THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD
(apologies to Keith Olbermann)
Oklahoma State Representative Todd Russ (R)
Atheists need not apply: A bill proposed by Oklahoma Republicans would restrict the right to marry to people of faith, and would mandate all marriage licenses be approved by a member of the clergy. House Bill 1125, filed on Tuesday by Republican State Representative Todd Russ, is a radical measure that would end secular marriage licenses in the state. In addition, the bill would bar all judges and other secular officials from performing marriages in Oklahoma. Russ claims the radical legislation is motivated by his desire to protect court clerks from having to issue licenses to same-sex couples. Russ says he doesn’t want these workers put in the position of having to condone or facilitate same-sex marriage. The lawmaker is unapologetic about the fact his bill would restrict marriage to people of faith. Concerning non-believers he said: They don’t have a spiritual basis for a marriage and don’t want to have a clergy member or a priest or someone involved in the spiritual aspect, then they can file an affidavit of common-law marriage.
When I first read about H.B. 1125, the first word that came to mind was “ludicrous.” It’s certainly every bit of that, and I suspect it has an iceberg’s-chance-in-Hell of actually becoming law…even in Oklahoma. Even if it does become law, any judge who didn’t get J.D. from the University of Jesus Law School would laugh it out of their court room. That said, H.B. 1125 can generate a useful discussion, if only for it’s potential as a comedy gold mine. Yes, it’s a cruel attempt to devalue those who are good without God…which in Oklahoma is evidently on par with being gay. Russ’ half-assed legislative attempt to define non-Christians as second-class citizens is worth a look, if for no other than to have some fun at his expense.
What H.B. 1125 ignores is that marriage is a contract entered into by two consenting adults, and as such is governed by the state- a secular institution. A wedding ceremony may (or may not) be a religious ceremony, but that’s something left to the discretion of the couple getting married. The separation of Church and State (not to Conservatives- yes, Virgina, it really DOES exist) prevents government from controlling ecclesiastical considerations (and vice-versa). It also means government cannot employ a religious litmus test to determined who is worthy of being allowed to marry.
It’s tempting to look at H.B. 1125 as a ham-handed attempt at religious discrimination, which, to be honest, it most certainly is. I’m sure that somewhere in the dark recesses of Russ’ reptilian brain he believes he’s doing a good thing. After all, if marriage is an institution ordained by God, shouldn’t it be limited to those who believe in God? Why can’t everyone else just be satisfied with a common law marriage, or “Marriage Lite?” Well, common law marriage might be an option…except for the fact that Oklahoma law doesn’t recognize it as having legal legitimacy. In fact, H.B. 1125 would require that a marriage be signed off on by a rabbi, a member of the Christian clergy or another “religious official,” which would in effect limit those eligible for “real” marriage to Christians and Jews.
The bill is a naked attempt to force Christian theocracy upon the citizens of Oklahoma.
A toxic combination of anti-gay discrimination and discrimination against non-theists, the bill is emblematic of the dangerous and hateful nature of conservative Christianity in America.
Indeed. The short version is that H.B. 1125 is an exercise in little more than a crude attempt at legalizing religious discrimination. As such, it would never pass constitutional muster were it to be challenged in court…which would happen almost instantaneously upon passage- assuming it makes it that far, which seems unlikely. Even in Oklahoma, a state as hyper-Christian as any in the Bible Belt, I suspect most legislators would recognize H.B. 1125 as the constitutional train wreck it is.
Your tax dollars at work, Oklahoma…or not. It’s (not exactly) What Jesus Would Do, don’tchaknow??
