Local clergy disappointed by same-sex marriage ruling

Purchasing a same-sex marriage license may be easier for same-sex couples than finding a religious house to marry in, and so far, one of the only religious denominations willing to marry these couples will be the Episcopal Church, according to Bishop Morris Thompson Jr. with the Episcopal Diocese in New Orleans.
“This is a new beginning for the Diocese and the United States,” Thompson said. “This has never been done before, this precedent, and I think we all need to be aware of the change and be gracious and kind to those who agree and disagree with the ruling.”
“The vote was not unanimous in the Supreme Court and it was not unanimous in the Episcopal Church.”
Rev. Herman Ogea of Trinity Episcopal Church in Crowley expressed his “concern” about the decision but declined to elaborate.
The option for Episcopal church leaders to perform same-sex marriages will be authorized on the First Advent, the Sunday after Halloween, but priests will have a choice of performing or not performing a same-sex marriage ceremony. Priests will not be mandated to officiate same-sex marriages or punished for not doing so. Right now, the Episcopal Church is studying the matter and working on guidelines for such ceremonies.
Several leaders of other local clergy also weighed in on the Supreme Court’s decision.
“I think we were very disappointed in that decision,” said the Rev. Tim Moffett, pastor of First Baptist Church. “What we recognize is that sometimes national laws don’t always match up with God’s word, and we will always stand by the church and God’s word. There has been a lot of discussion in many different arenas (regarding same-sex marriage).”
“We want to be increasingly committed and obedient to God and his word. We will encourage a spirit of kindness and grace to people we meet every day because that is also part of God’s word.”
The first same-sex marriage in St. Landry Parish was performed in Eunice June 30 by a justice of the peace. Many of the religious leaders in Eunice said they would not be performing same-sex marriages.
Monsignor Robert Romero with St. Anthony Catholic Church also expressed his struggle with the Supreme Court’s decision.
“Basically we are very disappointed with the Supreme Court’s decision,” Romero said. “People of faith look at marriage in a different way than the government does. We (the Catholic Church) look at it as holy matrimony between a man and woman, the love between a man and a woman. In the Book of Genesis in the Bible, when God created Adam and Eve, he said the Eve was bone of man’s bone and flesh of his flesh.”
“We look upon this as God’s rule. When you have government ways and rules, it can sometimes be difficult for Christians when they see how society is pulling them away from God. Hopefully these recent events will lead people to a deeper commitment to be closer to God.”
Romero’s take reflected that of Bishop Michael Jarrell of the Catholic Diocese of Lafayette.
“We are deeply saddened by this decision,” Jarrell said in the news release the day of the decision. “Let me state very plainly that no human court has the authority to change what God has written into the law of creation. This ruling is irreconcilable with the nature and definition of marriage as established by Divine Law. The marital covenant was established by God with its own proper nature and laws.”
Like Romero, Jarrell also communicated his feelings on how the ruling would create conscience problems for those of the Catholic faith. Jarrell urged fellow Catholics not to attend same-sex marriage ceremonies and said that no Catholic facility or property should be used for same-sex ceremonies.
Harry Simon with the Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall in Eunice shared a June 2012 post titled “Does the Bible Comment on Same-Sex Marriages?” on his church’s website www.jw.org.
The passage is as follows: “From (Genesis 2:24) – ‘Our Creator established rules governing marriage long before governments began regulating the institution. The opening book of the Bible tells us: ‘A man will leave his father and his mother and he must stick to his wife and they must become one flesh.’ From Matthew 19:4 – The Hebrew word ‘wife’ according to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, ‘connotes one who is a female human being.’ Jesus confirmed that those yoked together in marriage should be ‘male and female.’ Thus, God intended marriage to be a permanent, intimate bond between a man and a woman. Men and women are designed to complement each other so they may be capable of satisfying each other’s emotional and sexual needs and of providing children.”
Rev. John Krause of United Methodist Church in Eunice also cited religious text, from the church’s Book of Disciples, as the explanation for why the church will not be performing same-sex marriages.
“We support laws and civil service that defines marriage as one between one man and one woman,” Krause said. “At this time, Methodist ministers cannot perform same gender marriages.”
“We are for equal rights for sexual orientation, except same-sex marriages. We welcome all people to church regardless of sexual orientation and support them but we will not marry them. That is the church’s and my personal opinion.”
Krause also cited Article 162, Section J of the church’s principles on equal rights regardless of sexual orientation. The article states: “Certain basic human rights and civil liberties are due all persons. We are committed to supporting those rights and liberties for all persons, regardless of sexual orientation. We see a clear issue of simple justice in protecting the rightful claims where people have shared material resources, pensions, guardian relationships, mutual powers of attorney, and other such lawful claims typically attendant to contractual relationships that involve shared contributions, responsibilities, and liabilities, and equal protection before the law. Moreover, we support efforts to stop violence and other forms of coercion against all persons, regardless of sexual orientation.”
Pastor Woody Gunnels with New Hope Fellowship pointed to Bible verses from Matthew 19:4-6, Mark 10:5-9 and Genesis 1:27-28 and 2:20-24 for his church’s stance on same-sex marriage.
“The U.S. Supreme Court has not redefined marriage,” Gunnels said in an email. “Scripture defines marriage! Scripture defines marriage solely in terms of the union of a man and a woman.”  
“The Court has clearly defined America’s position regarding the authority of God and his Word. Now, they and all those who agree with them will find themselves fighting against God.”