NC Marriage 'Conscience' Exemption Bill Vetoed

North Carolina's governor has vetoed a bill that would have allowed some court officials to avoid gay marriage duties because of their faith.

Gov. Pat McCrory announced his decision against the  religious exemption bill Thursday, just hours after lawmakers gave their final approval to the measure.

"I recognize that for many North Carolinians, including myself, opinions on same-sex marriage come from sincerely held religious beliefs that marriage is between a man and a woman," the Republican leader said Thursday afternoon.
 
"However, we are a nation and a state of laws," and "no public official who voluntarily swears to support and defend the Constitution and to discharge all duties of their office should be exempt from upholding that oath," he added. "Therefore, I will veto Senate Bill 2."

The bill passed the state House and Senate with margins above the threshold needed to override McCrory's veto.

The Legislature must now decide whether it wants to move forward with that override.