United Church of Christ challenges North Carolina's ban on marriage equality for denying religious freedoms

Here's a great approach to the marriage equality fight.


The United Church of Christ, twelve clergy members and several gay couples are challenging North Carolina's ban on same-sex marriage on the grounds that it violates their religious freedoms:

From the Washington Blade:

The lawsuit — which was filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina — argues the marriage amendment violates the religious beliefs of denominations and congregants who support the recognition of gay nuptials and clergy who want to perform them. Rev. Geoffrey A. Black, president of the United Church of Christ, and Rev. Nancy Kraft of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Charlotte are among the plaintiffs who attended a Charlotte press conference.

“As a senior minister, I am often asked to perform marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples in my congregation,” said Rev. Joe Hoffman (pictured) of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Asheville, who is a plaintiff along with Diane Ansley and Cathy McGaughey, two of his congregants who have been together for 14 years. “My denomination — the United Church of Christ — authorizes me to perform these ceremonies, but Amendment One denies my religious freedom by prohibiting me from exercising this right.”

Bolding is mine.

Get ready for the haters' head to explode in 3, 2, 1...