{"id":1436,"date":"2013-11-04T20:42:33","date_gmt":"2013-11-05T01:42:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/napervilledemocrats.org\/ntdo\/?p=1436"},"modified":"2013-11-04T20:45:16","modified_gmt":"2013-11-05T01:45:16","slug":"leading-clergy-urge-illinois-house-to-pass-marriage-equality-bill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/napervilledemocrats.org\/ntdo\/leading-clergy-urge-illinois-house-to-pass-marriage-equality-bill\/","title":{"rendered":"Leading Clergy Urge Illinois House to Pass Marriage Equality Bill"},"content":{"rendered":"

From the Progress Illinois Blog today (and this from Capitol Fax, a very connected Springfield blog: Is Momentum Building?<\/a>):<\/p>\n

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Faith Members Urge IL House Lawmakers To Support Marriage Equality Bill<\/a><\/h2>\n

As state lawmakers head back to Springfield this week to resume the fall veto session, a group of religious leaders and clergy members are urging the House to approve same-sex marriage.<\/p>\n

The House may vote this week on the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, a bill that would legalize same-sex matrimony in the state.<\/p>\n

In a letter sent to House members, more than 300 clergy members and religious leaders said marriage equality is “morally just.” The group also noted that the pending same-sex marriage bill in the House does not force religious institutions to marry gay couples if they do not approve of the issue.<\/p>\n

The Illinois Senate passed the marriage equality bill last Valentine’s Day, but the measure did not pass through the House before the spring session ended in May. Gov. Pat Quinn has said he would sign the bill, SB 10, if it arrives on his desk.<\/p>\n

A coalition of Chicago-area, African-American pastors, however, say they are against same-sex marriage. They have pledged to bring in candidates to challenge some of the lawmakers, particularly in the Chicago area, that have backed the measure.<\/p>\n

Check in with Progress Illinois as this story develops.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n