Get Ready to Kiss Religious Freedom Good-Bye
In Massachusetts, a couple was incensed that their five-year old came home from Kindergarten with a book promoting same-sex relationships are equal to traditional marriage. The man went to see the Superintendent of schools asking for a religious exemption for his kids. “But same-sex marriage is legal in Massachusetts,” was the reply. No prior notification was needed, he was told. “I’m prepared to stay here all night until I get that exemption, and prior notification,” he replied. Not only was he denied an exemption, he ended up spending the night in jail.
What happens when same-sex marriage is made legal while many people of faith must object due to deeply held convictions? There is an unavoidable clash between church and state. Catholic Charities of Massachusetts no longer place for adoption because denying a homosexual couple a child for adoption is regarded as discrimination in that state.
Here in California, if Proposition 8 fails, this state will essentially declare that the Bible promotes bigotry and that our faith is a form of bigotry. A statement as simple as “A child needs a mom and a dad” will be regarded as hate speech.
While it is true that the imperial decision of the State Supreme Court which established same-sex marriage included a promise of religious exemption, do not expect that to be respected for long. This summer, two physicians were successfully sued in California by a lesbian couple for refusing to perform an artificial insemination. They cited their religious convictions and were willing to refer the couple to physicians willing to perform the procedure—but lost their case because it was regarded as “denial of professional services.”
If Prop 8 fails, expect same-sex couples to target evangelical and Roman Catholic churches before this year is even out. They will approach such churches requesting to be married with the knowledge that they will be denied. Then they will sue these churches—which at minimum means that huge expenses and reduced capacity to minister. At worst, based on the precedent of the physician case, these churches could lose and be hit for huge, even destructive loses. The idea is demoralize and destroy principled objection to homosexuality.
So how will you vote on Prop 8? I know how I’m going to vote. I don’t want to kiss religious liberty good-bye, so I’m voting YES on Prop 8.
3 comments:
"In Massachusetts, a couple was incensed that their five-year old came home from Kindergarten with a book promoting same-sex relationships are equal to traditional marriage. The man went to see the Superintendent of schools asking for a religious exemption for his kids. “But same-sex marriage is legal in Massachusetts,” was the reply. No prior notification was needed, he was told. “I’m prepared to stay here all night until I get that exemption, and prior notification,” he replied. Not only was he denied an exemption, he ended up spending the night in jail."
Could you please post a cite for this sequence of events? Thanks.
Here in California, the above subject would be dealt with in health class, from which all parents retain the right to remove their children, at their own prerogative. Whether or not Prop 8 passes, California parents have the right to excuse their children from sex/marriage/family education.
"Catholic Charities of Massachusetts no longer place for adoption because denying a homosexual couple a child for adoption is regarded as discrimination in that state. "
The above has nothing to do with gay marriage. Catholic Charities of Massachusetts chose to discontinue its adoption work because it opted not to comply with a 1993 Massachusetts state law, affirming the rights of gays to adopt children. Notice: that law was passed 10 years before gay marriage was made legal in the state. The legal status of gay marriage in that state had nothing to do with the choice that Catholic Charities made to discontinue adoption services, rather than comply with longstanding adoption law in that state.
"If Prop 8 fails, expect same-sex couples to target evangelical and Roman Catholic churches before this year is even out. They will approach such churches requesting to be married with the knowledge that they will be denied. Then they will sue these churches—which at minimum means that huge expenses and reduced capacity to minister. At worst, based on the precedent of the physician case, these churches could lose and be hit for huge, even destructive loses."
Pastor, marriage equality has been the law of the land in California for 5 months now, and in Massachusetts for 3 years. In each state, evangelical and Roman Catholic churches refuse to conduct same-sex marriages, despite the fact that homosexuals in those two states are legally free to marry. So then, have evangelical and Roman Catholic churches in those two states been hit for huge, destructive losses by litigious gays seeking to marry in their respective sanctuaries? Has one single church been forced to conduct such a wedding in its sanctuary, or lost its tax exempt status for refusing to do so?
The answer is no. Of course not. And it will continue to be thus, if Prop 8 were to fail, and the status quo were to be retained. That's because churches in California and Massachusetts (and elsewhere across our nation) enjoy greater constitutional protections than the physicians you mention (who, unlike churches, were classified as "business establishments" by the state, and thus obliged to honor certain non-discrimination laws which apply to businesses, though not churches). That's why the Catholic Church can legally refuse to marry divorcees (despite the fact that it's perfectly legal for divorcees to wed in California), and can legally refuse to hire women as priests (despite the fact that there's a raft of gender-based anti-discrimination laws on the California books). And its why the Catholic Church (and your church) will always be free to refuse to conduct same-sex marriages, regardless of the outcome of Prop 8.
Let go of the fear, Pastor. Your church's religious freedom is safe today, and will continue to be so after November 4th, regardless of the outcome of the vote on Proposition 8. And, given that, perhaps you can see it in your heart to cast a vote for tolerance and equality on November 4th. Perhaps you can find it in your heart to join *my* Reverend, and the practically-unanimous sentiment of the membership of the church to which I belong, and vote No on Prop 8.
Best to you,
Patrick Meighan
Culver City, CA
Citation on the man who went to jail:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=45594
I have no confidence in the state to rein in its propensity to dictate the details of the lives of its people when run by leftists. Leftists see all of life as under the governmental umbrella.
I lived in Massachusetts and recently saw an interview with the head of Catholic Charities. Again, we have the imperial state. He was clear that CC is under the gun because of environment.
Patrick, I just don't trust your side. Your used judges to to overrule the people. You side cheats and lies--it's that simple. Is it so unthinkable that churches like mine will be sued? Well, ten years ago, this conversation was unthinkable.
I will vote yes on Prop 8. I will not sell the future or deny God's word.
And yes, one day you can come visit me in jail.
I never heard of the book King & King until I saw it in a Yes on 8 ad. Since then I bought it for every school in my district and am donating a few copies to the county library as well. Thanks to Protect Marriage.idiots I can help[ school kids learn about this important aspect of marriage.
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