Should Churches be forced to accomodate for homosexual weddings?

[westwall]

No. Churches have the right to deny service to those who do not follow their belief systems. The separation of Church and State has meaning. You don't get the one without the other.

 

[Antares]

When the state seeks to impose its will upon the churches of the land, bloodshed is a heartbeat away.

No. In our country, the state does not have the authority to dictate what the church must *allow*.

So if churches should be allowed refuse to marry homosexuals couples, should they be allowed to refuse to marry mixed race couples if it goes against their doctrine?

(yawn) Ain't ya'll jus the clever one?

 

[RWHeathenGamer]

Churches should burn in Hell because religion is the single greatest lie in all of human history.

Wrong. The claim that democracy is the cure - all for the ills of society is the single greatest lie in all of human history.

Democracy gave us the right to vote, not God. God doesn't actually exist.

There is no right to vote.

 

[Ibentoken]

If a church holds itself out as a public service for weddings, then, certainly yes.

If it does not, then certainly not.

If a church conducts weddings, you can't force them to marry queers.

 

[RWHeathenGamer]

Pastors who perform weddings are acting as civil servants and should thus be required to comply with non-discrimination laws applicable to such.

They should not have to perform ceremonies in their church as a religious ceremony, however.

Exactly, this is what I figured, wouldn't licensed pastors refusing to supervise a marriage ceremony violate civil rights/discrimination laws?

 

[Ibentoken]

This will be moot point in a few years as more and more churches find God again and become tolerant.

Those churches will not be Christian. There are many false churches that will gladly marry queers, but not a true Christian church.

 

[Statistikhengst]

it's disturbing that this question is even being asked....

Even more disturbing are a number of responses.

 

[RWHeathenGamer]

The First Amendment forbids public law from forcing anything on religious institutions, just as it forbids religious institutions from imposing their will on the public.

So churches should have the right to discriminate against homosexuals?

How about against racial minorities as well?

Its understanadable that some churches may feel they are following their concience by not allowing Homosexual marriage.Because there are scriptures that says that is a sin , whether or not I agree with that, I think they should be allowed to choose to marry them or not. There are plenty of churches and other places they can get married if they get turned down by one.

Where inthe bible does it say to discriminate by race ? If a church discriminates by race I dont see how that is the same thing.

So government should force churches to perform mixed race ceremonies but not homosexual ceremonies?

 

[RWHeathenGamer]

If a church holds itself out as a public service for weddings, then, certainly yes.

If it does not, then certainly not.

Don't churches do this?

What I don't understand is that more homosexual couples dont put these bigots feet to the fire and force churches to marry them under anti-discrimination laws. Bigotry, should be run out of every facet, public and private, in our society.

 

[RWHeathenGamer]

it's disturbing that this question is even being asked....

Even more disturbing are a number of responses.

Agreed, don't synagogues already marry gays, why can't the bigoted goys get with the times?

 

[JFK_USA]

So if churches should be allowed refuse to marry homosexuals couples, should they be allowed to refuse to marry mixed race couples if it goes against their doctrine?

Yes. Separation of church and state. Right?

I agree, then I also agree businesses should be able to refuse services for whatever reason as well. But I believe in something called freedom of association and private property, novel concepts in today's america.

If they provide services to the public, they can't deny services to a certain group of people just because they are that certain group of people. If you are open to anyone, then to serve anyone.

 

[Ibentoken]

Pastors who perform weddings are acting as civil servants and should thus be required to comply with non-discrimination laws applicable to such.

They should not have to perform ceremonies in their church as a religious ceremony, however.

Exactly, this is what I figured, wouldn't licensed pastors refusing to supervise a marriage ceremony violate civil rights/discrimination laws?

That's the problem, the state forcing people to go against their beliefs. Bricks and Bats Day is coming.

 

[Ibentoken]

Yes. Separation of church and state. Right?

I agree, then I also agree businesses should be able to refuse services for whatever reason as well. But I believe in something called freedom of association and private property, novel concepts in today's america.

If they provide services to the public, they can't deny services to a certain group of people just because they are that certain group of people. If you are open to anyone, then to serve anyone.

Nope. Freedom of religion. That's why. I can kick you out of my church anytime I want to.

 

[RWHeathenGamer]

Yes. Separation of church and state. Right?

I agree, then I also agree businesses should be able to refuse services for whatever reason as well. But I believe in something called freedom of association and private property, novel concepts in today's america.

If they provide services to the public, they can't deny services to a certain group of people just because they are that certain group of people. If you are open to anyone, then to serve anyone.

Agreed, I don't know what I was thinking, private property doesn't exist. Property is a form of violence, primarily by white capitalist bosses, against non-property owners.

 

[Statistikhengst]

The real question is: why in the world we are mixing a legal issue up with a religious issue?

Marriage is a religious issue when it takes place within the church (or any other religious body).

But for the purposes of the state, it is a legal issue. A marriage conferred by a justice of the peace has absolutely nothing to do with a "church" ceremony.

