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Gay Marriage Based On Religious Freedom Must Be Consistent
Not long ago, Wayfarer expressed concern that gay marriage proponents might end up wanting to force their beliefs on churches that didn't agree with them: "In Canada it is already a crime for some one preach against homosexuality. How soon, before it happens in the US. Perhaps in the future, it will be a crime for clergy to refuse to bless same sex marriages." Some time ago I had occasion to opine on a possible real-life case. Here is what I wrote on my sister site regarding a situation resembling what he described: ________________________ Wall of Separation Must Be Two-Way -- Both Ways No, the title isn't redundant. According to a Courier Post editorial, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that a local Methodist church must allow a same-sex civil union to take place on its property. In principle, this should never be. In the same way that governments must fulfill their still largely unfulfilled obligation to recognize same-sex marriage ceremonies performed by churches who deem them sacred and legitimate, a church that opposes same-sex marriage must have it's beliefs and rights respected as well. No church -- whether it supports or opposes same-sex marriage -- should have its teachings and beliefs overridden by the government with its own walls or on its own property. (Nevermind that this particular civil wrong is currently being perpetrated against churches that do recognize same-sex marriage. Governments across the nation are unlawfully dictating to churches the meaning of the particular sacred rite known as marriage, by dictating to them that legitimate marriage must be one-man, one-woman.) The sticking point, according to New Jersey's Star-Ledger, is the fact that the church received public money to refurbish buildings and maintain the beach. When you accept government money, you accept the government's attached strings. Churches that eagerly want to tap into government subsidies should think twice about their religious liberties before welcoming into their sanctuaries the regulations that come with government dollars. And churches that object to the government ordering them to allow same-sex civil unions on their property ought to do the right thing, and oppose it when other governments try to tell other churches that same-sex unions are not valid, even when such other churches believe that they are. _________ . There. Now I've had my views tested from the other side. No freedom is true freedom unless it respects the freedoms of those whom we disagree with.
7 comments from 6 users
1
posted by
Hardliner4freedom
on Oct 10, 2007 at 07:23 PM
posted by
randomfactor
on Oct 11, 2007 at 08:02 AM
posted by
Wayfarer
on Oct 13, 2007 at 11:01 AM
posted by
TomW
on Oct 13, 2007 at 11:29 PM
posted by
sfinboston52
on Oct 14, 2007 at 08:17 AM
posted by
NancyII
on Oct 14, 2007 at 09:04 AM
"When you accept government money, you accept the government's attached strings." RE: Government aid. I've said it before and repeat it often. "When you make love to a gorilla, you aren't done 'til the gorilla says you're done." If churches don't want the government telling them how to do their business, then they should remain non profit and pay their own way. At one time years back, a preacher in FL started marrying senior citizens without the benefit of a marriage license because they didn't want to live in sin and if they had legally married, would have lost financial benefits. I applauded him then and still believe he did the right thing. California enacted the Domestic Partner law to allow seniors to keep their retirement in a relationship and also be eligible for benefits, but it still doesn't address the issue of the church blessing. Pastors should be allowed to perform that ceremony for anyone they feel is entitled to it. The government should have no say in that matter. posted by
sfinboston52
on Oct 14, 2007 at 09:20 AM
Nancy we agree, I don't want to see the gov. inside churches telling minister what they can or cant say. Nor do I want this gov. to tell people how to worship. On the other than I don't want churches inside our gov. tell people by law how they have to live based on their own religious beliefs.
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