Friday, October 31, 2025

Texas Supreme Court Rules Judges Can Refuse Same Sex Marriages

Texas judges who refuse to perform same-sex marriages based on "sincerely held religious beliefs" do not violate the state's rules on judicial impartiality and won't be sanctioned for it, the Texas Supreme Court ruled on Friday.

Posted by truthhurts at 09:33 PM | 9 COMMENTS | permalink

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The Texas Supreme Court recently amended rules to state that judges in Texas may now refuse to perform same-sex marriages on religious grounds without facing sanctions. Here's what to know.

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-- The Dallas Morning News (@dallasnews.com) Oct 31, 2025 at 10:00 AM

Comments

Play this out.

A clerk can refuse a gun license if guns are against the person's ""sincerely held religious beliefs"

A public-school teacher can refuse to teach black children if teaching them runs counter to their "sincerely held religious beliefs"

A pharmacist can refuse to sell you condoms if selling them is against their "sincerely held religious beliefs"

A judge can refuse to marry interracial couples of doing so goes against their "sincerely held religious beliefs"

A police officer can ignore a domestic violence victim's claims if they happen to believe a man can physically abuse their spouse due to "sincerely held religious beliefs"

These are public officials who are permitted to refuse to enforce laws if those laws run counter to their beliefs.

This is outrageous.

#1 | Posted by truthhurts at 2025-10-30 10:36 PM

fwiw, here in Connecticut, when you apply for a Justice of the Peace (JotP) position, you are asked if you will officiate gay weddings.

Not for any reason to disqualify you, but to put on the JotP website so that the gay couples have more information in their choice of JotP.

Here in CT, the JotP is a political position, a political appointee by the town's Republican or Democrat committee. (if you are "unaffiliated," the process differs, but not an issue for this conversation) So I would not be surprised about that action regarding the political appointment of a JotP.

However, when it comes to Judges, that is different, very different, to me.

iow, a Judge should be a Constitutional position, not a political position. An equal, but separate branch of government.

The Separation of Church and State.

So, my main question becomes ...

In Texas, does a Judge work for the State or a Church?



#2 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-10-30 10:53 PM

Black Skin is the Mark of Cain.

#3 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-10-30 11:20 PM

I repeat my question ...

In Texas, does a Judge work for the State or a Church?

#4 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-10-30 11:36 PM

We're a theocracy?

America is officially dead.

#5 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-10-31 12:26 AM

@#5 ... We're a theocracy? ...

That seems to be an end goal of Republicans.

#6 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-10-31 01:10 AM

Black Skin is the Mark of Cain.
#3 | POSTED BY SNOOFY

That was pretty much the standard Mormon perspective until a timely "divine revelation" in 1978 saved the church's bacon by finally permitting Blacks entry into the vaunted "priesthood".

#7 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2025-10-31 06:04 AM

'"sincerely held religious beliefs"'

Since I'm here on the ground in Texas, I can tell you that some people do, in fact, have sincerely held religious beliefs while at least as many others pretend to have them, to gain some practical advantage.

The situation is perfectly analogous to what we've discovered about American democracy: some people have a sincerely held belief in democracy, whereas at least an equal number only pretend to give a damn.

#8 | Posted by Zed at 2025-10-31 08:21 AM

How is this different from Sharia law?

The person's inner convictions Trump the legal rights of others. Religion becomes more important than doing one's job.

Why have rights at all if religious Zanies can cancel them capriciously?

If Islam became popular in America would this type of religious empowerment be Encouraged?

Askin' for a Friend.

Are all religions given this much Weight or only Christians?

Can Jews be exempt from the law based on their Religion?

How about Muslims?

Atheists?

This Ruling creates many problems.

#9 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2025-10-31 11:38 AM

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