Governor: Church should wed black couple
Source: Agencies |
August 4, 2012, Saturday
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Print Edition
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MISSISSIPPI Governor Phil Bryant said yesterday it is "unfortunate" that a predominantly white church in the US state wouldn't allow a black couple to get married in its sanctuary.
Bryant said Mississippi should encourage the union of any couple - as long as the couple is made up of a man and a woman.
Charles and Te'Andrea Wilson say they weren't allowed to marry in July at First Baptist Church of Crystal Springs, a small town south of Jackson.
The Reverend Stan Weatherford, pastor of the church, married the Wilsons at a predominantly black church nearby. The wedding was moved after some congregants at First Baptist told Weatherford they opposed allowing black people to marry in the church.
"As hard as we work to try to convince the rest of the world that Mississippi has changed - and, in fact, we have - to see an unfortunate situation like that occur is very disappointing," Bryant said on Thursday.
The Republican governor spoke to reporters from news organizations after he gave a speech at the Neshoba County Fair, an annual gathering in the red clay hills of east central Mississippi. Except for a break during World War II, a fair has been held south of Philadelphia, Mississippi, since 1889 and politicians have spoken at it since 1896.
'Tainted' image
The fair attracts tens of thousands of people.
Bryant, who is Methodist, has campaigned throughout his career as a conservative who opposes same-sex marriage and abortions. He also has close ties to the Tupelo-based American Family Association, which boycotts corporations it believes are too friendly to gay rights.
Bryant said the denial of a wedding for a black couple at a traditionally white church has "tainted" Mississippi's image nationwide.
"I'm sure there are very good people of Crystal Springs and in that Baptist church that don't feel that way and are supporting that effort," Bryant said of the Wilsons' desire to marry in the church.
"Look, when people want to get married, we ought to let them get married," Bryant said. "We have enough people that won't go and get married. I want to make every opportunity I can for any couple that wants to, to go get married."
Even gay couples?
"I'd say a man and a woman...," Bryant said. "When I say couples, I automatically assume it's a man and a woman."
Bryant said Mississippi should encourage the union of any couple - as long as the couple is made up of a man and a woman.
Charles and Te'Andrea Wilson say they weren't allowed to marry in July at First Baptist Church of Crystal Springs, a small town south of Jackson.
The Reverend Stan Weatherford, pastor of the church, married the Wilsons at a predominantly black church nearby. The wedding was moved after some congregants at First Baptist told Weatherford they opposed allowing black people to marry in the church.
"As hard as we work to try to convince the rest of the world that Mississippi has changed - and, in fact, we have - to see an unfortunate situation like that occur is very disappointing," Bryant said on Thursday.
The Republican governor spoke to reporters from news organizations after he gave a speech at the Neshoba County Fair, an annual gathering in the red clay hills of east central Mississippi. Except for a break during World War II, a fair has been held south of Philadelphia, Mississippi, since 1889 and politicians have spoken at it since 1896.
'Tainted' image
The fair attracts tens of thousands of people.
Bryant, who is Methodist, has campaigned throughout his career as a conservative who opposes same-sex marriage and abortions. He also has close ties to the Tupelo-based American Family Association, which boycotts corporations it believes are too friendly to gay rights.
Bryant said the denial of a wedding for a black couple at a traditionally white church has "tainted" Mississippi's image nationwide.
"I'm sure there are very good people of Crystal Springs and in that Baptist church that don't feel that way and are supporting that effort," Bryant said of the Wilsons' desire to marry in the church.
"Look, when people want to get married, we ought to let them get married," Bryant said. "We have enough people that won't go and get married. I want to make every opportunity I can for any couple that wants to, to go get married."
Even gay couples?
"I'd say a man and a woman...," Bryant said. "When I say couples, I automatically assume it's a man and a woman."
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