We in government don’t determine the quality or the validity of people’s relationships. If we did, we would not issue three quarters of the marriage licenses we do. And I know there are many people in the religious community who feel that we’re going to force this on them when that in fact is not true, we have never done that. I’m a Roman Catholic. The Catholic Church has the right to deny me the sacrament of marriage if they determine the person I choose to marry is unfit, or our relationship doesn’t meet their standards. City Hall does not have that right, that will not change under this bill. That will never change. Religious institutions can continue to practice discrimination with respect to the sacrament of marriage. We don’t. We shouldn’t. We should not do it for the gay and lesbian couples.
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-New York State Senator Diane Savino, December 2, 2009 |





