Senate bans pastor after he condemns same-sex marriage

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

BY JEFF DIAMANT

Star-Ledger Staff

The Rev. Vincent Fields says he didn't plan to speak out against same-sex marriage when he offered the invocation at the opening of the Senate session on Monday.

At first, he prayed for wisdom and understanding for the senators. But then, the Absecon pastor recalled yesterday, "the Holy Spirit took over, and I had to pray what he said."

What Fields said next -- on a day a Senate committee advanced a bill allowing civil unions for same- sex couples -- has gotten the pastor banned from giving future Senate invocations.

"We curse the spirit that would come to bring about same-sex marriage," Fields said in the Senate chamber. "We ask you to just look over this place today, cause them to be shaken in their very heart in uprightness, Lord, to do that is right before you."