N.Y. Domestic Relations Law § 10-b: Religious exception

§ 10-b. Religious exception. 1. Notwithstanding any state, local or

municipal law, rule, regulation, ordinance, or other provision of law to

the contrary, a religious entity as defined under the education law or

section two of the religious corporations law, or a corporation

incorporated under the benevolent orders law or described in the

benevolent orders law but formed under any other law of this state, or a

not-for-profit corporation operated, supervised, or controlled by a

religious corporation, or any employee thereof, being managed, directed,

or supervised by or in conjunction with a religious corporation,

benevolent order, or a not-for-profit corporation as described in this

subdivision, shall not be required to provide services, accommodations,

advantages, facilities, goods, or privileges for the solemnization or

celebration of a marriage. Any such refusal to provide services,

accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, or privileges shall not

create any civil claim or cause of action or result in any state or

local government action to penalize, withhold benefits, or discriminate

against such religious corporation, benevolent order, a not-for-profit

corporation operated, supervised, or controlled by a religious

corporation, or any employee thereof being managed, directed, or

supervised by or in conjunction with a religious corporation, benevolent

order, or a not-for-profit corporation.

2. Notwithstanding any state, local or municipal law or rule,

regulation, ordinance, or other provision of law to the contrary,

nothing in this article shall limit or diminish the right, pursuant to

subdivision eleven of section two hundred ninety-six of the executive

law, of any religious or denominational institution or organization, or

any organization operated for charitable or educational purposes, which

is operated, supervised or controlled by or in connection with a

religious organization, to limit employment or sales or rental of

housing accommodations or admission to or give preference to persons of

the same religion or denomination or from taking such action as is

calculated by such organization to promote the religious principles for

which it is established or maintained.

3. Nothing in this section shall be deemed or construed to limit the

protections and exemptions otherwise provided to religious organizations

under section three of article one of the constitution of the state of

New York.