“There is now no excuse when the question comes up for marriage,” New York’s Governor said Saturday during his daily virus briefing. “You can do it by Zoom. Yes or no.”
Isn’t it romantic! The state is locked down and government offices are shuttered, but Cuomo has promised to issue an executive order waiving the need to physically appear before a clerk to get a marriage license. As with everything else in this insane nightmare, love will find a digital way.
Insert one million Love in the Time of Corona jokes HERE. But one person who is presumably not laughing is fossilized Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson, who is pretty sure we’re now facing divine retribution for gay marriage and abortion.
Media Matters transcribed this morning’s 700 Club, goddess bless them:
TERRY MEEUWSEN (CO-HOST): This is John, Pat, who says, “Pat, last week you were talking about COVID-19. You quoted Chronicles 7:14. How can God heal our land and forgive the sins when abortion and same-sex marriage are laws and many people are anti-Israel. Doesn’t this prevent his healing and forgiveness?”
PAT ROBERTSON (CO-HOST): You know, I think you put your finger on something very important. You know the Bible says — they turn from their wicked ways. They didn’t get forgiven. They will turn from their wicked ways. And part of what we’ve done is turn. We are not turning when we have done terrible things. We have broken the covenant that God made with the mankind. We have violated his covenant. We have taken the life of the innocent, slaughtered them by the tens of millions. Children made in the image of God. And we have abused the poor. I mean, we’ve allowed this terrible plague to spread throughout our society. And it’s a small wonder God would hold us guilty. But the answer is, you know, you confess your sins and forsake them. Then he heals the land. It’s not before. You are right.
Oh, fiddlesticks! If Cuomo’s executive order allows more gay couples to get married, will it “allow[] this terrible plague to spread throughout our society” even further? If the Governor wants to fight covid, shouldn’t he turn away from allowing marriages — gay or otherwise — and restore the covenant with God so he’ll heal the land?
Gosh, it’s a condundrum. Will Governor Cuomo listen to scientists and policy wonks, or a nonagenarian bigot from basic cable? Public policy is hard!
Cuomo issues order allowing New Yorkers to obtain marriage licenses over Zoom [The Verge]
Pat Robertson links COVID-19 pandemic to marriage equality and abortion[MMFA]
Elizabeth Dye (@5DollarFeminist) lives in Baltimore where she writes about law and politics.