yes, did you bother to read the ballott wording??????

Since we are talking about a civil ceremony, I very much doubt that there are any options.

I would hope there is no provision Jesse. State employees are paid to fulfill their civic job responsibilities. If that employee refuses to perform what is required of them, hey should be dismissed.

Only provision for a religious organization.

We were waiting for you Terry. Thanks for your contribution.

woof woof

and there you have the ignorance prevalent in Harford County... as backwards as Alabama... might I suggest you move there Terry... the rest of civilization would like to move forward

Two consenting parties = same sex marriage, and hetero sexual marriage and interacial marriage.
One party unable to consent = marrying your pets, inanimate objects, underage children, slaves and women who were raped (which the bible is for)

You know Terry, gerbils would probably be a popular choice amongst those falling under "that" persuasion. . .

Terry, did you ever notice when a far left liberal is disagreed with, they become name callers, condescending and critical in a lowly manner? Gay marriage is not a traditional marriage, it is a partnership, although the law says different.
I would like to know in a so called gay marriage who is the husband and who is the wife and who decides? Also in a traditional marriage there is procreation and please don't tell me about adoption and invitrio whatever.
This is another great example of our lowering of morals and values like in the Fall of Rome. they say if you don't learn from history, you will live to repeat history and I am sorry to say that is what we are doing.
One question, and I don't mean to be critical or sarcastic, things lke this you used to be called queer; where did gay come into this? Sal

Sal - In most gay marriages I have seen, the typical roles of husband and wife do not apply. That does not mean it is less of a marriage, it is just different. As for procreation, there are many heterosexual couples who cannot procreate. Should they not be allowed to get married?

So Marsha, lets say you are a state employee and prefer to conduct business in your fluent non english language, even though speaking the local language is a requirement of the job? Seems to me that behavior would not get the job required of you to be performed properly.

Are you more interested in shoving it in everyone's face or actually having gay people marry? If there are two folks in the civil service office and one objects, while the other does not so there's someone there to fulfill that duty and nobody is denied why do you care? You don't win hearts and minds by being a dyck face about everything.

Because Karl, there are not always 2 people to perform one job in every office. If we did, we'd surely have taxpayers complain about overspending.

...And the last thing I want is your heart because you have repeatedly shown to not have one.

I pity you.

OK I object as a teacher to teaching bigots.....Can I do that????? No I must teach all people even if I do not approve of it.....same concept here!

MArsha you surender your right to not do your job on that basis. You are an agent of the state who can not discriminate. If you can't do your job because of your religious beliefs.....find another job!

Marsha... the First Amendment is a very important part of our history, and in many ways, is the foundation for what our country stands for. However, if a religion were to state that a (male) husband can/shall put his (female) wife to death for not bearing a son, would you be in favor of allowing the husband to sacrifice his wife in the US? I would hope not, and therefore, there are interpretations that need to be made.

The employee's of the Circuit Court of St. Mary's county are Maryland state employees. Those that CHOOSE not to perform the duties of their job are NOT required to remain employed there. They can seek employment elsewhere. And, I would go so far as to say that if they REFUSE to do the job that their position calls for as a deputy clerk, as a representative of our State government, their employment should be terminated.

I only drew that parallel for you because they are both first amendment rights

Bill of rights does not limit the power of the state government from a Conservative view. Secondly if we accept the premise that the state can not force an individual to violate their beliefs than the Justice of the Peace, who is an agent of the state can not fail to provide you with the due process at the court house and execute your marriage liscence because of her religious beliefs. In their role they are the state! As has been said if they can not preform those duties.....get a new job!

My butt would love to be at work; but my butt is sick! So Marsha do you believe a Catholic judge has the right to not grant a divorce because it is against their religion?

@CB9678 Why even waste your time with this extreme zealot? You will never change her mind. When you work for the state you have to follow the law of the state. If you don't like it you forfeit your job. That she can't or won't see that just proves how stupid some people can be. Save your time and energy for someone who can engage in meaningful discussion.

Nick I figured she was simply a troll when she resorted to personal attacks instead of debating the merit of the point. Her inability to reply after that has further demonstrated that!

That works until the government takes control of the private sector and creates laws to regulate private businesses, including preventing pharmacists from refusing to fill plan b (which has been proven to cause abortions in some cases).

