When U.S. District Judge John E.
Jones, III, recently issued his decision overturning Pennsylvania’s ban on
same-sex marriage, reactions from religious communities were quite varied. The morning after the ruling was made public,
and even before Governor Corbett announced that he would not appeal, Pastor
Anne Mason of the Unitarian-Universalist congregation in Lancaster appeared on
the front page of the morning paper offering free weddings to any couple who
contacted the church office that day.
Interfaith minister Rev. Kelly Jo Singleton soon followed with a similar
offer. They greeted the news with
unequivocal celebration.
Following publication of these
expressions of support, the U-U church office received several phone messages
decrying their action and stating, among other things, that they were all going
to hell. Though no specific threats were
included in any of the messages, the congregation requested the presence of
Silent Witness Peacekeeper Alliance members on the day of the weddings just in
case any protesters showed up and tried to disrupt the events.
