More than a dozen pastors on Thursday told D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray of their religious and practical concerns over same-sex unions and warned they wouldn’t give up the fight even if council members passed the gay-marriage bill.
Religious organizers say they’re stepping up opposition to the legislation, which Councilman David Catania introduced Oct. 6 and which will likely pass council vote. Ten of the 13 council members signed on in support of the bill.
Bishop Harry Jackson, chairman of Stand4MarriageDC, is among those leading the call for a voter referendum that would decide whether to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics will hold a hearing on the proposed voter initiative Monday at 10 a.m.
Vincent GreyJackson was one of 16 pastors who met with Gray on Thursday at the Wilson Building. Jackson asked the council chairman to consider calling for an advisory referendum. That would let D.C. residents express their view on same-sex marriage, but council members wouldn’t be bound to their constituents’ opinions when they voted on the bill.
“We want to get a fair deal, but we believe that this is all politically driven. And in some ways, with all due respect, there is a pretense of democracy here,” Jackson said. “If you’ve already made up your minds, 10 people, at all these long hearings, are they really going to listen to the people? Obviously not.”
Gray maintains the legislation only deals with gay marriage as a legal issue, and is passing through the usual legal channels.
“This is a legal civil relationship that we’re talking about,” Gray said, “and any church or any religious entity that chooses not to perform a marriage ceremony between people of the same sex would not be required to do so.
The Rev. Anthony Evans, who organized Thursday’s meeting with Gray, said the pastors would relay the council chairman’s position to their congregations. The organization will hold a 2 p.m. rally on Sunday at Freedom Plaza and also plans to speak at Monday’s public hearing before the council’s Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary.
If the council adopts a same-sex marriage law, Evans added, the pastors will take their case to Congress.
“According to my faith, I am to use the full force of my being to oppose this legislation and those who run for higher office in support of it,” Evans told Gray. “We will do this, but we’ll do it in love.”
