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September 11, 2007

Court gets second religious opinion on same-sex divorce

PROVIDENCE — Two religious groups and 28 clergy members are telling the state Supreme Court that not all religious leaders in Rhode Island oppose same-sex marriage or the divorce that two Providence women who married in Massachusetts.

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Providence, the Beckett Fund for Religious Liberty, the Family Research Council and the Rev. Lyle Mook of South Kingstown have filed friend-of-the-court briefs saying the marriage between Margaret R. Chambers and Cassandra B. Ormiston should not be recognized for the purpose of granting them a divorce in Family Court.

Now, local branches of the United Church of Christ and the Unitarian Universalist Society are joining various clergy members in a legal brief that says, “Bishop Tobin and the Becket Fund do not represent the only faith-based position on this matter. On the contrary, within Rhode Island’s religious communities, many support granting full respect and recognition to the committed relationships of same-sex couples.”

The clergy members had not weighed in during two previous rounds of legal briefs, but in an order issued on Monday, the Supreme Court said it would accept the brief that the clergy members filed Aug. 31.

Also, the Supreme Court rejected requests from a variety of groups and individuals who had written legal briefs and wanted to take part in arguments before the high court on Oct. 9.

Courts spokesman Craig N. Berke said it is unusual — but not unheard of — for the court to allow friends-of-the-court to take part in oral arguments. The Oct. 9 hearing will include lawyers for Chambers and Ormiston, who agree on the basic issue before the court. The court is still considering a request from Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch’s office to take part in the arguments, Berke said.

The Rev. Eugene Dyszlewski, pastor the Riverside Congregational United Church of Christ, said the clergy members decided to weigh in after seeing the arguments made in earlier legal briefs filed by religious organizations.

“Our faith and our belief in religious freedom would not allow us to stay silent in this case,” Dyszlewski said today. “I am proud to stand with other faith leaders to represent the diversity of religious views on the issue of marriage, and to present the court with a balanced perspective from various faith traditions.”

Posted by Peter Phipps  at 2:41 PM | Permalink

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