Rosie's Challenge(Facts & Truth About This Election)

By: Herrick Kimball

Dateline: 26 October 2011
====================================
Election Results: 8 November 2011

Rose Has Won!
(the vote was 305 to 186)

====================================

Ledyard is a small town in the beautiful Finger Lakes Region of New York state. Rose Marie Belforti has served as the town clerk in Ledyard for the past ten years. The job of clerk is a part time position that pays $12,000 a year.

Rose has stated that she loves the job of town clerk because she likes to help people. If you have ever met Rose Belforti you know she is sincere when she says that.
.

About Rose Belforti

Rose Belforti raises cows in Ledyard. She is an artisan cheesmaker. She crafts a unique probiotic kefir cheese that was developed with the help of a Cornell professor. 

Spend some time visiting with Rose and her husband at their farm, among the Dexter cows that they are so fond of, and you will quickly realize that they are a kind, decent, hardworking couple. They are the sort of people you'd be glad to have as your neighbors.

That's what my wife and I discovered two years ago when we stopped by Finger Lakes Dexter Creamery while touring the Finger Lakes Cheese Trail. Meeting Rose and seeing her cheesemaking operation was the highlight of our day. We left with some amazing cheese and good feelings.

This Dexter calf was born at Finger Lakes Dexter Farm in Ledyard. The Dexter is an heirloom breed that Rose Belforti is helping to preserve.

.

A Dilemma Develops

Never would I have imagined two years ago that the gracious Rose Belforti would one day become the focus of intense vilification, anger, insults, and harassment. Yet these things have come—not for something Rose has done, but for something that, as a faithful Christian, she simply can not do...

In June of this year the New York State Legislature, with strong urging and deft political maneuvering by governor Andrew Cuomo, passed a same-sex marriage bill. The governor quickly signed it into law.

Governor Andrew Cuomo signing the same-sex marriage bill into law.

A great many voters in New York were upset because they were not given the opportunity to vote in a referendum on this important issue. Legitimate democratic process was sidestepped. The People were not allowed to speak.

The new same-sex marriage law requires that all municipal clerks in New York issue marriage licenses to homosexual couples. This turn of events left Rose Belforti with an enormous moral dilemma...

Rose is a Christian. A Bible-believing Christian. The Bible condemns homosexuality in no uncertain terms. Thus, Rose can not bring herself to issue same-sex marriage licenses. She has a sincere religious objection. 
.

 A Reasonable Solution Arises

Rose Marie Belforti could have resigned as the Ledyard Town Clerk. Other clerks with sincere religious objections to issuing the same-sex marriage licenses in New York have resigned. But Rose found out that there are laws in New York that provide a perfectly reasonable (and legal) solution to  her moral dilemma—laws that protect her rights as well as those of same sex couples.

For example, it so happens that New York State Human Rights Law requires the accommodation of an employee's sincerely held religious beliefs.

How can Rose’s religious beliefs be accommodated? 

Very easily....

Based on the recommendation of an organization called The Alliance Defense Fund, Rose presented the Ledyard Town Board with a letter expressing her religious belief that marriage should be only between a man and woman, and that she could not in good conscience issue same-sex marriage licenses. She informed the board that she was going to delegate the responsibility for all (not just same-sex) marriage licenses to a deputy clerk. Such an action is perfectly legal and appropriate according to established state law.

. 

Problem Solved!

Today, if you want any kind of a marriage license in the town of Ledyard, you must make an appointment and a deputy clerk will take care of it. This new policy is clearly posted in the town clerk’s office.

Practically speaking, the matter of issuing same-sex marriage licenses in Ledyard, N.Y. is now a non-issue.

The Town of Ledyard is fully complying with the new law that requires that they issue marriage licenses to homosexuals who wish to marry. No one’s rights are being denied—and that includes Rose Belforti’s religious rights.
.

That’s Not Good Enough For Some People

There is a vocal contingent that disagrees with Rose Belforti’s religious accommodation. They loudly proclaim that she is disobeying the law, that she should be fired, that the District Attorney should prosecute, that the NY State Attorney General should get involved.  These people have absolutely no interest in accommodating anyone’s religious convictions when it comes to this matter. If you have the stomach to read some of the internet discussion about this issue you will see that many homosexual advocates are alarmingly rabid in their vehemence for Rose Belforti. 
.

A Political Challenger Emerges

In the midst of this controversy, Rose is up for re-election and there is a political challenger. A man named Ed Easter wants the job of Ledyard Town Clerk. He declares that he will perform the whole job of Town Clerk— he will sign any marriage license without reservation.

I have met Mr. Easter. He appears to be a nice enough guy. I heard him and Rose Belforti speak at a candidate forum at Wells College on the evening of October 19th. It was there that I came to the realization that Mr. Easter’s entire political campaign for the office of town clerk is centered on the single issue of same-sex marriage licenses. 
.

Rose Belforti speaking with a Wells student after the candidate forum on October 19th. (photo link)

 

How Many Marriage Licenses Does Ledyard Issue?

According to Rose, an average of seven marriage licenses might be issued by her office in a year. This year, thus far, only four marriage licenses have been issued. And, as I’ve already pointed out, no one is being denied a same-sex marriage license in Ledyard.
.

Rose Belforti’s Reelection Campaign

From Rose Belforti’s point of view, her re-election campaign for Ledyard Town Clerk is NOT all about same sex marriage licenses. It’s all about the numerous other responsibilities that come with the job of a small-town clerk.  Rose’s desire is that she will be able to continue to serve the people of Ledyard as she has done for the past ten years.
.

A Gentle Warrior

I can’t help but wonder, in the midst of the controversy swirling around her, why Rose Belforti would bother running for reelection. Would you want to deal with so much hostility directed at you because of your religious convictions? Few people have the courage to endure the verbal slings and arrows (not to mention the boycott of Finger Lakes Dexter Creamery).

But when I went to that candidate forum at Wells College I saw in Rose a gentle woman with a resolute spirit. At one point, in response to a question from a Wells student, Rose responded with a legitimate question of her own...

“What about my rights? Don’t I have rights too?”

She paused for an answer, but there was silence.

Then Rose explained to those young people that she believes in the system of law we have in this country. She reiterated that she also believes she is well within the law to delegate the responsibility for marriage licenses to a deputy clerk. And she pointed out that we have a court system in this county so that disagreements between people and groups of people can be peacefully and reasonably resolved. 
.

A Final Thought

I came away from that discussion at Wells College with tremendous respect for Rose Belforti. It was clear to me (and I'm sure it was also clear to those in the audience who did not agree with her) that she is not a radical activist looking to make trouble. No, she is an honest, sincere and genuinely nice woman who wants to do the right thing in a very unfortunate situation. 

In addition to being a town clerk and farmer in Ledyard, Rose Belforti crafts a very unique  raw-milk probiotic kefir cheese. It is the most remarkable cheese I've ever tasted. Click Here to learn more about Finger Lakes Dexter Creamery's kefir cheese.