NY Broome County Clerk Resigns Over Same-Sex Marriage, Cites Biblical Law
A county clerk in New York's Broome County has submitted her resignation, saying she won't perform same-sex marriages because it conflicts with her religious beliefs, the Journal News reports.
Wrote Barker Town Clerk Laura Fotusky, in her resignation letter:
“I believe that there is a higher law than the law of the land. It is the law of God in the Bible. In Acts 5:29, it states, ‘We ought to obey God rather than men.’”
“The Bible clearly teaches that God created marriage between male and female as a divine gift that preserves families and cultures. Since I love and follow Him, I cannot put my signature on something that is against God. Deuteronomy 10:12 says, ‘…What does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.’”
“I would be compromising my moral conscience if I participated in the licensing procedure. Therefore, I will be resigning as of July 21. I wanted you to know my position as I understand the marriage law goes into effect on July 24.”
At least one DA, Nassau County DA Kathleen Rice, has told clerks that refusal to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples may land them in hot water. Wrote Rice in a letter to Nassau County clerks late last week:
"The Marriage Equality Act provides that an application for a marriage license cannot be denied on the grounds that the applicant parties are of the same sex and the law affords no discretion to public officials charged with granting marriage licenses. Therefore, any such refusal may be subject to criminal prosecution."
Broome County job seekers will be thrilled with this new opening!
Posted by: Jeff | Jul 12, 2011 1:02:01 PM
I thought she'd NEVER leave!
And, Jason: "lifestyle"? Really? And how is everything in 1974?
And yes, just so you know, being a delusional foolish bigot who thinks a giant ghost in the sky hates marriage equality is "idiotic".
Posted by: ohplease | Jul 12, 2011 1:03:41 PM
Has this position been posted on Monster yet? I can't wait to see the job ad
Posted by: Jesus | Jul 12, 2011 1:05:14 PM
This played out exactly like it should have. If your religious beliefs interfere with your job, you resign.
Equality might interfere with your religious beliefs, but it's an American value promised by the Constitution. I wish the politicians who vote against equality because it interferes with their religion would follow this woman's lead and quit.
Posted by: Matthew | Jul 12, 2011 1:11:12 PM
“The Bible clearly teaches that God created marriage between male and female as a divine gift that preserves families and cultures."
Could someone please point out the passages in the Bible that say anything even slightly resembling that? Seriously.
I'm atheist but I was raised in a church and they must have skipped over that part. I remember the bits about adultery and divorce, and the parts about women keeping silent in church and obeying their husbands, marriage being a "divine gift"? Maybe I was busy trying to figure out how Jonah could have lived inside a whale when they talked about that.
Posted by: Codswallop | Jul 12, 2011 1:12:12 PM
good. the fewer bigoted know-nothings in government the better.
Posted by: Danny | Jul 12, 2011 1:12:17 PM
Here is the thing about people who do quote Biblical law where same sex marriage and relationships are concerned, and that is that they never quote anything that is ACTUALLY pertinent to the subject at hand. The word marriage, as a doctrine or precept, is not, at all, discussed in the Bible.
And the two or three, LITERALLY two or three, passages that seem to say anything regarding same sex relationships, besides their immediate applications being open to interpretation, people calling themselves Christian's have found a thousand-and-one meanings, filled with quite specific, and broad sub-text.
The Bible is practically silent on homosexuality, but there is a WEALTH of scripture, A WEALTH!! . . . dealing with the sexual conduct of heterosexuals, most of which is callously disregarded, with many justifications for doing so . . . so here is what makes Barker Town Clerk Laura Fotusky, and others like her, a bigot, and not merely someone who is out of good conscience, and to the best of her ability, trying to live her faith: is that all the legislation that circumvents God's law, many which Laura, in her capacity as Barker Town Clerk, is already GUILTY many times over of affixing her signature and approval, quite contrary to the LAWS of the GOD she says is owed her unwavering obedience.
To say it plainly: Laura, and others like her, are bigots, not because they believe something they read in the Bible concerning gays, but because they pick-and-choose, and interpret as it suits them to obey or disregard those scriptures they find INCONVENIENT.
Her beliefs have everything to do with human bias and bigotry, and nothing, whatsoever, to do with her faith.
She is a bigot. And she is a part-time Christian.
Posted by: Ricco | Jul 12, 2011 1:12:46 PM
Good riddance, because she was in her position to serve all people regardless of her religious beliefs. Her civic job has nothing to do with her religious convictions. She can now devote herself to that endeavor if she chooses, but not on county time.
Posted by: petrof | Jul 12, 2011 1:13:15 PM
Good. All like-minded bigots should take note and do the same.
