MANITOBA MARRIAGE COMMISSIONERS RESIGN OVER SSM: From CBC Manitoba

Some marriage commissioners in Manitoba have resigned because they don't want to perform ceremonies for gay and lesbian couples.

Last week, a Manitoba judge ruled the traditional definition of marriage is unconstitutional, opening the door for homosexual couples to wed.

A letter from the Vital Statistics office has gone out Manitoba's 600 marriage commissioners ordering them to return their Certificates of Registration if they have a problem performing same-sex marriages. ...

Even commissioners who are willing to perform same-sex marriages aren't pleased with the government's request. Hugh Bowler, who performed the province's first sanctioned same-sex marriage last week, thinks the government is being heavy-handed.

"I'm not sure that I agree with returning your certificate if you're not comfortable doing a same-sex marriage for the simple reason that any priest or minister has the right not to do it," he says.

The letter did not go out to religious officials who perform marriages. Caroline Kaus of Vital Statistics says the law has to apply to all civil commissioners equally and they will have to decide for themselves if they wish to continue the service.

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