I see no reason in the world why Christian Churches, Synagogues or Mosques (or any other religious organization) should have to allow gay marriage if they don't want to. And why in the world would gay people want to get married in a place where they are not wanted, anyway? That makes no sense.

But those same churches have no right in saying whether gay people can become legally married, i.e., via Justice of the Peace, and with a legal and binding marriage certificate. Technically, once outside of their buildings of worship, those religious people actually have nothing to say about this. You see, the sword cuts both ways.

I also believe that those religous organizations that use the power of the pulpit to sway politics in this way should lose their tax-exempt status.


Any why in the world are so many people obsessed with things "gay" these days?!?!?

WTF?

 

[Ibentoken]

The real question is: why in the world we are mixing a legal issue up with a religious issue?

Marriage is a religious issue when it takes place within the church (or any other religious body).

But for the purposes of the state, it is a legal issue. A marriage conferred by a justice of the peace has absolutely nothing to do with a "church" ceremony.

I see no reason in the world why Christian Churches, Synagogues or Mosques (or any other religious organization) should have to allow gay marriage if they don't want to. And why in the world would gay people want to get married in a place where they are not wanted, anyway? That makes no sense.

But those same churches have no right in saying whether gay people can become legally married, i.e., via Justice of the Peace, and with a legal and binding marriage certificate. Technically, once outside of their buildings of worship, those religious people actually have nothing to say about this. You see, the sword cuts both ways.

I also believe that those religous organizations that use the power of the pulpit to sway politics in this way should lose their tax-exempt status.


Any why in the world are so many people obsessed with things "gay" these days?!?!?

WTF?

Freedom of speech doesn't end when I walk into a church. Politics are often talked about in churches. Sharpton and Jackson made a career doing it.

 

[sealybobo]

This question can apply to all places of worship, so mosques, synagogues, hindu temples etc.

Should places or worship be forced to accommodate for gay weddings?

Absolutely not. I'm as liberal as they come, anti religion, pro gay etc. and I don't think churches should be forced to marry gays.

But the city hall should be.

When people get divorced, they go through the government/courts, not the church.

No one wants to force anti gay churches to accept gays.

 

[Statistikhengst]

The real question is: why in the world we are mixing a legal issue up with a religious issue?

Marriage is a religious issue when it takes place within the church (or any other religious body).

But for the purposes of the state, it is a legal issue. A marriage conferred by a justice of the peace has absolutely nothing to do with a "church" ceremony.

I see no reason in the world why Christian Churches, Synagogues or Mosques (or any other religious organization) should have to allow gay marriage if they don't want to. And why in the world would gay people want to get married in a place where they are not wanted, anyway? That makes no sense.

But those same churches have no right in saying whether gay people can become legally married, i.e., via Justice of the Peace, and with a legal and binding marriage certificate. Technically, once outside of their buildings of worship, those religious people actually have nothing to say about this. You see, the sword cuts both ways.

I also believe that those religous organizations that use the power of the pulpit to sway politics in this way should lose their tax-exempt status.


Any why in the world are so many people obsessed with things "gay" these days?!?!?

WTF?

Freedom of speech doesn't end when I walk into a church. Politics are often talked about in churches. Sharpton and Jackson made a career doing it.

No, freedom of speech does not end when a parishioner enters a church, but the law is crystal clear as to what makes for tax-exempt status, and what does not. You are aware of this fact, right?

 

[indiajo]

Any why in the world are so many people obsessed with things "gay" these days?!?!?

WTF?

That is the core question. I remember the seventies or eighties, some people were gay, no one cared and they made no drama out of it.
Today, I'm fed up with having it shoved into my face at every opportunity.
As if there would be nothing more important in the world as to let it know about their sexual preferences.

 

[Ibentoken]

The real question is: why in the world we are mixing a legal issue up with a religious issue?

Marriage is a religious issue when it takes place within the church (or any other religious body).

But for the purposes of the state, it is a legal issue. A marriage conferred by a justice of the peace has absolutely nothing to do with a "church" ceremony.

I see no reason in the world why Christian Churches, Synagogues or Mosques (or any other religious organization) should have to allow gay marriage if they don't want to. And why in the world would gay people want to get married in a place where they are not wanted, anyway? That makes no sense.

But those same churches have no right in saying whether gay people can become legally married, i.e., via Justice of the Peace, and with a legal and binding marriage certificate. Technically, once outside of their buildings of worship, those religious people actually have nothing to say about this. You see, the sword cuts both ways.

I also believe that those religous organizations that use the power of the pulpit to sway politics in this way should lose their tax-exempt status.


Any why in the world are so many people obsessed with things "gay" these days?!?!?

WTF?

Freedom of speech doesn't end when I walk into a church. Politics are often talked about in churches. Sharpton and Jackson made a career doing it.

No, freedom of speech does not end when a parishioner enters a church, but the law is crystal clear as to what makes for tax-exempt status, and what does not. You are aware of this fact, right?

Yes, I am. Speaking about politics in church doesn't equate to losing tax exemption.