>> Now what about those officials who object to same-sex marriage, based on their personal convictions? Should they be forced to conduct those marriages - infringing on their right to spiritual/religious freedom, or should they be exempted from that duty - possibly infringing on the right of the partners to get married? A fine pickle indeed, and cause for some heated debate in the highest government circles.

IMHO, it's not a pickle at all. Faith is a matter between the individual and God, no one else. Just as I do not have the right to impose my personal beliefs on you, neither do you have that right. If one believes in s/s marriage, the religious consequences of that are between him and God, period, end of story. If one doesnt, again, it's between him and God and no one else. But even as Jesus said, "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's", so a public official has the obligation to do his job. If he feels it infringes on his freedom to worship as he chooses, he should look for some other line of work.

Again, IMHO, the folks who are making this a pickle are the ones who vocally and demonstratively think their beliefs are the Way and the Truth and the Light. Jesus had something to say about such folks: He didnt think much of them at all.

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