Ledyard Town Clerk Rose Marie Belforti doesn’t wanna sign same-sex marriage licenses because of her “religious beliefs.” So she wrote a letter to her Town Board invoking a law that would allow her to appoint a deputy clerk to sign ’em instead. The Town Board basically said, ‘Yeah, I guess… if that’s a real law and not just something you pulled out of your butt.’ So wait and see, we guess.
Meanwhile, when a newspaper called Belforti for a comment on her stand, she said “That’s not your business!” and hung up the phone.
One New York District Attorney has already said that she’ll criminally prosecute any “conscientious” county clerks who don’t wanna issue marriage licenses to same sex couples, but that was in Nassau county. And as far as we know, the “religious exemptions” part of the New York marriage law doesn’t give clerks the right to abandon their duties.
What if another clerk doesn’t believe in “driving” or in “zoning laws”? There’s gotta be a passage somewhere in the bible that objects to those.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Cam
So then, back in the 1970’s if a Mormon clerk had said that she didn’t want to sign a marriage certificate for and interracial couple because of her religious beliefs, would she have been allowed to?
1. It is LONG past the time when we should have disallowed religion to be used as an excuse for plain old fashioned bigotry.
2. If this woman wants to cite her religious beliefs…fine, then she needs to write up exactly which section of her religion she is using, and also provide proof that she abides by ALL areas of her religion…i.e. that she doesn’t speak in church, that she has never divorced, that she never had pre-marital sex, that she beats her children when they dishonor her etc…
rascal
This country is so fucked-up with the blurring of church and state that it is alarming and frightening. That we have to listen to presidential candidates go on about their religious beliefs and how they would apply them to governing is truly appalling. It is ridiculous how many if not most of the people in this country fall for this shit and believe it. Scary times, people. Scary times. And they wonder why we’re so angry??
till the world ends
Man I just wish the Aliens would come to light and make all these religious people shit in there pants. even better if they are bi and say that’s the norm where they are from. HAHAHAHA. But I do remember the new pope saying that there might be intelligent forms in the universe. Just in case you know……
Abirdwillingtobeitself
@rascal: Speak for yourself. The rest of us don’t have a secret respect for conservatism. We’re happy to have moved on from Bush to Obama, whose shaping of the political discourse has pointed the country toward the real and the secular.
rascal
@Abirdwillingtobeitself: Not sure what you’re trying to say to me…..
o
If Rose has a problem with marriage licenses, she should just quit her job. Appointing a deputy is pointless if gay people still get married on her watch. A paycheck and the respect that goes with being a town clerk must be too much for her to give up.
Abirdwillingtobeitself
@rascal: I think that I was clear. You’re mentally stuck in 2007 when Bush was still in office. He needed the war on terror to be perpetual, and you’ve happily gone farther than him by making domestic affairs a question of “the perpetual” too. All of that is unreal and highly religious.
ursomniac
If I were a Christian Scientist, I’d become a pharmacist just so I could do nothing at my job claiming it was against my religion.
rascal
@Abirdwillingtobeitself: What the hell are you talking about? Are you replying to another thread?
arbiter
Simple solution – delegate, like she’s trying to do, or just quit. If that’s your job and you object to it on personal grounds, quit. Don’t refuse to do your job and cry because it’s for religious reasons. You’re ineffective if you don’t perform the duties of your station, so they will most likely fire you anyway.
Queer Supremacist
It’s way past time to criminalize Christianity and Islam. And, quite frankly, I’m willing to send Orthodox Jews a warning that they’re next if they don’t knock off the homophobia. I’m Jewish and I have very little respect for them.
Either do your job or quit. Or be fired. I hope she gets fired, is denied welfare, ends up homeless, and starves to death. Now that we have marriage equality in NY let’s get that religion clause Trojan Horse repealed.
basta71
this woman , should lose her job period ! she is not a religious institution , and works for the state ! she is just another example of a person with loving cristian values i guess , we must all make sure to protect our rights fom people like this , and its time for this country to realize , if they can play with gay rights , anyone else could have the same happen to them , especialy these new hopeful gop canidates , who will stop at nothing to have their way , this is a dangerouse mix of mentaly ill people who dont seem to undestsnd the sepparation of church and state .its all our duties as lgbt americans ,educate the ignorant , thast why becoming visable is so important . in the words of harvy milk (RIP)come out to to your friends , family and all you know , if indeed they are who they say they are , especially for the upcoming elections , because even if they dont agree with our lifestyle they wil have no choice but to support us >
Cam
@ursomniac:
Awesome comment!
Pete n SFO
If this gal is so stuck on her religious beliefs, she can work at the local Katholic Rectumry pimping out the tweens for Father Free-Meal.
Why is this news?
When Spain legalized Marriage Equality, the President announced that if anyone was unable to perform their job function, he would happily accept their resignation.
Sometimes children simply need limits.
Luis
OR you can contact Ms. Belforti and let her know your opinion! Boycott her farm while we are at it. Her info is below:
Her website selling cheese: http://www.kefircheese.com/Index1.html
You can find her number on the website. Feel free to call and let her know how you feel!
SuperCat
I’ve said this before, freaking clerks are not reverends or priests. They are already signing in marriages that likely break their religious rules in someways. Plenty of religions will only marry straight couples who fit certain guidelines, such as not having had sex yet, or becoming a “born again virgin” before they can be married.
So this whole “against my religion” thing is stupid and hypocritical.
