They're Coming After You Next (legal, terrorism, government, state)
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You're letting the Catholics, Mormon's, and other religious groups dictate what should be allowed for civil marriage. I wonder who they'll go after next? No non-religious marriage in America? Only Catholic marriage in America? Only Mormon marriage?
America, you are playing a dangerous game letting religious groups set your civil policies. Even if you are religious, you are letting religions that you disagree with make laws that apply to you. Sure, you may agree with them on same gender marriage, but what about when they come after your rights?
I have an idea: any church that tries to influence its perishoners votes loses its tax exempt status. Simple as that. If you want to be a legitimate nonpartisan church, so be it, just don't try to influence people on a governmental level. If you do, you lose your tax exempt status.
"Let the majority decide" "It's what God says is right"
Can you imagine what these same people would say if Rhode Island voted to only allow and recognize Catholic marriage? Oh the grief that would be cried about persecution and wrong doing!
I say let the religious define "marriage". Let them accept or deny anyone. There are a lot of churches and if someone really feels they need a "marriage" they will find one. (vision of a block with drivethru marriage boots and signs which say "we take gays" or "we do multiples"
Thing is it is a social thing. So you can be culturally married. You could even be culturally marries to more than one. But it is not a legal union without a civil certificate.
A civil certificate grants two non-biologically related adults a civil union. This includes ALL the rights and responsibilities of what we call marriage. If this is what you want, to give legal protections, then your good. If you want a culturally based marriage, find a church.
Its NOT the responsibility of churches and religions to define the norm of culture for everyone. Its the duty of the state to provide a legal arraingement that grants the rights of a civilly defined union, but not to tell religions what they can choose to accept. Lets seperate church and state again as our forfathers warned us was the only wise way.
Do I distrust these interests and their eventualy intent? Oh yeah. I'm wiccan and we'd be the first to go.
I say let the religious define "marriage". Let them accept or deny anyone. There are a lot of churches and if someone really feels they need a "marriage" they will find one. (vision of a block with drivethru marriage boots and signs which say "we take gays" or "we do multiples"
Thing is it is a social thing. So you can be culturally married. You could even be culturally marries to more than one. But it is not a legal union without a civil certificate.
A civil certificate grants two non-biologically related adults a civil union. This includes ALL the rights and responsibilities of what we call marriage. If this is what you want, to give legal protections, then your good. If you want a culturally based marriage, find a church.
Its NOT the responsibility of churches and religions to define the norm of culture for everyone. Its the duty of the state to provide a legal arraingement that grants the rights of a civilly defined union, but not to tell religions what they can choose to accept. Lets seperate church and state again as our forfathers warned us was the only wise way.
Do I distrust these interests and their eventualy intent? Oh yeah. I'm wiccan and we'd be the first to go.
Very well said! I agree 100%.
Your last statement: Correct. They start with the easiest group to attack first and will consolidate power from there.
I have an idea: any church that tries to influence its perishoners votes loses its tax exempt status. Simple as that. If you want to be a legitimate nonpartisan church, so be it, just don't try to influence people on a governmental level. If you do, you lose your tax exempt status.
Agreed, as long as it applies to non-profits, also, such as ACORN.
"Let the majority decide" "It's what God says is right"
Can you imagine what these same people would say if Rhode Island voted to only allow and recognize Catholic marriage? Oh the grief that would be cried about persecution and wrong doing!
Religion owns the word, "marriage".
Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's and . .
Government adopted the word, "marriage, but doesn't own it.
Give unto Government, "Civil Unions", if you want, but leave marriage out of Government hands.
I have an idea: any church that tries to influence its perishoners votes loses its tax exempt status. Simple as that. If you want to be a legitimate nonpartisan church, so be it, just don't try to influence people on a governmental level. If you do, you lose your tax exempt status.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ringwise
Agreed, as long as it applies to non-profits, also, such as ACORN.
This is already the law. And ACORN, for one, follows it. Unfortunately, many right-wing fundamentalist churches violate the law. Some are under investigation, but the government is reluctant to prosecute (and that's probably a good thing).
Given that the C-Street house that has come under scrutiny after the Ensign/Sanford/? scandals is a "church" and is also tax-free, I would hope that we can open a serious discussion about removing the tax-exempt status for churches altogether.
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