It's Getting DARK...U.S. Churces being forced to allow use for homosexuals

[afleitch]

I'm with brittain on this one; why does such an exemption need to be codified? Do Catholic churches regularly get hit by lawsuits because a divorcee wants to use the chapel hall for her wedding?

[afleitch]

Once that law (or ruling) is made, then it will be used to oppose freedom of religion, with the argument being that the declared equality of homosexuality trumps a church’s right to deny individual equality.

Why should churches above all other institutions be allowed to deny individual equality? Afterall, religion is a choice.

[afleitch]

Question 2:  Do you not think, once homosexual marriage equality is reached, that the homosexual activists will not attempt to force churches to accept homosexuality?

Are womans rights activists attempting to force the Catholic Church to marry divorcees?

[afleitch]

I'm a gay marriage activist. I'm not out there trying to force churches to accept gays; they have to do that from within. You don't really know much about us do you?

[afleitch]

I'm a gay marriage activist. I'm not out there trying to force churches to accept gays; they have to do that from within. You don't really know much about us do you?

apparently, I know more than you think, as this is not even a new issue:

http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/archive/ldn/2007/aug/07082104

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Um. Brittain already talked about this one;

I'm with brittain on this one; why does such an exemption need to be codified? Do Catholic churches regularly get hit by lawsuits because a divorcee wants to use the chapel hall for her wedding?

This is a question that I'm eager for jmfcst to answer. How often are churches required to host weddings they don't recognize?

The only exception I know is of an oceanfront pavilion in Ocean Grove, NJ that took substantial state funds for restoration, claiming they were a public space and public accommodation, but which then tried to cite religious reasons for excluding same-sex couples.

http://www.aclu-nj.org/news/2012/01/13/judge-rules-in-favor-of-same-sex-couple-in-discrimination-case

He exaplained why they won their case; they took public funds, claimed they were a public space and then tried to bar same sex couples despite taking public funds.

[afleitch]

So you think that religious organisations should be allowed to be excempt from paying income tax and excempt from following state and federal equality legislation? Why should religious choice be valued over equality?

[afleitch]

because the founders of this great country considered religious freedom to be the greatest right of all.

That's why the Bill of Rights begins with "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion..."

But freedom to what exactly?

[afleitch]

because the founders of this great country considered religious freedom to be the greatest right of all.

That's why the Bill of Rights begins with "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion..."

But freedom to what exactly?

I know religion has never been one of your strong points, but it means to believe, practice, and preach.

Absolutely. That is why I'm working with the Faith in Marriage group to allow the law here in Scotland to recognise gay marriage; these churches and faith groups are being disallowed from paracticing their belief, and their desire to solemnise gay marriages because of the law. The same is true for churches in the USA I am sure.

How does having the state recognise gay marriage restrict the ability of religion to 'believe, practice, preach'; does having easy divorce restrict the Catholic Church?