Tony Renna
shouldnt that be a conflict of interest? she runs a local business and is a town clerk ?????and from what i understand a critsian charity group was willing to pay her salary if she left her job ????when there are people starving here in america and around the world due to joblessness , she has the nerve to even protest ??? fire her ass ! maybe the lgbt community needs to inact lawsuits banning straight marriage ???just some cheese for us to chew on ! and my felow lgbt bors and sis dont be scared to put your full name out here , show them were here in numbers , and real people , maybe then they will se that we are serious …. formerly basta71
Tony Renna
@Luis: thanks for sharing that info on belforte luis . good work !
Joshd
Plain and simple the lady refused to do her job that people (gay people) pay taxes for her to do. She should of been given 10 minutes to clear out her desk and leave so that someone who can full fill the job could take her place. It’s like someone doing any kind of service to you, they can’t just deny you service because of their “religious” beliefs especially when the establishment doesn’t reflect that belief. Id she wants to not follow the law than she can go to jail. There’s lots of people there much worse than the gays who want their marriage licenses… Equally as scary though HAHA!
Jim
None of our business my ass. Since she’s a public employee, it’s everyone’s business.
Djm
This vid is good it’s not gay but it might be the best example of an inter ratial marriage vid ever
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRG4kJkhgWQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Steve
Clerks have a ministerial duty to maintain records and issue licenses. The term “ministerial duty” means that the person who holds the office does not have any choices to make. The minister must administer the law as it is written.
Many courts have held that such requirements do no infringe on first-amendment freedoms of religion or speech. No person is required to run for any office or apply for any job that their religion would forbid them to perform. No person is required to continue in any job. She may resign at any time. If her religion forbids her to perform the duties of the job, she must retire or resign, or be fired. A ‘reasonable accommodation’ cannot accommodate a flat refusal to do the job.
There were almost identical cases after the 1957 decision in Loving vs. Virginia. A number of town clerks who refused to issue marriage licenses to inter-racial couples, either retired, resigned, or were fired.
Steve
Clerks have a ministerial duty to maintain records and issue licenses. The term “ministerial duty” means that the person who holds the office does not have any choices to make. The minister must administer the law as it is written.
Many courts have held that such requirements do not infringe on first-amendment freedoms of religion or speech. No person is required to run for any office or apply for any job that their religion would forbid them to perform. No person is required to continue in any job. She may resign at any time. If her religion forbids her to perform the duties of the job, she must retire or resign, or be fired. A ‘reasonable accommodation’ cannot accommodate a flat refusal to do the job.
There were almost identical cases after the 1957 decision in Loving vs. Virginia. A number of town clerks who refused to issue marriage licenses to inter-racial couples, either retired, resigned, or were fired.
Mike in Asheville
@arbiter: Fuck that — she does her job or quit/fired. Period. Why should the gay and straight taxpayers in her town have to pay for 2 people to do the job because 1 refuses the legal responsibilities attached to the job and paycheck?
xander
If this dame keeps her job, then you’ll see catholic town clerks refusing to allow divorced people from marrying, or other fundy clerks unwilling to marry jews or muslims. Usually I hate ‘slippery slope’ reasoning, but I think it applies here!
She needs to work at a church, not in a gov’t office!
Ian
Sorry Rose Marie… if you’re unable or unwilling to execute the lawful duties of your office, you’re unfit for the office and should resign. Simple as that.
ewe
Fire her and tell her the exact address of her church. She can go get a job there.
Sheila
Third try on commenting here… not finding the right words. Give her a chance to see what an idiot she is by making her use her vacation days for any day she does not want to perform her job. I suspect it is not a closely enough held belief that she would give up VACATION days for it. (And if it is, she really does need to find another job). Best wishes to my friends who are finally able to make this important step in their lives!
codyj
Rascal, i could not agree with you more..i cant BELIEVE how fkd this ‘blurred’ church -state thing has gotten. Most of the ‘in line’ politicians actually BELIEVE GOD has told them to run ,and push their anti gay Bible agenda…some of the core group from VA and Carolinas, have daily ‘prayer breakfasts-prayer warrior meetings while in DC ,THUMP,THUMP,THUMP
Mike in Asheville
@codyj: Perhaps its my age (51) but I am much more cynical than your assessment that “in line” politicians actually BELIEVE IN GOD; evidence is to the contrary, they SAY they believe yet do not.
Certainly, no sane person would issue the judgments of the everlasting hell for committing the sins listed in the 10 commandments, and then readily commit those sins. Even among Catholic priests, do you really think they believe that after molesting and raping children, a fellow rapist/molester can actually wash away the sin by absolving fellow priests of raping and molesting, and then put those same rapists and molesters back among innocent children?
Every single time those “in line” politicians tell a lie, every time they invoke “God” in their lies, each and every time they smash the First Commandment. And yet, no where in the commandments am I forbidden from loving and engaging in sex with another man.
As it has been for millenium after millenium, religion is the tool of politics to keep control over the governed.
Henry
@Mike in Asheville: You’re definitely right to say priests and politicians don’t really believe, and I don’t think it’s even a cynical view. I think it’s a realist view.
Patsy Stoned
I agree with JoshD…she shouldn’t get taxes from gay citizens as pay if she refuses to consider them equal (especially in light of the law). What did these “principled” clerks do when giving licenses to divorced people? If she didn’t ask EVERY single couple who came before if they were SINNERS but just keeps her outrage for gays then she is nothing but a bigot and hypocrite.