Good.
This isn't about forcing a given religion to stop condemning homosexuality. They can, to be frank, damn the homosexuals until Hell freezes over. Such is their right, protected twice (Free Speech Clause and Free Exercise Clause) under the First Amendment.
What they DON'T get to do is control how other peoples' choices are treated UNDER THE LAW. The human institution that governs things like taxes, insurance policies, visitation rights, and et cetera. Those things are OUTSIDE THE CONTROL OF RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS. Period.
Can the Catholic/Mormon/Baptist/Muslim priest/minister/imam refuse to conduct a same-sex service?? ABSOLUTELY. Can s/he deny recognition of that marriage under the law of the land?? NO.
There does not seem to me to be any thorny issue here. It is extremely clear-cut. The only thorny issue is, "How are we going to manage to cope with living next door to people who do not share our beliefs, our prejudices, our values, and our morals?? How are we going to live if we have to accept that their way is right for them, and our way is right for us, and we can both be right??"
Geez. Is everyone a black-and-white thinker, to an autistic degree?? Because, if I can see the massive gray area here, anyone should be able to do so.
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"Alas, our dried voices when we whisper together are quiet and meaningless, as wind in dry grass, or rats' feet over broken glass in our dry cellar." --TS Eliot, "The Hollow Men"
06 Oct 2014, 11:20 am