Homosexuality is a behavior not a race!

AllStar - Homosexuality is a sexual orientation, not a behavior.

One can love homosexuals without approving of homosexual marriage! The only true happiness is found in the next life.

I was going to post a rant about the Establishment Clause and the absurdity of the idea that religious beliefs somehow trump the law as well as the duties of a Clerk in (of all places) the state judicial system but I think you've summed things up rather well.

Well at least we can rest assured that these objectors aren't eating our sinful Maryland shellfish... after all, according to Leviticus the penalty for any violation is death.

Thank you Maryland for affirming the legal equality of ALL of your residents!

Cassie, you must learn the definition of equality. Man + man is not equal to man + woman. Only one is ordained by God, by history, and by nature.

Yes All-star but the State of Maryland is neither of those things! To clarify I am a praccticing Catholic and I find Homosexuality to be a practice not consistent with my religion. I also do not find state sanctioning of Marriage to be consistent with my faith. If you get married in a civil ceremony I do not, and my faith does not recognize your marriage in a religious context. Because of that the only benefit to a civil marriage is simply a tax basis.. That is why I find the religious arguement to be a moot point!

If sodomy was illegal in Maryland, many straight couples as well as gay couples would be in trouble.

Sodomy is disgusting either way!

Dale - God loves all of His children, gay and straight. The Bible does not condemn homosexuality when it is put in historical and cultural context and is read using reason, as Jesus did.

Casey, you clearly need to reread the Gospels!

AMEN, Sal

AllStar - Jesus never spoke about homosexuality. I stand by my statement that the Bible does not condemn homosexuality when it is put in historical and cultural context and is read using reason, as Jesus did. If you disagree, please cite a verse.

So you compare most Christians to the Westboro Baptist Church freaks...you are incredibly biased against Christianity my friend. Read the New Testament and pray for enlightenment.

No he is pointing out the wide variation in religious beliefs among Christians including those who recognize same sex marriages and even perform them!

Allstar can you please provide examples of the great nations who fell because of preverse behavior? Can you also please cite the part of the Communist structure which has advocated for an acceptance of Homosexuality? Where in the gospel does Jesus clearly define marriage. I will admit that St. Paul does define marriage ithat way but Jesus does not! If you are going to thump on your Bible stop mis quoting it least you meet the fate of the warning provided at the end of Revalations! BTW the two buisnesses you cite provide public accomadations and we have laws about that. If a homosexual couple wanted to celebrate an anniversary of them dating before they where not free to decline it on the homosexual basis. What should change? Should hotels refuse rooms to an interracial couple on religious grounds?

Jesus talks about marriage in the Gospel of Matthew!
"Some Pharisees approached him, and tested him, saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?” He said in reply, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate.”
Matthew 19:3-6

A few points this is also the same passage.

"Matthew 19:3-6
King James Version (KJV)

3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."

It never defines marriage it never even uses the word. It also is never limiting. of that. This discusses the permissability of Divorce.

My final point is that even if we accept this as a biblical decree of a definition of marriage. When one files for a marriage liscence and goes to the court house you are not being joined by God. These people are not being joined by God.

Sal - I can't believe the rationale or logic used to DENY gay marriage.

AllStar - Injustice and inequality are wrong = Absolute truth.

1) The Roman Empire fell for many reasons. One has been listed as a moral decline. Christianity has also been cited as a reason for the fall of the Roman Empire. Does that mean that if a society embraces Christianity as the Roman Empire did it to is destined to fall? You said nations (plural) provide some more examples to support your claim.

2) The Naked Communist is not an objective annalysis of the goals of communism. Communism is an Economic philosophy. The author of this work also advocated to end the direct election of senators, remove the seperation of church and state, Thought Dwight Eisenhower was a communist, Claimed the US Elections from 1932-1968 where not legitimate, believed the Rockefellers conspired to rig the election of Jimmy Carter. In the book you cite he also Claims FDR delivered enriched Uranium to the USSR, Claimed Sputnik was hatched with stolen American plans, Claimed the Russians where implanting mind control divices to trigger pavlovian responses to take over the minds of the young. So consider the source.

Finally I am not definning freedom but letting you know that in this state the law does not permit a public accomadation to descriminate in who it provides services to.