A group of Baptist pastors have written a letter
in support of Mississippi’s controversial law which aims to protect the
religious freedom of those who oppose same-sex marriage.
According to OneNewsNow.com, Dr. Chas Rowland, pastor of Bovina Baptist
Church in Vicksburg, MS, was the driving force behind the letter which
was published May 21 in the Clarion-Ledger, a local newspaper in Jackson, MS.
Rowland says that he was inspired to write the letter in support of the
law after reading a letter from United Methodist ministers who opposed
it.
The bill, HB 1523, was passed in the MS House and Senate and signed by
Gov. Phil Bryant in April. The law provides protection for those with
religious convictions by not forcing them to provide services for
same-sex weddings or other related events. Additionally, the law
protects state employees who are uncomfortable issuing same-sex marriage
licenses.
"We believe that the First Amendment guarantees every citizen the right
to believe and practice their faith in a way that does not violate
their deeply held religious belief," Rowland and the other Baptist
ministers state in the letter.
“We most importantly believe," the letter continues, "that the
government has no right or privilege to restrict religious expression in
any form and that every individual must be granted this right or else
all other rights are in jeopardy."
The letter from the Methodist ministers, however, claimed that the law
was “sinful” because it discriminates against the LGBT community.
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