Massachusetts Interfaith Clergy Pledge for the Freedom to Marry Frequently Asked Questions

What does my signing the Pledge mean?

By signing the Pledge, members of the clergy agree not to sign Massachusetts marriage licenses unless and until Massachusetts extends to same-gender couples the rights and responsibilities of civil marriage.

Why should I sign the Pledge?

Civil marriage is an affirmation of love, a source of social recognition, and a crucial legal threshold.

In Massachusetts, civil marriage instantly conveys approximately 1400 rights covering everything from health care to parenting to immigration to taxation. Although some of these rights may be approximated by wills, powers of attorney, and other legal instruments, most are unavailable to same-gender couples at any price. Especially when death or illness strikes, this discrimination can have cruel and tragic consequences.

By signing the Pledge, clergy declare they will not serve as an agent of the state in implementing this unjust law.

Is the Pledge anti-marriage?

On the contrary, the Pledge upholds the sanctity of religious marriage while seeking to make the rights and responsibilities of civil marriage available to all adult couples.

Does signing the Pledge mean I stop performing weddings?

Not at all. Clergy who sign the pledge continue to perform weddings as before, but in our religious capacity only. We decline to perform the legal function of signing the state marriage license.

Does signing the Pledge mean I want my religion to sanctify same-gender marriage?

Not necessarily. The Pledge seeks state recognition of civil marriage by same-gender couples. Eligibility for religious marriage is a matter for each religion to decide.

Who will sign the marriage license for heterosexual couples I marry?

Under Massachusetts law, couples can have their license signed by any justice of the peace for $75. This procedure typically takes only a few minutes. A local justice of the peace is easy to find through the town clerk, the yellow pages, or the internet.

Alternatively, for $25 any adult (without a criminal record and with a character reference) can be granted a "one-day marriage designation" legally to solemnize a marriage. For information:

Office of the Governor
State House, Room 280
Boston, MA 02133
Attn: Appointments Office
617 725-4055
Andrew.Murphy@state.ma.us

If I don't sign the marriage license, am I really marrying the couple?

Of course. You are marrying the couple before God in a religious ceremony. The justice of the peace is merely fulfilling the requirements of Massachusetts law for legal recognition of the marriage.

How do I explain my position to heterosexual couples I marry?

The officiant should explain to the couple early in their discussions that he or she will be unable to sign the marriage license as a matter of individual conscience. Arranging to have their license signed by a justice of the peace is a minor inconvenience that secures legal rights that same-gender couples cannot obtain at any price.

What about weddings I've already agreed to perform?

You may decide to "grandfather" heterosexual weddings to which you are already committed. Explain to the couple why you signed the Pledge and ask them how they feel about a justice of the peace signing their license. (You may be surprised by how supportive they are of your stance.) If they indicate any reluctance, you may choose to sign their license as part of your prior commitment to marry them.

Will a marriage license signed by a justice of the peace have the correct date of the wedding on it?

When the justice of the peace signs the license, he or she will indicate the current date. If the couple wishes the date on the license to be that of their religious wedding, they will need to arrange to have the license signed the same day.

What if a heterosexual couple wants to do more to support equal marriage rights for same-gender couples?

There are many ways to do this! They can:

• indicate this support in their wedding invitations and newspaper announcements.
• include in their wedding ceremony a statement explaining that the ceremony is religious rather than legal and the reasons why.
• write a letter to the editor of their local paper explaining their decision.
• write their legislators and the governor in support of the freedom to marry.

  Their addresses are:

  Senator/Representative
  State House
  Boston, MA 02133
  
  Governor Mitt Romney
  State House
  Room 360
  Boston, MA 02133

• register their wedding at http://www.equalmarriage.org/ to show their support for the freedom to marry.
• choose not to have their wedding license legally signed unless and until Massachusetts law extends to same-gender couples the freedom to marry.

Besides signing the Pledge, how can a member of the clergy support the freedom to marry?

• Please invite fellow clergy to sign the Pledge, as well.
• As soon as you sign the Pledge, please send a letter to your legislators and the governor explaining your participation and asking their support for the freedom to marry.

  Their addresses are:

  Senator/Representative
  State House
  Boston, MA 02133
  
  Governor Mitt Romney
  State House
  Room 360
  Boston, MA 02133

• Please write a letter to the editor of their local paper explaining your decision.
• If you have not already signed the Massachusetts Declaration of Religious Support for the Freedom of Same-Gender Couples to Marry (http://www.ftmmass.org/rcfm/declare.htm), please add your name right away.
• Please encourage couples you are marrying to take the supporting actions suggested above.
• Please send a generous contribution to:

  Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry
  325 Huntington Avenue
  Suite 88 Boston, MA 02115-4401

Unitarian Universalist Association
25 Beacon St. | Boston, MA 02108 | 617-742-2100