| Topic: |
Sociology > Education |
| User: |
"" |
| Date: |
11 Apr 2006 05:14:21 AM |
| Object: |
Civil rights for gays is issue for the state, not the church |
Lynn W. Olund opinion: Civil rights for gays is issue for the ...
http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=122741§ion=Opinion
In-Forum (subscription) - Fargo,ND,USA
Lynn W. Olund opinion: Civil rights for gays is issue for the state, not
the church
Published Friday, April 07, 2006
Like getting a driver’s license to drive, getting a marriage license is a
service conducted by the state and not some right anyone has. So this is
not an argument about somebody’s right to anything. If we are honest and
not caught up in our own agendas, I think we can agree on that.
Next, we have the separation of church and state issue that everyone likes
to parade around about. There is a reason for this arrangement. Look back
in history and the situations that arose in France, England and now
Ireland, when the church (in these cases the Catholic Church, but it could
be anyone; the situation in the Middle East comes to mind) had a huge
influence on the workings of government. No one religion should be allowed
to hold sway over the political process. I think any U.S. citizen will
agree with that.
So half the problem is solved. If the church is not allowed to meddle in
government business, then the government has no business to meddle in
church business unless specific laws are being violated by church
practices. So the government cannot pass a law or amendment making gay
marriage a right and thereby forcing churches to go against their own
teachings and beliefs by being forced to conduct the ceremony.
Oh, have faith; if the law were passed someone, sooner or later, would use
it to force some church to perform the ceremony. A privilege becomes a
right which turns into a demand. I do not think government has the legal
ability to get involved in this. At least not federal government.
But why do gays want to bother with this anyway? Because of other rights
they should, and I think, do have. To inherit an estate when a loved one
unexpectedly dies. To visit loved ones in the hospital regardless of the
situation. To be listed on each other’s life and health insurance policies.
These types of things are rights inherent within the individual but denied
to gay partners because of little more than religious-based discrimination.
If the government has to stay out of the church, then the church must be
made to stay out of the government. Since marriage licenses are issued by
the state as a privilege (a way of keeping track of things and a minor
source of income) then the state should issue certificates of partnership
(or whatever you want to call them) granting all the rights of married
couples to gay couples who make a commitment to each other.
Without this type of arrangement, there will continue to be problems with
insurance companies and other agencies that have refused rights, privileges
and/or services to couples simply because they are of the same sex.
Some people like to strut around lately self-righteously asking “What would
Jesus do?” I surely don’t profess to have any idea what Jesus would do. But
based on my understanding, it would involve acceptance, understanding,
empathy and just letting people live their lives in peace without
prejudice.
Olund lives in Fargo.
***************************************************************
You are invited to check out the following:
The Rise of the Theocratic States of America
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/theocracy.htm
American Theocrats - Past and Present
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/theocrats.htm
The Constitutional Principle: Separation of Church and State
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/index.html
[and to join the discussion group for the above site and/or Separation of
Church and State in general, listed below]
HRSepCnS · Hampton Roads [Virginia] SepChurch&State
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HRSepCnS/
[Its not just Hampton Roads folks who are members, there are members from
all over the US and a couple from overseas as well]
***************************************************************
.. . . You can't understand a phrase such as "Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of religion" by syllogistic reasoning. Words
take their meaning from social as well as textual contexts, which is why "a
page of history is worth a volume of logic." New York Trust Co. v. Eisner,
256 U.S. 345, 349, 41 S.Ct. 506, 507, 65 L.Ed. 963 (1921) (Holmes, J.).
Sherman v. Community Consol. Dist. 21, 980 F.2d 437, 445 (7th Cir. 1992)
.. . .
****************************************************************
USAF LT. COL (Ret) Buffman (Glen P. Goffin) wrote
"You pilot always into an unknown future;
facts are your only clue. Get the facts!"
That philosophy 'snipit' helped to get me, and my crew, through a good
many combat missions and far too many scary, inflight, emergencies.
It has also played a significant role in helping me to expose the
plethora of radical Christian propaganda and lies that we find at
almost every media turn.
*****************************************************************
THE CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLE:
SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/index.html
****************************************************************
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