Mississippi Bill Clarifying State RFRA Regarding Religious Leaders (SB 2093)

SB 2093 would amend Mississippi’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act to clarify that religious leaders are not required to perform a marriage ceremony for a same-sex couple whose union would violate their religious beliefs.

The clarification would prohibit the government from substantially burdening a religious leader’s exercise of religion by requiring them to perform or solemnize any marriage that goes against their sincerely held religious belief that marriage is between one man and one woman.

The bill defines “religious leader” to mean an individual who is associated with and is acting on behalf of a religious organization, including a member of clergy, a minister, a pastor, a priest, a rabbi, an imam or a spiritual advisor.

The First Amendment already covers the right of religious organizations to refuse to perform marriages that conflict with their religious beliefs.

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