Wednesday, March 17. 2004
UU Ministers charged with performing same-sex marriages
From the UUA:
(March 16, 2004) The Ulster County (NY) District Attorney has charged two
Unitarian Universalist ministers with solemnizing unlicensed marriage after
the ministers performed civil marriages for more than twenty same-sex
couples in New Paltz, NY. The ministers, the Rev. Kay Greenleaf and the Rev.
Dawn Sangrey, along with the Rev. Marion Visel, a UU minister from Wesport,
CT, began performing the marriage ceremonies after the Mayor of New Paltz,
Jason West, ceased officiating at same-sex marriages on March 6. West has
had the same charges levied against him by the Ulster County DA.
Sangrey and Greenleaf signed affidavits for the couples they married and
said they considered the ceremonies civil and legally binding. Ulster County
District Attorney Don Williams said he was compelled to prosecute Greenleaf
and Sangrey because they "publicly proclaimed their intent to perform civil
marriages under the authority invested in them by New York State law, rather
than performing purely religious ceremonies."
If convicted of the charges, the ministers could spend a year in prison and
be fined up to $500 each. The ministers will be arraigned on March 22.
In commenting on the charges levied against Sangrey and Greenleaf, the Rev.
William G. Sinkford, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association
today issued the following statement:
"Unitarian Univeralists strongly support marriage equality for same-sex
couples. Our ministers have been officiating at religious marriages for
same-sex couples for more than thirty-five years, and our ministers have
happily signed marriage licenses recently for civil marriages for same-sex
couples in San Francisco and Oregon. Unitarian Universalism honors
ministerial independence in matters of conscience, and the Unitarian
Universalist Association supports the right of our ministers in New York
State to act on their best judgment on these issues. Unitarian Universalists
believe that equal marriage rights for all is a matter of justice. And in
the long run, we have faith that justice will prevail. Unitarian
Universalists are proud to stand on the side of love."
(March 16, 2004) The Ulster County (NY) District Attorney has charged two
Unitarian Universalist ministers with solemnizing unlicensed marriage after
the ministers performed civil marriages for more than twenty same-sex
couples in New Paltz, NY. The ministers, the Rev. Kay Greenleaf and the Rev.
Dawn Sangrey, along with the Rev. Marion Visel, a UU minister from Wesport,
CT, began performing the marriage ceremonies after the Mayor of New Paltz,
Jason West, ceased officiating at same-sex marriages on March 6. West has
had the same charges levied against him by the Ulster County DA.
Sangrey and Greenleaf signed affidavits for the couples they married and
said they considered the ceremonies civil and legally binding. Ulster County
District Attorney Don Williams said he was compelled to prosecute Greenleaf
and Sangrey because they "publicly proclaimed their intent to perform civil
marriages under the authority invested in them by New York State law, rather
than performing purely religious ceremonies."
If convicted of the charges, the ministers could spend a year in prison and
be fined up to $500 each. The ministers will be arraigned on March 22.
In commenting on the charges levied against Sangrey and Greenleaf, the Rev.
William G. Sinkford, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association
today issued the following statement:
"Unitarian Univeralists strongly support marriage equality for same-sex
couples. Our ministers have been officiating at religious marriages for
same-sex couples for more than thirty-five years, and our ministers have
happily signed marriage licenses recently for civil marriages for same-sex
couples in San Francisco and Oregon. Unitarian Universalism honors
ministerial independence in matters of conscience, and the Unitarian
Universalist Association supports the right of our ministers in New York
State to act on their best judgment on these issues. Unitarian Universalists
believe that equal marriage rights for all is a matter of justice. And in
the long run, we have faith that justice will prevail. Unitarian
Universalists are proud to stand on the side of love."
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