same sex marriage and the churches

[cattitude (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Vince

You will never see the Catholic Church performing gay weddings.

Which is somewhat ironic, don't cha think? Who better than to perform a gay marriage...a gay priest.

[2ndAmendment]

Originally Posted by jetmonkey

I don't think any churches should be tax exempt.

I don't that any people should be tax exempt, but that is another forum topic.

[2ndAmendment]

Originally Posted by cattitude

Which is somewhat ironic, don't cha think? Who better than to perform a gay marriage...a gay priest.

But then there should be no homosexual priests or ministers. The Bible is very clear on the topic of homosexual behavior. Anyone who behaves in that manner is in God's will according to His word.

[This_person]

Originally Posted by libby

For all of you Christians who belong to a church that opposes same sex marriage. Do you think it likely that in a few more years the state will be demanding that your church marry gays or lose their tax exempt status? As a Catholic, I see Catholic hospitals being told that they must perform abortion services. Catholic pharmacists (few though they are that actually practice their faith) being told that they must dispense abortaficients (and I don't think it would be any burden on the patient to go to the pharmacy on the next block), thereby losing their rights to practice their own faith.
We owned a rental property 20 years ago when equal rights in housing/employment, etc came out in our home state at that time. We were not free to say "no" to a gay couple who wanted to rent. The progressive rights have greater weight that the traditional rights as these bills become law.
I predict that our traditional churches will close or be closed if they refuse to marry gays and lesbians.
BTW- I know the pro gay folks will say I'm going overboard, etc. While I'm sure you'll participate in this thread if you want, it is really only directed at the traditionally minded.

My initial reaction to this would be to presume that no one would want to be married in a church that condemned their "marriage". And, certainly, it is up to the priest/pastor/minister/whatever to determine who they will marry.

However, the recent suit against eHarmony for not providing a homosexual option, and eHarmony's response of submitting to the coersion, tells me that I may not be correct in this.

The problem too many people have with this is that they somehow need the state to condone and label their union with their partner in a certain way to feel it is legitimate.

As California proved, having 100% equal rights with a different name was not good enough for the homosexual lobby, they needed the specific name.

Why a homosexual couple cannot simply have a wedding ceremony, buy rings, buy homes together, and celebrate their life together as husband and husband or wife and wife taking the necessary legal actions to have living wills, powers of attorney, etc., to reap all of the legal niceties that a marriage certificate offers (or, accept that they are not "married" by definition, and allow their union to be certified as a same-gendered union) baffles me to no end.

I hope religions are kept with their first amendment status and allowed to practice their religion without state interference, but I doubt it. We've seen over and over again that the "separation of church and state" only applies AGAINST churches, not for them.

[vraiblonde]

Originally Posted by Vince

You will never see the Catholic Church performing gay weddings.

Bet ya $10. The Catholic Church is becoming increasingly liberal in its doctrine.

However, I don't see why churches should have to marry gays if they don't want to. Seriously, how many gays are practicing Catholics, or of any traditional religion, really? Hardly any.

Gays who want to get married can have a civil service, just like many non-religious heteros do. I think this is really a moot point and gays in general aren't "fighting" to be able to be married in a church. There are a few activist types who want to make a problem, certainly, but all activists can go piss up a rope as far as I'm concerned.

Regardless of anyone's feelings about homosexuality, it should disturb us all that a few rabble rousers can dictate to ANY religious organizations. Or any ANY organization, for that matter.

[Vince]

Originally Posted by vraiblonde

Bet ya $10. The Catholic Church is becoming increasingly liberal in its doctrine.

However, I don't see why churches should have to marry gays if they don't want to. Seriously, how many gays are practicing Catholics, or of any traditional religion, really? Hardly any.

Gays who want to get married can have a civil service, just like many non-religious heteros do. I think this is really a moot point and gays in general aren't "fighting" to be able to be married in a church. There are a few activist types who want to make a problem, certainly, but all activists can go piss up a rope as far as I'm concerned.

Regardless of anyone's feelings about homosexuality, it should disturb us all that a few rabble rousers can dictate to ANY religious organizations. Or any ANY organization, for that matter.

I'll take that bet. The first Priest that performs the ceremony will be excommunicated from the church.

[This_person]

Originally Posted by vraiblonde

How many gays are practicing Catholics, or of any traditional religion, really? Hardly any.

This is true for everything.

Homosexuals make up around 2% of the population (a little more for men, a little less for women). There aren't many in numbers or percent that are practicing ANYTHING.

[Nonno]

Originally Posted by Gwydion

Anybody can reply, so long as they agree with me.

[Highlander]

Originally Posted by vraiblonde

Bet ya $10. The Catholic Church is becoming increasingly liberal in its doctrine.

However, I don't see why churches should have to marry gays if they don't want to. Seriously, how many gays are practicing Catholics, or of any traditional religion, really? Hardly any.

Gays who want to get married can have a civil service, just like many non-religious heteros do. I think this is really a moot point and gays in general aren't "fighting" to be able to be married in a church. There are a few activist types who want to make a problem, certainly, but all activists can go piss up a rope as far as I'm concerned.

Regardless of anyone's feelings about homosexuality, it should disturb us all that a few rabble rousers can dictate to ANY religious organizations. Or any ANY organization, for that matter.

I'd like to take you up on that bet too. IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN. There may be some liberal Protestant religions that are willing to do this but I really can't see any Catholic church or most other Christian religions performing gay marraiges.

I really don't like the way the dummy liberals have twisted the phrase "seperation of church and state" around to meet their beliefs but if we are going to use that phrase to keep religion out of government, then we should be able to use it to keep government out of religion.

Why should it be a one way street?

[foodcritic]

Originally Posted by libby

For all of you Christians who belong to a church that opposes same sex marriage. Do you think it likely that in a few more years the state will be demanding that your church marry gays or lose their tax exempt status? As a Catholic, I see Catholic hospitals being told that they must perform abortion services. Catholic pharmacists (few though they are that actually practice their faith) being told that they must dispense abortaficients (and I don't think it would be any burden on the patient to go to the pharmacy on the next block), thereby losing their rights to practice their own faith.
We owned a rental property 20 years ago when equal rights in housing/employment, etc came out in our home state at that time. We were not free to say "no" to a gay couple who wanted to rent. The progressive rights have greater weight that the traditional rights as these bills become law.
I predict that our traditional churches will close or be closed if they refuse to marry gays and lesbians.
BTW- I know the pro gay folks will say I'm going overboard, etc. While I'm sure you'll participate in this thread if you want, it is really only directed at the traditionally minded.

i believe that you can refuse to rent to a "couple" but it depends on the size of your business. Like if you own just one rental property as opposed to an apartment complex. Or it's a duplex or something like that.

But as to answer your question...Don't know the courts seem to have become more activist...of course the president ,BHO, is certainly an activist..

The cleansing has already taken place in publik skool......just a generation away i suppose.