Vigilance

Quote: FrGamble

Wouldn't it make more sense to get religion out of marriage, at least in the eyes of the state? I think this recent decision will lead to some Catholic Churches to stop worrying about getting civil marriage licenses. They might say look we will marry you in the eyes of God and give you the Sacrament of Matrimony in the Church, if you want to have this recognized by the state go for it, but we are just doing our own thing.

That's rather funny. See, prior to 2004, when Massachusetts began to recognize same sex marriages, that was all same sex couples could do. No law can prevent any church from performing a marriage ceremony between consenting adults, even if the marriage isn't recognized legally. Some couples did just that.

What personal meaning it had for the couples and their families and friends, I don't know. But it had no legal value whatsoever. these couples faced the same legal problems unmarried same sex couples did.

So what you're suggesting is martyring opposite sex couples, or at least giving them the opportunity to martyr themselves.

Isn't that like cutting your nose to spite your face?

Quote:

What the state and the Church used to think about marriage was pretty much the same. The first shoe to fall was "no fault divorce" and now in the state's eyes it doesn't even matter what gender you are.

I fail to see the problem. As far as I know, the Catholic church does not permit divorce, no fault or otherwise. It also doesn't permit same sex marriage. I don't know where it stands on interfaith marriages.

So tell your congregants not to get divorced and not to get same sex married. That is their choice to make, isn't it?

Following my own advice, it's time to get constructively involved in the religious liberty debate. This is something far too important to be left to fanatics on the right.

Quote: Nareed

Following my own advice, it's time to get constructively involved in the religious liberty debate. This is something far too important to be left to fanatics on the right.

Maybe you can get the Catholic Church
to quit discriminating against impotent
men who want to get married in their
own Church. A caring and loving god
my ass..

Maybe you can get the NFL to stop discriminating against the girl scouts too. Wait maybe the NFL is being loving and caring by not allowing girl scouts to play middle linebacker, hmm....

Quote: FrGamble

Maybe you can get the NFL to stop discriminating against the girl scouts too

Oh wow. That's exactly what racists do
when accused of racism. They defend
themselves by bringing up other racists.

Is this really all the Church has in it's
defense? Really?

So the NFL is being racist in their policies? Okay.

Quote: FrGamble

So the NFL is being racist in their policies? Okay.

You know what I meant, this isn't the
first time you've done this. You love
to defend the Churches indefensible
policies by inserting your version of
the schoolyard taunt 'and your mother
wears army boots', like that explains something.

You have no legit reason for not letting Gays
get married, or for not letting impotent men
tie the knot. So you flail around trying to
make excuses for 12th century logic in the
21st century. This will be what leads to the
Churches inevitable downfall.

You have no legit reason for changing the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples, and my dad can beat your dad up.

Quote: FrGamble

You have no legit reason for changing the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples,

You mean other than they're all human
and to say otherwise is discrimination?
You see some humans as more 'equal'
than others. That also defines racism. But
the Church isn't racist for some reason.
Only homophobic.

Quote: Evenbob

You mean other than they're all human
and to say otherwise is discrimination?

Have I ever said anyone is less than human?!? NO!

Quote:

You see some humans as more 'equal'
than others.

My most fundamental and deepest held belief is that all humans are equal and of inestimable value.