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by dennisbest 4009 days ago
Kennedy is addressing the idea (myth) that churches would be compelled to perform same-sex marriages or somehow face legal consequences for speaking on the issue.
2 comments

[Myth?](http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2014/October/Idaho-Ministers-T...) Also, what about [photographers](http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/07/supreme-court-g...) and so on facing fines and criminal charges for not taking on clients? I came across this amusing story too, [pro-gay bakers refuse to make cakes that do not support their own precepts](https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/this-evangelist-asked-a-ga...).

Wait and see though, is what I say.

http://www.advocate.com/politics/marriage-equality/2014/10/2...

The key point about the Idaho ministers is this: "The Hitching Post has apparently in the past operated as a for-profit business and offered civil services as well as religious ceremonies. Earlier this month, it either became a religious organization or decided to present itself as such. If the Knapps are operating and plan to continue operating the Hitching Post as a religious organiztion, they have no reason to fear prosecution from the city."

The closest thing I have seen is that Denmark apparently forces all church buildings to be available for gay weddings. No priest is forced to officiate, but the local bishop must arrange a willing replacement if necessary.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/denmark/931...

Denmark has a state church, which means that the church can influence politics, but also that politics can influence the church. So if church buildings are state buildings for marriage, and the state allows same-sex marriage, then those buildings have to accommodate same-sex marriages.

If the church has a problem with this, it should divorce the state.

In neighbouring Sweden, church and state separated in the year 2000, so when same-sex marriage was finally made legal in 2010, this was simply not an issue. The Church of Sweden can deny same-sex marriages on its premises and by its staff if it so chooses.

Separation of church and state gets a bit murky when there is a state religion.