More on Same-Sex Marriage in New Hampshire
The governor didn't like the religious bit in the original bill, so now it's more strongly worded. They're going to vote on this today.
I. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a religious organization, association, or society, or any individual who is managed, directed, or supervised by or in conjunction with a religious organization, association or society, or any nonprofit institution or organization operated, supervised or controlled by or in conjunction with a religious organization, association or society, shall not be required to provide services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods or privileges to an individual if such request for such services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods or privileges is related to the solemnization of a marriage, the celebration of a marriage, or the promotion of marriage through religious counseling, programs, courses, retreats, or housing designated for married individuals, and such solemnization, celebration, or promotion of marriage is in violation of their religious beliefs and faith. Any refusal to provide services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods or privileges in accordance with this section shall not create any civil claim or cause of action or result in any state action to penalize or withhold benefits from such religious organization, association or society, or any individual who is managed, directed, or supervised by or in conjunction with a religious organization, association or society, or any nonprofit institution or organization operated, supervised or controlled by or in conjunction with a religious organization, association or society.
I hope that means Catholic hospitals still have to treat it as a marriage. And that this wording is all about actual weddings and anniversaries. But I'm not a lawyer or a politician, so I'm not quite sure.
This certainly does seem to leave it open for, say, the Fraternal Order of the Woodchuck to refuse to rent their hall to an interracial couple, if they feel like it. Y'know.. as long as it violates their religious beliefs. And you know the Holy Woodchuck laid down some pretty strange laws.
I. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a religious organization, association, or society, or any individual who is managed, directed, or supervised by or in conjunction with a religious organization, association or society, or any nonprofit institution or organization operated, supervised or controlled by or in conjunction with a religious organization, association or society, shall not be required to provide services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods or privileges to an individual if such request for such services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods or privileges is related to the solemnization of a marriage, the celebration of a marriage, or the promotion of marriage through religious counseling, programs, courses, retreats, or housing designated for married individuals, and such solemnization, celebration, or promotion of marriage is in violation of their religious beliefs and faith. Any refusal to provide services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods or privileges in accordance with this section shall not create any civil claim or cause of action or result in any state action to penalize or withhold benefits from such religious organization, association or society, or any individual who is managed, directed, or supervised by or in conjunction with a religious organization, association or society, or any nonprofit institution or organization operated, supervised or controlled by or in conjunction with a religious organization, association or society.
I hope that means Catholic hospitals still have to treat it as a marriage. And that this wording is all about actual weddings and anniversaries. But I'm not a lawyer or a politician, so I'm not quite sure.
This certainly does seem to leave it open for, say, the Fraternal Order of the Woodchuck to refuse to rent their hall to an interracial couple, if they feel like it. Y'know.. as long as it violates their religious beliefs. And you know the Holy Woodchuck laid down some pretty strange laws.