'Pastor Protection Act' Unanimously Approved

[Nick Danger]

It's not somebody's civil right to be married in a particular church. Married yes. Having a particular church do it, no.

Well there's lots of bakeries around too, the couple in Oregon could have gone somewhere else, but the judge said that discriminating against them on the basis of sexual orientation was illegal, and whacked the bakery owners for something like $135,000.00. I'll have to go back and see if he was ruling under federal or state law.

Edited to add: The judgement in Oregon was under state law.

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

Well there's lots of bakeries around too, the couple in Oregon could have gone somewhere else, but the judge said that discriminating against them on the basis of sexual orientation was illegal, and whacked the bakery owners for something like $135,000.00. I'll have to go back and see if he was ruling under federal or state law.

A bakery is a private business. The freedom of religion argument doesn't hold much weight with a private business. It would with a church.

 

[Nick Danger]

A bakery is a private business. The freedom of religion argument doesn't hold much weight with a private business. It would with a church.

The Oregon decision did come down through the Oregon Business and Labour Commission so you're right in that aspect. I was thinking more of the principles involved, why should the church be allowed to deny civil rights that people are entitled to outside the church? I suppose it's a different world in there for members, guarantees of religious freedom let them call the shots inside the doors. I guess that's why I don't go in much for organized religion, lots of stuff there that just doesn't feel right to me.

It's worth noting as well that Georgia is only now just considering LGBT rights that are taken for granted elsewhere in the US. Same-sex marriage just became legal last year, and same-sex sexual activity itself was only just legalized in 1998.

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

The Oregon decision did come down through the Oregon Business and Labour Commission so you're right in that aspect. I was thinking more of the principles involved, why should the church be allowed to deny civil rights that people are entitled to outside the church? I suppose it's a different world in there for members, guarantees of religious freedom let them call the shots inside the doors. I guess that's why I don't go in much for organized religion, lots of stuff there that just doesn't feel right to me.

It's worth noting as well that Georgia is only now just considering LGBT rights that are taken for granted elsewhere in the US. Same-sex marriage just became legal last year, and same-sex sexual activity itself was only just legalized in 1998.

Just to note, I am not arguing against same sex marriage. To me it should be a non-issue/dead issue much like it is in Canada. I know I am still going to my current church because of their affirmation of same sex marriages and their stand on doing them.

That said, it is the individual churches decision on whether they marry any couple for any reason. When I was shopping for a church to marry me and my wife in 2000, the first church I interviewed would not marry me. He felt we hadn't dated long enough. Said we should live together a couple of years before getting hitched. That was his/their choice. Ultimately I found a different church and that is the church I am now attending.

There is little point getting married in a church where you are not really welcome. Maybe in 10 years, same sex marriage in the states will be the same type of non-issue it is in Canada.

 

[Ludlow]

Just to note, I am not arguing against same sex marriage. To me it should be a non-issue/dead issue much like it is in Canada. I know I am still going to my current church because of their affirmation of same sex marriages and their stand on doing them.

That said, it is the individual churches decision on whether they marry any couple for any reason. When I was shopping for a church to marry me and my wife in 2000, the first church I interviewed would not marry me. He felt we hadn't dated long enough. Said we should live together a couple of years before getting hitched. That was his/their choice. Ultimately I found a different church and that is the church I am now attending.

There is little point getting married in a church where you are not really welcome. Maybe in 10 years, same sex marriage in the states will be the same type of non-issue it is in Canada.

Shoulda went to Vegas and got that Elvis impersonator guy to marry ye. Then you could have played slot machines and had one of those inexpensive prime rib deals.

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

Why not tax the Red Cross because they have "cross" that implies Christianity.

It's the Swiss flag with the colors reversed, implying neutrality.

 

[Curious Cdn]

The British flag is festooned with Christian crosses.
..

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

The British flag is festooned with Christian crosses.
..

Specifically, the British flag is the crosses of St. David (white cross on blue), St. Andrew (white saltire on blue), St. George (red cross on white), and St. Patrick (red saltire on white) all mashed together.

Yet Britain is an Islamic dictatorship. Just ask Princess.

 

[TenPenny]

Why is 'weddings' in quotation marks?

 

[DaSleeper]

Why is 'weddings' in quotation marks?

 

[Motar]

Motar, they're pandering to anti-gay hatred. Real Christian.

Who is 'they', TB?

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

Who is 'they', TB?

The Georgia legislature. That's who we're talking about. You can re-read the OP to refresh your memory.

 

[Nick Danger]

Who is 'they', TB?

It would be my guess that this legislation grew out of significant lobbying of sympathetic politicians. Georgia remains one of the strongholds of racism and intolerance in the US. Doesn't it strike you a little odd that they are following last year's legalization of same-sex marriages with legislation that basically allows the church to refuse to perform said marriages with impunity?

 

[EagleSmack]

Lets look at this another way, if they have that right then they should be taxed
at the full individual and corporate rate. It is time the Jesus and other groups
in their business paid their share.
I think the churches should be subjected to all the laws everyone has to obey
including discrimination against any other group enough of special privilege

I guess you don't get this either.

Georgia remains one of the strongholds of racism and intolerance in the US.

That's kind of funny.

 

[eh1eh]

Churches have a First Amendment right to refuse to perform weddings on any grounds they choose. Always had. This is mere showboating.

Kind of another symptom of the ongoing persecution complex which exists in damn near everything.

Lord knows Christians are brutally oppressed in the U.S.

Historically the worst oppressors of Christians according to what is written were Christians.

I like to think of it as a war on small, close minded child molesters.
But hey, that's just me.
Believe what you will. Nobody wants you to believe otherwise.
We wish you would, like considering reality and all but whatever.
Still a free country, at least here in Canada.

 

[EagleSmack]

I think race has a lot to do with the hatred of Christians.

 

[Motar]

It would be my guess that this legislation grew out of significant lobbying of sympathetic politicians. Georgia remains one of the strongholds of racism and intolerance in the US. Doesn't it strike you a little odd that they are following last year's legalization of same-sex marriages with legislation that basically allows the church to refuse to perform said marriages with impunity?

Not odd, ND, but preemptive.

 

[Ludlow]

Not odd, ND, but preemptive.

Do you expect that Christians are to be persecuted in the future as they were by Rome in the first century Motar?

 

[Motar]

Do you expect that Christians are to be persecuted in the future as they were by Rome in the first century Motar?

The revived Roman Empire is an end times player, LL.

 

[Ludlow]

The revived Roman Empire is an end times player, LL.

I guess I don't believe in that anymore Motar. But thanks for your answer.