Bruce Hanes received notoriety last July when he issued the first marriage license for a same-sex couple in Pennsylvania.

The Montgomery County Register of Wills also has been a long-time volunteer judge for the mock trial team at Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls.

But not any longer.

The administration of the Northeast Philadelphia school notified Haines that due to his “high profile support of same sex marriage through his position as a public figure,” the school has “relieved him of his volunteer duties at Little Flower,” according to a statement released Sept. 17.
“Our school is appreciative of his service to our students,” the statement said. “However, we expect all volunteers to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with Catholic teaching.”

The church affirms the human dignity of homosexual persons and rejects injustice, oppression, or violence against them. At the same time the church opposes attempts to redefine the institution of marriage only between one man and one woman. That definition of traditional marriage remains the standard under Pennsylvania law.

Hanes has issued 174 marriage licenses to same-sex couples since July. But a Commonwealth Court ruling Sept. 12, the result of a lawsuit by the administration of Gov. Tom Corbett, barred any further such licenses.