Bill would allow Florida churches to say no to gay marriages

A bill that would allow churches to refuse to marry gay couples won its first approval Wednesday even though its sponsor said churches already have that right and he knows of no cases in which a church has been forced to perform a same-sex wedding ceremony. After listening to dozens of pastors, most of whom supported the proposed law and some of whom opposed it, the House Civil Justice Committee approved the bill on a 9-4 vote, with all Republicans…