Religious objection option for gay marriage challenged

CHARLOTTE, NC (AP) — Three couples have sued challenging North Carolina’s law giving magistrates the option not to perform gay marriages based on religious objections.

The lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court says the law approved six months ago violates the U.S. Constitution by promoting religious beliefs over the equality of all North Carolina citizens, especially gays and lesbians. The litigation says magistrates can’t be permitted to disavow their oath to carry out laws.

The Republican-led General Assembly passed the law over the veto of Gov. Pat McCrory. The law says magistrates and some court officials can recuse themselves if they have a “sincerely held religious objection.” The recusal applies to all marriages for at least six months.

Civil gay marriages were authorized in North Carolina in October 2014.

(Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)