Texas governor dismisses Supreme Court ruling, demands state agencies preserve religious liberties

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has issued a directive to all state agencies demanding they preserve Texans’ religious liberties after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage.

The Republican said his order on Friday applies to “any agency decision,” including denying benefits to gay couples, enforcing agency contracts, state laws and other matters.

Abbott dismissed the U.S. Supreme Court ruling as “unelected” judges imposing their views on the country.

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A short time later, he issued a memo saying that the government should not pressure people to violate their “sincerely held religious beliefs” on marriage.

County clerks in Austin, Dallas, San Antonio and elsewhere had already begun issuing marriage licenses to same-sex before Abbott’s directive, and it appeared not to have any effect on them.