[Khadra]

Originally Posted by PhoenixAlive

Actually, they can't. In Canada at least. Because same-sex marriage is legally allowed, and we changed the definition of marriage, it is not considered a valid reason to refuse to allow a couple to marry. A priest can get into quite a lot of trouble from the Bishop (and he can be sued by the gay couple.)

I would think it would be the same way in the states in which gay marriage has been legalized?

That is definately not true. Same-sex marriage is legal here, but religious institutions are not legally obligated to marry same-sex couples.

The right to freedom of religion enshrined in s. 2(a) of the Charter encompasses the right to believe and entertain the religious beliefs of one's choice, the right to declare one's religious beliefs openly and the right to manifest religious belief by worship, teaching, dissemination and religious practice: Big M Drug Mart, supra, at pp. 336-337. The performance of religious rites is a fundamental aspect of religious practice. It therefore seems clear that state compulsion on religious officials to perform same-sex marriages contrary to their religious beliefs would violate the guarantee of freedom of religion under s. 2(a) of the Charter. It also seems apparent that, absent exceptional circumstances which we cannot at present foresee, such a violation could not be justified under s. 1 of the Charter [emphasis added].15 http://www.carters.ca/pub/bulletin/c...5/chchlb07.htm