State Sen. Mark Leno of San Francisco introduced legislation Jan. 27 that purports to clarify the religious freedom of California clergy.
The bill, SB 906, states that no member of the clergy will be required to solemnize a civil marriage contrary to his or her faith. It also reaffirms that churches will not lose tax-exempt status if they refuse to perform weddings that do not align with their religious beliefs.
The proposed bill, Leno said, is intended to reassure opponents of same-sex marriage who think that churches and members of clergy would be required to solemnize marriages that conflict with their religious beliefs.
He added that his bill “takes away any ambiguity about religious freedom when it comes to marriage for same-sex couples.”
Other senators to co-sponsor the bill include Senate Pro-Tem Darrell Steinberg and Sen. Tom Ammiano. Equality California and California Council of Churches IMPACT have also sponsored the bill, which heads for committee in the months ahead.