French high court: mayors must perform same-sex marriages
October 24, 2013
France’s highest constitutional court has ruled that mayors and other local civil officials must perform same-sex marriages, according to multiple media reports.
“In view of the functions of a state official in the officiating of a marriage, the legislation does not violate their freedom of conscience,” the Constitutional Council of France ruled.
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Further information:
- French mayors can't refuse to perform same-sex marriages (Reuters)
- French mayors cannot refuse to marry gay couples (France 24)
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Posted by: TheJournalist64 -
Oct. 24, 2013 8:01 PM ET USA
As I wrote years ago, this kind of change corrupts everything and everyone.
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Posted by: geoffreysmith1 -
Oct. 24, 2013 6:14 PM ET USA
"French mayors can't refuse to perform same-sex marriages (Reuters)" Well,yes, they can refuse and probably will. Nothing will happen to them unless they are voted out of office, like Hollande will be kicked out in 2017, according to a poll. The French do not like being ordered around by their political elites, and they have a long history of rebellion against tyrants like President Hollande.
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Posted by: jg23753479 -
Oct. 24, 2013 6:52 AM ET USA
Isn't France the nation that once also deemed it not a "violation of conscience" to have its gendarmes round up Jews? To force some of its citizens to wear yellow stars? Frankly, I think we are permitted to doubt very seriously the modern nation state's ability to judge what violates conscience and what does not. That goes doubly for the state's courts of 'justice'. (Naturally, our own American nation state is not exempt from this judgement.)