Posted by: Francis | Jul 12, 2011 1:15:59 PM
LAURA FOTUSKY's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000215055394
Posted by: JONATHAN | Jul 12, 2011 1:16:46 PM
Since she is using Deuteronomy to justify her bigotry then she must stand by these verses also:
Deuteronomy 22:13-21(NIV)
Marriage Violations
13 If a man takes a wife and, after sleeping with her, dislikes her 14 and slanders her and gives her a bad name, saying, “I married this woman, but when I approached her, I did not find proof of her virginity,” 15 then the young woman’s father and mother shall bring to the town elders at the gate proof that she was a virgin. 16 Her father will say to the elders, “I gave my daughter in marriage to this man, but he dislikes her. 17 Now he has slandered her and said, ‘I did not find your daughter to be a virgin.’ But here is the proof of my daughter’s virginity.” Then her parents shall display the cloth before the elders of the town, 18 and the elders shall take the man and punish him. 19 They shall fine him a hundred shekels[a] of silver and give them to the young woman’s father, because this man has given an Israelite virgin a bad name. She shall continue to be his wife; he must not divorce her as long as he lives.
20 If, however, the charge is true and no proof of the young woman’s virginity can be found, 21 she shall be brought to the door of her father’s house and there the men of her town shall stone her to death. She has done an outrageous thing in Israel by being promiscuous while still in her father’s house. You must purge the evil from among you.
Deuteronomy 22:28-29 (NIV)
28 If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, 29 he shall pay her father fifty shekels[a] of silver. He must marry the young woman, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives.
And please note how the false god of the Bible wants the father to receive the money and not the woman and how the man pays a fine but the woman is executed. That is the traditional values of Christianity.
Posted by: 1♥ | Jul 12, 2011 1:17:20 PM
She obviously has read her Bible... according to the Bible, marriage is between one man, his mother, his sister, the maid and a pack of 700 raped whores.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFkeKKszXTw
Posted by: Tre | Jul 12, 2011 1:19:12 PM
sorry - I meant to write, ""She obviously HASN'T read her Bible"
Posted by: Tre | Jul 12, 2011 1:20:01 PM
Brilliant! Good riddance and go with your God!
Posted by: nando6990 | Jul 12, 2011 1:21:12 PM
Maybe she's counting on making money as a martyr... there are enough whackjobs out there that will view her as such... perhaps they can keep her in Alpo and saltines.
Posted by: Justin Werner | Jul 12, 2011 1:21:28 PM
Sorry about my earlier comment. It got lost in the thinking a little . . . in the tiny box, but I do hope that my meaning, if somewhat garbled, was mostly evident.
Cheers
Posted by: Ricco | Jul 12, 2011 1:22:56 PM
Ugh! Where's Betty Bowers?
Posted by: mike | Jul 12, 2011 1:27:20 PM
she wont be missed
Posted by: Real | Jul 12, 2011 1:36:19 PM
Let me add to the Christians out there: you are NOT bound by the Mosaic laws in the Old Testament. Do some research, and know that these are strictly for Jews in ancient Israel. Christians only observe them as general principles not as strict codes of behavior. They are supposed to be more focused on love they neighbor, forgiveness, etc. etc. (Jesus's words). Council of Jerusalem 50 AD, Apostolic Decree (Christian converts are not obligated to be under Mosaic Laws including circumcision.
Posted by: petrof | Jul 12, 2011 1:37:08 PM
@ Jason, I am with you. She has her beliefs and she is resigning because of them. Everybody is allowed their personal beliefs.
Posted by: Manhattanvince | Jul 12, 2011 1:37:09 PM
FYI, the dot on the map is on the wrong Barker. Town of Barker in Broome County is not Village of Barker in Niagara County.
Posted by: Andrew | Jul 12, 2011 1:40:46 PM
See ya'. Don't forget your mythical bible.
Posted by: Al | Jul 12, 2011 1:44:11 PM
She is not being asked to conduct a religious ceremony. Period. Government workers take an oath to uphold the laws of the state, not of their faith. Clearly she can't do that so she should go.
Posted by: Trask | Jul 12, 2011 1:46:56 PM
Actually I agree with Jason. The individual did little more than make a statement in her letter of resignation. She doesn't seem to be trying to drag things into court demanding some special privilege because of her particular religious conceptions. She gave notice and didn't just walk out. If there is any criticism to be made, it is that her notice was less than the customary two week period.
While I do think her beliefs are "wrong-headed" (hey, I find all religious beliefs to be "wrong-headed"), she acted in an essentially principled manner. She apparently hasn't done anything to try to force these beliefs on anyone else.
Lighten up people. Her theological position is not significantly more ludicrous or hypocritical then any other belief in some big juju in the sky.
If she wants to martyr herself on this particular issue it is only affecting herself and any dependents who might rely on her income.
Posted by: Colin in Canada | Jul 12, 2011 1:51:48 PM
Excellent. Another Christofascist out of the judicial system.
Posted by: Bryan | Jul 12, 2011 1:52:35 PM