PROTECTING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN MISSOURI
The Missouri Senate spent more than 38 hours debating a measure that would protect the religious freedom of citizens in the state. Senate Joint Resolution 39, a proposed constitutional amendment, would grant greater protections to religious organizations, individuals and businesses opposed to gay marriage. The measure, if approved by voters, would ban penalties against individuals and business that refuse goods or services “of artistic creation” for marriages or ceremonies for same-sex couples.
The protections would extend to florists, bakers, planners and others in the wedding industry. The legislation would also prohibit punishment for clergy or religious leaders who refuse to marry same-sex couples, or churches that deny their locations for those weddings.
The proposal is narrowly crafted to only apply to those in the wedding industry. The legislation protects the religious views of Missourians by not forcing them to cater to gay couples if it is against their faith. The bill gained the support of numerous organizations, including the Missouri Catholic Conference, the Missouri Baptist Convention and the Missouri Farm Bureau, among others.
A very real fear for numerous religious organizations, businesses and individuals who stand their ground and refuse to compromise their religious beliefs, is they will be penalized. Senate Joint Resolution 39 would protect them under the law. For more information on this measure and others, visit www.senate.mo.gov.
Visitors this week include: Ike Skelton, Priscila Shelledy, Amanda Lutjen, Phyllis Domann, Conway High School, Lanie Beard, Judge John Porter & Alex, Duane Farmer, Marvin Manning, Rev. Dr. Cathleen Burnett, Barbara Clevenger, Jan Jones, Wanda Tyree, Haren Hubbard, Nevan Knight, Ethan Lynch, Morgan Wall, Clara & Randell Boggs, Darren, Carole Anne, & Clayton Chappell, Mike Stephens, Abby Ashlock, Jessica Evans, Kennedy Long, Julie Schreiber, Annie Potts, Linda Fuerst, John & Pam Carlton, Wanda Tyree, Karen Hubbard, Susan Sadler, Ben Terrell, Dr. Joanna Anderson, Abby Tribble, Jessica Craig, Crissina Kemp, Shelley Gardner, Lana DeJaynes, Jeromy Layman, Emily Massey, Christy Williams, Jeremy Baker, Jacob Perryman, Sam McNellis, Elizabeth Barnett, Terry Cushing, Jay Salmon, and Bethany Vandevender.