A group of pastors opposed to marriage
equality blasted a ruling making Pennsylvania the 19th
state to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry and the judge who
handed down the decision.
At a rally in the Capitol on Monday,
the Pennsylvania Pastors Network called for U.S. District Judge John
Jones III's ouster for declaring the state's law banning such unions
invalid.
“I am now considered a homophobe if I
don't embrace gay marriage,” Pastor David Reinwald of Kissinger's
Lutheran Church in Wyomissing said.
“He ought to be removed from office,”
said Sam Rohrer, the group's president.
In an interview with ABC
affiliate WHTM, Jones responded to the pastors, saying they have
a right to their opinions.
“You know, removing people from
office might be a little on the extreme side when you don't agree
with their decisions,” Jones said. “But they're exercising their
First Amendment rights. The last time I checked, we're not a
theocracy and I did my job as a United States district judge, and if
they disagree with it that's their right.”