Among the 162 new Florida laws taking effect Friday, few are as controversial as the 'Pastor Protection Act.'  The statute intends to shield clergy from lawsuits stemming from their refusal to perform same-sex weddings.

  • Law proposed in wake of Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage
  • Critics say law is 'unneeded regulation'

The law was proposed in the wake of last year's U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage. Supporters of the law argued it's need based on the potential for ministers to find themselves legally compelled to perform ceremonies that violate their religious beliefs.

Armed with an online petition that had garnered more than 24,000 signatures, Rev. Chris Walker of the Cathedral of Power International Church in Clermont convinced Republican legislators that something had to be done.

"Who would have thought the Supreme Court would redefine what God had already defined, and so, we're in uncharted waters right now," Walker said shortly after the act passed the Florida House. "We don't know what's going to take place, and this bill needed to be here so that we would have that protection for the future."

Critics, however, contend the new law is a solution in search of a problem, pointing to the Constitution's protection of religious freedom. They also deride it as a politically-inspired attempt to gin-up Florida's evangelical vote ahead of this year's presidential election.

"This is just unneeded regulation. Unneeded regulation. Just a crazy thing that we're [considering]: a Pastor Protection Act. From what?" Rep. Kevin Rader (D-Delray Beach) asked rhetorically during the House's heated debate over the measure.