Despite N.Y.'s redefintion of marriage, clerks still have right of conscience
ADF legal memo outlines freedom protections for clerks affirming marriage as only a union of husband and wife
Monday, Jul 18, 2011
ALBANY, N.Y. — Alliance Defense Fund attorneys circulated a legal memo Friday assuring New York State municipal clerks responsible for issuing marriage licenses that the law does not require them to violate their sincerely held religious beliefs. The ADF memo explains that clerks may delegate the issuing of same-sex ‘marriage’ licenses.
The memo was circulated in response to threats from top officials of the Empire State to charge clerks who decline to issue such licenses with a criminal offense--forcing clerks to decide between their career and their faith. When New York’s new definition of marriage takes effect on July 24, many clerks will be confronted with the conflict between a surrendering to a new job requirement and adherence to their own religious beliefs.
“No one should have to choose between their religious beliefs and their job. The law--and New York’s highest court--affirms this fundamental principle of freedom,” said ADF Senior Counsel Brian Raum. “It’s outrageous that officials are threatening criminal prosecution for clerks who exercise their lawful right to delegate the issuing of same-sex ‘marriage’ licenses, especially when the law requires the accommodation of their religious beliefs. We encourage all clerks to affirm their rights under New York State law.”
After New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed same-sex ‘marriage’ into law, he admonished clerks, “You don’t get to say, ‘I like this law and I’ll enforce this law,’ or ‘I don’t like this law and I won’t enforce this law’--you can’t do that. So, if you can’t enforce the law, then you shouldn’t be in that position.” Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice reflected a similar stance, declaring that “the law affords no discretion to public officials charged with granting marriage licenses… Therefore, any such refusal may be subject to criminal prosecution.”
Even though New York’s Marriage Equality Act contains extremely narrow religious exemptions, it is devoid of any individual conscience protections. However, “New York’s Human Rights Law requires employers to accommodate those [religious] beliefs unless it places an undue hardship on the employer,” the ADF memo to municipal clerks states. ADF attorneys contend that delegation is not an undue burden because Executive Law § 296(10)(a) explicitly allows a municipality to delegate a clerk’s duties concerning marriage licenses to a deputy clerk or any other municipal employee--giving it no reason to deny a clerk’s request.
ADF attorneys direct all citizens of New York to follow the memo’s legal advice if they are facing a conflict between their religious beliefs and any new job duties imposed by New York’s recent change to the definition of marriage.
The memo was circulated in response to threats from top officials of the Empire State to charge clerks who decline to issue such licenses with a criminal offense--forcing clerks to decide between their career and their faith. When New York’s new definition of marriage takes effect on July 24, many clerks will be confronted with the conflict between a surrendering to a new job requirement and adherence to their own religious beliefs.
“No one should have to choose between their religious beliefs and their job. The law--and New York’s highest court--affirms this fundamental principle of freedom,” said ADF Senior Counsel Brian Raum. “It’s outrageous that officials are threatening criminal prosecution for clerks who exercise their lawful right to delegate the issuing of same-sex ‘marriage’ licenses, especially when the law requires the accommodation of their religious beliefs. We encourage all clerks to affirm their rights under New York State law.”
After New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed same-sex ‘marriage’ into law, he admonished clerks, “You don’t get to say, ‘I like this law and I’ll enforce this law,’ or ‘I don’t like this law and I won’t enforce this law’--you can’t do that. So, if you can’t enforce the law, then you shouldn’t be in that position.” Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice reflected a similar stance, declaring that “the law affords no discretion to public officials charged with granting marriage licenses… Therefore, any such refusal may be subject to criminal prosecution.”
Even though New York’s Marriage Equality Act contains extremely narrow religious exemptions, it is devoid of any individual conscience protections. However, “New York’s Human Rights Law requires employers to accommodate those [religious] beliefs unless it places an undue hardship on the employer,” the ADF memo to municipal clerks states. ADF attorneys contend that delegation is not an undue burden because Executive Law § 296(10)(a) explicitly allows a municipality to delegate a clerk’s duties concerning marriage licenses to a deputy clerk or any other municipal employee--giving it no reason to deny a clerk’s request.
ADF attorneys direct all citizens of New York to follow the memo’s legal advice if they are facing a conflict between their religious beliefs and any new job duties imposed by New York’s recent change to the definition of marriage.
- Pronunciation guide: Raum (RAHM’)
ADF is a legal alliance of Christian attorneys and like-minded organizations defending the right of people to freely live out their faith. Launched in 1994, ADF employs a unique combination of strategy, training, funding, and litigation to protect and preserve religious liberty, the sanctity of life, marriage, and the family.