News (USA)

Group plans ‘pray-in’ to protest Pa. county issuing marriage licenses to gays

Group plans ‘pray-in’ to protest Pa. county issuing marriage licenses to gays

NORRISTOWN, Pa. — A conservative group has planned a “pray-in” to protest an eastern Pennsylvania county officials decision to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, and officials in three nearby counties say they’ll abide by current state law and not issue such licenses.

WCAU-TV
Alicia Terrizzi and Loreen Bloodgood married Wednesday after receiving a marriage license in Montgomery County, Pa.

Michael McMonigle, president of the Pro-Life Coalition of Pa., says he expects 20 to 30 people at the prayerful protest in Norristown on Friday.

That’s where Montgomery County Register of Wills D. Bruce Hanes began issuing licenses to same-sex couples on Wednesday.

But Hanes’ counterparts in Berks, Delaware and York counties, all in southeastern Pennsylvania, say they won’t be following suit.

Those officials say they’ll continue to abide by a state law defining marriage as a contract between one man and one woman unless and until the courts or lawmakers change the statute.

At least five same-sex couples obtained marriage licenses Wednesday in the suburban Philadelphia county. Alicia Terrizzi and Loreen Bloodgood, of Pottstown, were the only couple to marry right away, exchanging vows in a park before a minister and their two young sons.

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