Civil servant charges discrimination that he has to perform gay weddings.

[Jasun]

what a tool.

==========================
http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/11/111204ManMarr.htm

Can. Province Accused Of Human Rights Violation For Supporting Gay Marriage


(Winnipeg, Manitoba) A man employed by the Manitoba government to perform civil marriages has filed a human rights complaint saying he was threatened with dismissal if he refused to marry same-sex couples.


Kevin Kisilowsky alleges that by forcing him to perform gay marriages the Manitoba government is violating the Canadian Constitution's religious freedom provisions.


Following a court ruling in September that opened the door to same-sex marriage in the province (story) the government notified all marriage commissioners that if they refuse to perform wedding ceremonies for gay couples they must resign. So far 11 commissioners have quit.


"I refuse to," Kisilowsky told the Winnipeg Sun. "To me that is laying down and dying. Stand up for your rights," the 34 year old evangelical Christian said.


"They are basically telling me to spit in the face of God and do something that by my faith is a violation of God."


A government spokesperson said marriage commissioners are "agents of the government expected to uphold the law."


The Manitoba Human Rights Commission has not indicated if it will pursue Kisilowsky's complaint._

[Dawgy]

civil servants should do their jobs or find another one

if people start letting personal beliefs interfere with a government job.... oh... wait... thats why we even have this problem to begin with!

[thetwink]

Originally posted by Dawgy
civil servants should do their jobs or find another one

it really is as simple as this.

[Fister]

Kevin K. does not understand that church marriage and civil marriage are two different things.

[JustMe]

Greetings:

Originally posted by Fister
Kevin K. does not understand that church marriage and civil marriage are two different things.

SUCH a good point! It's one that I don't think is made enough here in the US when it comes to the debate our country is having about this issue right now.

We need to make it clear, that our goal isn't to have the government force people to let us into their churches to walk down the aisle. What we're asking for are legal rights, which everyone can agree no matter which religion, are the creation of "man" and not "god".

I think we need to start talking about our desire for marriage rights in more clinical terms. Start talking about tax law and people's minds will start to move from religion to everyday practicality a lot more easily I would think....

[Fister]

Especially in the USA, where there is a long tradition of separation of church and state. I'd imagine that conservative Christians would say that the "real" marriage by God is the church marriage, according to the standards of the church, and not the legal civil marriage.

But I think the underlying problem here (as social conservatives see it) is giving social approval to something that does not fit into their social norms. This is a big upset to their worldview.

[Squirt]

Good post Jasun!

"They are basically telling me to spit in the face of God and do something that by my faith is a violation of God."

If it's against his religion I think he has a right to protest. If he feels he's being forced to do something he doesn't want to do, or being treated unfairly, then it's good he's standing up for himself.

"Kevin Kisilowsky alleges that by forcing him to perform gay marriages the Manitoba government is violating the Canadian Constitution's religious freedom provisions."

Sounds like he has a good point.

"A government spokesperson said marriage commissioners are 'agents of the government expected to uphold the law.'"

Looks like this guy knowingly picked a job where he's to uphold laws that might conflict with his religious beliefs at some point. Now it's happened and he's protesting it.

I went to the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada Their front page is so sad. For all the good that "religion" is supposed to do for people, their whole front page is about Gay marriage, Gay sex, defending marriage etc.

My God you'd think the only thing that an evangelical can do is protest Gays, Gay marriage! Isn't there more for this fellowship to offer its flock then this? So sad.

[Lee]

Crazy stuff, i agree with what has been said already, if you take employment in a government role.. you shoudl expect to have to uphold the laws of that position, irrespective of whether your personal feelings get in the way.

In fact, this doesnt just stop at the government level, if you take any job you should be aware of what is going to be asked of you.

Regards,

Lee