief in forgiveness and that we do not have to discriminate unduly against anyone on the basis of our own religious beliefs."
The governor, who believes marriage should be between a man and a woman, said those who do not agree are not threats to Christians.
"We are not jeopardized, in my opinion, by those who believe differently from us," Deal said. "We are not, in my opinion, put in jeopardy by virtue of those who might hold different beliefs or who may not even agree with what our Supreme Court said the law of the land is on the issue of same-sex marriage. I do not feel threatened by the fact that people who might choose same-sex marriages pursue that route."
Deal hopes that there will be a compromise in protecting fundamental religious beliefs but not discriminating against other people.
The office of Georgia House Speaker David Ralston has released a statement to say that "Speaker Ralston appreciates and shares Governor Deal's sincere commitment to protecting religious liberties while ensuring that Georgia continues to welcome everyone with genuine Southern hospitality."
"Productive conversations continue with the Governor's staff as well as other members of House leadership regarding HB 757 and the Speaker is confident that we can find a way to move forward together," it said.
