you will never guess who will protest against same sex marriage in N.J.

[ensho]

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20091201/APA/912010562&tc=email_newsletter


Rabbis, heterosexuals join NJ gay marriage debate


The leaders in the local large Orthodox Jewish community go to great lengths to keep out the outside world, discouraging nonbusiness use of the Internet and encouraging strict filters to keep the ungodly out when members must use the Web.

But last month, several rabbis and other elders did something astounding for them: They took a public stand on a political issue, declaring their opposition to same-sex marriage in the state.

"This really hurts us," said Rabbi Osher Lieberman, a key figure in the community in the suburbs about 30 miles east of Trenton. "To say (it's) immoral is not enough."

He said community members are being encouraged to do whatever they can to make sure lawmakers don't vote to recognize gay marriage.

In a state that leans a bit left, the conservative rabbis are one of a handful of groups taking a passionate - and maybe surprising - role in a debate that's likely to be decided by January. The newly political rabbis have joined a coalition including Roman Catholic bishops, evangelicals and some black and Latino leaders.

-snip-

Lakewood's Orthodox community is mostly isolated from the rest of society. The men wear long beards, white shirts, black suits and black hats, and women are not nearly as visible as men. The community was founded in 1942 by a rabbinic leader who fled Poland and the Holocaust. It's now home to some 10,000 Orthodox families and the rabbinical school, which has more than 5,000 students.

Before last month's election, rabbis allowed distribution of a voting guide from the socially conservative New Jersey Family Policy Council. While religious institutions would not be required to marry gay couples, some say their religious freedom could be squeezed by permitting something they say runs against their beliefs.

-snip-

And leaders in Lakewood say they received political guidance from some in the Orthodox Jewish community in Monsey, N.Y. In New York, the state Assembly already has passed a law to allow gay marriage, and the Senate is considering whether to follow.

-snip-

"I really don't believe in getting involved in government," said another community leader, David Sofer. "But when an issue is so dangerous, you have to stop it."
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"received political guidance"

these religious nuts need to get out more.

so who is going to win the fight in N.J.? the sane or the religiously insane?

[Deep13]

1. Religious leaders, what a shock. nt

[Stevenmarc]

2. "This really hurts us,", Really? How?

Aside from the fact that there aren't a lot of hot stylish orthodox rabbinical students I can't seem to see a reason they are personally hurt.

[LibertyLover]

3. They believe their religious freedom will be squeezed if

New Jersey permits something that is against their beliefs? WTF? I'm sure that the New Jersey already permits things that orthodox Jews don't believe in, for example permitting the sale and consumption of pork products, but I'm going to go out on a limb here and say they probably have never bothered to protest that their religious freedom was being oppressed. And calling the idea of extending the freedom to marry to all people an issue so dangerous that it must be stopped? What rubbish.