Religious exemptions have not been uncommon when it comes to marriage equality legislation, but the one in Rhode Island appears to be going far beyond the pale with regards to trying to protect people’s religious beliefs. In this case, it is trying to allow people to completely ignore civil unions based upon religious beliefs. The Corvese Amendment adds insult to injury. To begin with, Rhode Island is not going for Civil Rights entirely, but this, according to ThinkProgress, would mean that “religiously affiliated schools, hospitals, and businesses could completely ignore any civil union and deny couples the rights those unions are meant to accord.”
The amendment has been strongly condemned by Marriage Equality Rhode Island. It reads:
15-3.1-5. Conscience and religious organizations protected. – (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, no religious or denominational organization, no organization operated for charitable or educational purpose which is supervised or controlled by or in connection with a religious organization, and no individual employed by any of the foregoing organizations, while acting in the scope of that employment, shall be required:
Click here for gay marriage resources in Rhode Island.
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