A local pastor says a bill proposed by an Urbana lawmaker won’t change the way he views gay marriage.
Legislators this week will be talking about the “Ohio Pastor’s Protection Act,” sponsored by State Rep. Nino Vitale. House Bill 286 would protect clergy from potential lawsuits for refusing to perform same-sex ceremonies if it’s against their religious beliefs.
“We’ve been doing this a long time … just now as a minister I get to legally sign the document and they get legal recognition, but we’ve been doing marriages for decades in our church,” said Michael Castle, senior pastor of Harmony Creek Church in Kettering, of same-sex marriage ceremonies.
Since last summer, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality, Castle has officiated at least 20 same-sex unions. He agreed the majority of Christian churches do not welcome gay marriages, but said the proposal is not a needed law. “Nobody in this country is going to be forced as a pastor to perform a marriage that they don’t approve of,” Castle said.
The First Amendment already provides that protection, making the bill a waste of time for state lawmakers, Chris Geggie, campaign manager for Why Marriage Matters Ohio, said last summer. The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio website also said the bill is redundant legislation.
Thursday night Vitale, an Urbana Republican, said his bill is “definitely not” anti-LGBT. He previously said the bill would clarify that religious leaders and church organizations aren’t required to perform same-sex marriages if it violates their beliefs. It also protects churches or religious organizations from liability if they refuse to allow their property to be used for events such as same-sex weddings.
When he introduced it last summer, Vitale said: “This is not an issue of discrimination. It is an issue of protection, protection for those who have committed their lives to the service of God and their community.”
Co-sponsors of the bill include area Republican state Reps. Jim Butler of Oakwood, Michael Henne of Clayton, RIck Perlaes of Beavercreek, Margy Conditt of Liberty Twp., Tim Derickson of Hanover Twp., Wes Retherford of Hamilton and Paul Zeltwanger of Mason.
The next step is for the bill to be voted out of the House Community and Family Advancement committee.