A Question About Gay Marriage?

Question

This question is too long to post here (since I only get 1,000 characters).

So please go here ( http://tiger.towson.edu/~apeak1/writtenwork/thoughtpieces/aquestionaboutgaymarriage.html ), read my full question, come back, and then answer it.

[Waits for you to read my question...]

Okay, now, how would you vote?

(Personally, I would vote against both propositions, since I favour freedom of religion. But that's just me.)

Answer 1

Gay marriage is legal in Canada. The United Church ( methodist, congregationalist ) will perform them and they will also ordain gay ministers. Any Justice of the Peace or Judge must perform. The law lets individual Churches decide for themselves. My feelings on the matter is if they are not treated equally and permitted to adopt than they should not have to pay taxes. I don't know of a state, province or federal gov't that would agree with that.

Answer 2

As a gay man, I would vote against both of them (assuming Maryland ever put them on the agenda). I think churches (as well as people) should have the right to decide for themselves.

BTW...that "Chainsaw" fella who wrote that Prop 24 violated the first amendment saying "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" is a butt-head because in the previous sentence he wrote, "Prop 23 is consistent with current law. It is illegal for anyone who can ordain marriages to perform same sex marriages." Isn't that a paradox? The current law PROHIBITS churches from performing same-sex marriages even if they feel that it's ok to do so....tell me how that suports the first amendment? If a Catholic church decides it wants to marry a gay couple then that's between that church and it's archbishop (and/or other members of the Catholic Episcopate).

I really don't care if a church views the marriage as legal or proper; I just want the law to recognize it. We were founded as one nation under God but we were also granted (IN OUR CONSTITUTION no less) the freedom of religion. So, what about athiests who don't belive that there is a higher power somewhere up there frowning upon nasty, monkey, butt-sex...don't they get a say? I don't think that the Christians (even though I consider myself one) should get to decide for everyone...that's wrong. This is the type of messed up situations we get ourselves into when we elect a republican who can't help but tear down the segregation between church and state!

Answer 3

Prop 23 is consistent with current law. It is illegal for anyone who can ordain marriages to perform same sex marriages.

Prop24 violates the First Amendment. From the First Amendment "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" It is established that Catholics are against gay marriage. By forcing all churches to marry gays, you violate their free exercise of religion. Definitely not voting this one.

I would have to vote for 23 because I am in support of marriage between 1 man and 1 woman. Most of Americans are in support of this too (somewhere between 70 & 80%)

Answer 4

My answer is the same one as you gave yourself. But your question is a far-fetched question since nobody in any state wants to put either one of those hypothetical propositions on the ballot. What has been on the ballot is not about what churches can or cannot do. The ballot has been addressing what the government itself will or will not do about gay marriages.

Answer 5

I would say that they should let the church decide. The government shouldn't have the right of controling the marriages of the US citizens. Even if they are trying to enforce it. Then we would lose the idea of democracy and lose the states' individual power. Besides... the church and state used to be seperated. But now they have a connection that's ruining my best friend's life because he's gay and wants to get married with out leaving the country.

Answer 6

First of all the state should not be voting on what the church does or does not do. If there is such a thing as separation of Church and state it goes both ways. If your point is that the church should be able to make it's own determination what will guide their policy I would agree. If your question presupposes that the church is a Christian church I would hope that they would forbid marriage of homosexuals since the bible makes it very clear that such behavior is a sin.

Answer 7

I vote the third way, because the gay marriage issue isn't about churches performing gay marriages, it's about states accepting them.

I would, however, support proposition 25 to make any reliogion illegal.

Answer 8

I agree with you. What right does a government (or any other entity, for that matter) have to force a religion to do that? None.

I'm of the opinion that the state should keep its hands off marriage.

Answer 9

Religious marriage has nothing to do with secular marriage.

The govt cannt force a chuch to perform or recognize any non-religious ceremony for religious purposes, and no religious defininition should have anything to do with secular laws.

Answer 10

i'd be with the libwoggles. i don't think gov't should be able to push any law onto any religion. but there are other ways to be married besides a church. justice of the peace, judge, etc. i also think people should be free to live their lives. it's not my business whom someone wants to marry.