NOT REQUIRED OF CHURCHES by Rick Brand
Now may be a good time to remind ourselves about the two parts to every marriage ceremony. In this country (it is not true in other countries) the “traditional” church wedding was a mixture of state and religion. The minister acted on behalf of the state and united the couple in a legal contract. The minister also acted on behalf of the religious group and gave a blessing and invited a promise from the couple to live together in love.
The Supreme Court has appropriately ruled that homosexuals are entitled to enter into the legal contract and to receive all of the rights, duties and responsibilities of the legal contract. They may now file joint income taxes. They are responsible for each other’s bills. They can get health insurance from companies that cover “families.” They are now permitted to be recognized as a unit. Hospitals will let one partner visit the other in ICU, and other such privileges.
The Court did not say anywhere that the homosexual couple were entitled to any religious ceremony. There is no requirement for any religious group to hold a wedding for a same sex couple if they do not want to bless that union. Ministers have always had the authority to refuse to do weddings of couple they do not think should be married. Ministers have refused to marry divorced people. Whether or not a religious group wants to have same sex marriages as part of its witness to the God they serve, is entirely up to the minister or the governing body.
The Court says that all citizens are entitled to join in love with others and receive the same protection, the same benefits, the same burdens as other couples. That is the state, the legal part. Religious assemblies are still free to decided whether or not to bless that union. The magistrate should not have that privilege as they are servants of the state part of the ceremony.
ADAM & EVE > adam & steve!!!!
If you are a believer of what the BIBLE says then this is WRONG!!!
Mr. Brand,
Thank you for so clearly summarizing the net effect of the Supreme Court’s ruling on same sex marriage. The ruling governs only the States’ marriage contract. The ruling allows the religious faiths to determine which religious doctrine will be self-sustaining without the State’s concurrence in our rapidly changing and enlightened society.
Hey Decept, is there anyone you don’t hate?
Jesus said that he who is without sin should throw the first stone. I doubt any of us are without sin. Let God be the judge.
we will be coming for the church next and preachers will either perform gay marriages or face the government consequences lose tax status be imposed a large penalty and be revoked from the church we will not stand for anymore discrimination againsts gays and we will do whatever it takes for the church to understand
Hey Publius…..has HiH ever posted a comment of mine that you agree with? I guess if you don’t have anything to add to the site it gives you a sense of pride to tear apart everything someone else posts. Come with your own ideas…….or go back to Hardee’s in the morning and take notes of the conversations and bring the info. back to HiH……at least it will be more informative!!!
JJ….I will be so glad when the internet casinos that you frequent get closed down for good!!! I guess you’ll be updating the info. on your library card so you can still have access to the internet!! Let me guess……you were educated in the Vance Co. Schools? Head of the class? Did they teach you about punctuation and/or capitalization?
we have won another victory tvland has pulled that racist program dukes of david off the air for its racists cars and white people
you are just white trash with a lot of mouth desshition or is it deceptive
JJ….is it ironic that you are in the “casino” on/around the 1st of every month? What happened? You lose all your $$$ and have to kill time surfing the internet? I hope you have better luck next month…..maybe you’ll win enough $$$ so that you can pay for your internet!!! Or better yet….wait a while b/c I’m sure the govt. will be giving away free internet(as it did Obama phones)….when will the hardworking citizens of the USA get tired of giving away $$$ and things to people who refuse to work at a pie factory eating pies b/c they are SO LAZY!!!
OK, Decept, I’ll take that as a “no.”
and we have won another victory tvland has pulled that racist program dukes of david off the air for its racists cars and white people
and you are just white trash with a lot of mouth desshition or is it deceptive
JJ….sorry about the internet casinos closing down on July 1st. At least you can go to the library & use the computer. Also, don’t forget that your moped must have insurance now….I would feel bad if you got a ticket for driving w/o any insurance. Happy B-Day America!!!