Why should religious institutions have certain protections from same-sex marriage legislation?

Is the church above the law?Why should religious institutions have certain protections from same-sex marriage legislation?They can turn down a couple who wants to marry. Just because the state says a clergy member can officiate a marriage ceremony, doesn't mean they have to. For example, if a Catholic couple wants to marry, and one has been married before and divorced, but didn't get an annulment, the church can turn them down, since they consider the person's first marriage still in effect.



The argument that clergy members will be forced to officiate the ceremony for a same-sex couple is a lie, but it works for the ones who are against gay marriage. Maryland tried to pass a law making same-sex marriage legal. Some delegates said they opposed it because it didn't "protect" religious people who objected. Except that it did. It had a clause that did just that. But the legislators, including mine, simply lied about it.Why should religious institutions have certain protections from same-sex marriage legislation?
Do you even know what the protections in the NY law are? All it says is that a church can't be sued because it refuses to perform a wedding that is against their beliefs. That should be their prerogative, especially since a gay couple has other options when it comes to getting legally married. A somewhat situation has existed with the Catholic church. Divorced Catholics for the most part can't get remarried within the church because the church doesn't recognize divorce.Why should religious institutions have certain protections from same-sex marriage legislation?Because of freedom of religion. The law can't dictate that a religious group do something that is against their beliefs.



So, yes, I guess the church is above the law in some ways. Doesn't mean they can do things that are illegal, they just don't have to take part in some things that are against their beliefs.
The separation of church and state means that the government will not interfere with how religious organizations legislate their followers as long as it is loosely within the law, and sensibly the religious community should keep it's nose out of public policy....hmmm, but they don't seem to want to play it fair, those religious zealots!Why should religious institutions have certain protections from same-sex marriage legislation?1) Why should religious institutions have certain protections from same-sex marriage legislation?



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I've never heard of such a thing. This must be in the U.K. or Australia. No such special protection is needed or desired in the U.S. Perhaps in the U.K. - where the church of England is actually an arm of the state - special privileges must be given to the church of England so that it can exercise its prerogatives as a religion despite being an office of the state.



In the U.S., all religions are guaranteed the right to exercise their *essential* religious beliefs even despite laws.



- Jim, http://www.bible-reviews.com/Why should religious institutions have certain protections from same-sex marriage legislation?
They don't.

No one is forcing any church to perform a ceremony they don't wish to.

This may come as a shock to some, but in the USA, marriage requires NO religious sanction whatsoever. So their opinion on same-sex marriage, pro con or indifferent, is legally moot.
Why indeed?! The word here on both sides is freedom. Freedom to marry whomever you choose and the churches freedom to hate whomever they choose. There is no logical reason that any same sex couple should not be allowed to marry in any part of the US. The only argument is that some people have religious beliefs that are intolerant and hate filled and they feel that they are supreme over everyone elses beliefs and lives.

SharonWhy should religious institutions have certain protections from same-sex marriage legislation?
because the teaching of the scriptures is same sex is a immoral behavior just as committing adultery is



freedom to practice a religion in america



its not above the law



not every state will recognize same sex marriage
Gods Word is above all.He defined marriage this way: for this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh.God does not believe in sodmoites getting married.
People act like the church is above the law. It is not. They all should be destroyed. I am all for same sex marriages, with over 50% divorced rate in other sex? marriages, I wouldn't brag!
If you don't like it, you obviously don't belong in the religion. No one's forcing you to be part of it.
Satan blinded the true purpose of human. Men and Women only.



Religion was blinded by the god of this wicked system of things.
Because the government cannot force a church to acquiesce to its policies.
Gay people need to be protected from religions disease.
The church and state are separate.
hii ;D
Read the US constitution and tell me what you find
The reality is that it's all about the numbers.

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