Gay Marriage and Religious Freedom.

[Toucano]

If my church performs same-sex marriages and my state won't recognize the marriages, isn't that a violation of my religious freedom?

Tell my gay and lesbian Unitarians and Quakers are organizing to sue the states that passed anti-gay amendments.

[Guaranteed]

1. That is an EXCELLENT freaking point.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;"

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

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[Stop_the_War]

3. ugh ...freeper alert....

[DrWeird]

4. There's a one in ten chance any one of your kids is gay.

Some parent you are.

[New Earth]

5. you are kidding, right?

:nuke:

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

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[New Earth]

8. how about

teaching your children not to 'hate' at all? :think:

[DrWeird]

9. Sounds like something Osama teaches his kids.

Religious bigotry is religious bigotry.

[Toucano]

11. Not everyone agrees with your definitions of "sinner" and "sin".

This is America, not Iran.

[Quixote1818]

16. Remember their is slavery in the Old Testament but that does not make

it right.

[readmoreoften]

19. who knows, maybe your children will be one of the

600,000 children in America who are homeless because they are gay and their parents kick them out of the home.

Or they could be one of the 33% of all children who commits suicide because their culture says that they are disgusting sinners that deserve singling out.

You don't hate sin. You hate people. And your beliefs kill people every day. Maybe one day your hate will come home to roost.

[Toucano]

6. "I'd die if my kids ever thought being gay is OK."

Too bad you're not Alan Keyes. Or Dick Cheney.

We'd be rid of you already!

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

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[DrWeird]

13. The good news is, you're kids will likely be just fine with homosexuality.

Assuming they're not gay themselves. That old fashioned bigotry is going the way the dodo.

[Toucano]

14. You said you'd die.

If you were one of those people, you'd be dead.

Simple. Not a free speech issue. It's your wish, apparently.

[New Earth]

15. i think you mean "speech"

[idiosyncratic]

17. You can not "hate the sin" without "hating the sinner"

What you believe is discriminatory and WRONG.

[Lars39]

18. free speech and equal civil rights for everyone

[Quixote1818]

12. Too bad you will be in the tiny minority in 20 years. Times are changing

and you will be viewed much like the slave owners are viewed today. What a small minded dumb ass!

[foreigncorrespondent]

21. ROFLMAO!

I teach my children not to hate the person...but hate the sin.

Tell me are you raising a daughter who when into her teens could quite possibly be house some vanity? (most girls in their teens are vain.) You know pride/vanity is one of the sins right? Are you going to teach your daughter to not hate herself but hate her sin? Best tell her that humanity is a good cure for this sin.

Tell me, is anyone in your family envious on anyone else? Because again, envy is one of the seven sins. Are you going to teach that person to not hate themselves but hate their sin? Better tell them that love is a good cure for this sin.

Tell me, are you rich? An overeater? Posses far too much in the way of material possessions? Because all this falls under gluttony which happens to be yet another of the seven sins. Are you going to teach yourself to not hate yourself, but hate your sin? And further get rid of the things you have too much of? Better tell yourself that faith and temperance is a good cure for this sin.

Tell me, when you got to legal age, did you lust after anyone? Do you lust after someone now? If so, then again, you best teach yourself not to hate yourself, but hate your sin, and further, get church help for that lust you house. Self control is the best cure for this sin.

Tell me, do you ever get so angry with someone that you want revenge on them? If so, then you best teach yourself not to hate yourself, but rather hate your sin of wrath. Kindness is an excellent cure for this sin. Perhaps you can start with being nice to the gay community.

Tell me, are you greedy? Well what I said under gluttony this is the same thing. Best get rid of that money, and those possessions you have too much of. Generosity is a great cure for this sin. Perhaps you can give your money and possessions to an AIDS organization.

Tell me, are you lazy? Well hell, you best get started working, because sloth is yet another of the seven sins.

[Zenlitened]

23. I'd also add that... LOVE IS NOT A SIN !!!

:):yourock:

[probuddha]

27. What a great response!! I'm saving this one. n/t

[Zenlitened]

20. I'd love to see someone pursue that!

Fundie heads would be exploding everywhere! :nuke:

[Tux]

22. Yes

If fundies say banning gay marriage is religious expression so is UU and Quakers marrying gays.

[More Than A Feeling]

24. Damn straight

don't forget that the Bible says that those whom God has joined together, let no man tear asunder.

Legislation saying who God can and cannot join together is idolatry and an abomination.

[ProgressiveConn]

25. In a way.

It is an establishment clause offense IMO. By saying that marriage is only between a man and a woman they are establishing the Old Testament as a state religion in practice if not in name.

What protects us from their extremism protects them from your angle.

[Toucano]

28. I'm not sure I follow 100%

Isn't it about the difference between the establishment clause and the free exercise clause?

It sounds like they're vioating both clauses. Even if they could argue a compelling state interest in defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman, not based on the Old Testament, they'd still be in violation of the free exercise clause because my religion teaches marriage is between two people.

They're haven't prevented my church from marrying me, however, so maybe they haven't restricted my free exercise. Does the state's refusal to recognize the marriage violate the free exercise clause? Are there any other church proceedings the state is allowed to ignore?


Thanks to everyone for their input. Except Li'l miss tombstone who contributed nothing! ;)

On edit:
grammar

[Grey Ranks]

26. Send it to the ACLU

Your argument may be to this date unique. I think it could be successfully litigated. I wish I was a lawyer.