Do you think it is proper for the government to dictate to a church?

Question

Do you think it is proper for the government to dictate to a church which weddings they may legally perform? Some churches have decided that until same-sex partners can have a civil wedding ceremony in the church, they will not hold any wedding ceremonies at all. http://www.planetout.com/news/article.html?2007/12/14/1

Answer 1

Well I'm glad that there are church fellowships that stand against the discrimination of gays and lesbians. Great work and keep it up to them I say.

Answer 2

In the case you cite, I don't think the government is actually telling church officials what ceremonies they're allowed to perform. If a clergyman performs a marriage ceremony for same-sex partners, neither the clergyman nor the couple will be arrested. Rather, the government is saying that the same-sex union will not be recognized by the state as a marriage .

In short, government is not being overly intrusive -- though in my opinion, our leaders have made the wrong choice, in failing to recognize gay marriage.

Answer 3

The Government does not dictate to the Church what sort of ceremonies it may or may not perform.

The Government only dictates what it (the State) will or will not recognize as a valid marriage.

If the Church of Bill, Fred, Wilma, and the most High Humperstine want to unite Bill, Fred, and Fred's pet lizard scruffy into a tri-unial-orgasmic-eternal-sealing-wedding-bond they are perfectly free to do so. They can have a three day festival of Union complete with jazz bands, catered food, and for all I care they can sacrifice goats...(though PETA and the ASCPA might get annoyed over that).

However the Government of the State of Texas, or Georgia, or California (etc.) is a Sovereign entity, and it does not have to recognize Bill, Fred and Scruffy's tri-unial-orgasmic-eternal-sealing-wedding-bond if it does not want to... neither does it have to recognize the plural marriage of some of the polygamous Mormon offshoot cults, or the gay weddings people like you want to do, or the time my son (age 4) and his best friend Cathy (also 4) decided they wanted to get married and Cathy's mom "married" them... complete with stepping on a glass and everything.

The State is not dictating to any Church, nor is it being dictated to by any Church.

So your question, while cleverly phrased, is not accurate.

Answer 4

Certain Church's do perform same-sex 'marriage' ceremonies. The government does not recognize those marriages as legal, however.

I believe each 'church' should be allowed to perform whatever union ceremonies it chooses to perform (or not to perform, as the case may be). I believe the government (i.e., the voters) also have the right to determine which relationships they wish to honor and promote as being good and beneficial for society.

EDIT: Mean Gene - I actually agree with you about homosexuality. I believe it is immoral, unhealthy, and not beneficial for society. However, you did not answer the question. Do you think the Government should dictate to a church what they can and cannot do? (I'll give you a few minutes to respond before I give you a thumbs up/down).

Answer 5

The logic of Gay marriage completely escapes me... as to why Gays want to be married and live miserable lives as the married heterosexuals is an irony, considering that in the U.S. alone the divorce rate is an alarming 50%. I know many Gay couples who are not in favor of Gay marriage at all, and as far as the "legal" aspects of mutual financial and health interests they have set up legal binding agreements through attorneys as a substitute for binding mutualties normally granted by a legal marriage between to intimate parties.

Additionally, the Gay marriage issue has proven to be a detracting red herring on the political scene working against the Gay agenda in making tangible political strides as was proven in the last national election when the Gay vote went bust.

Answer 6

A marriage is a sacrament before God so the union will be blessed. God does not and will not bless sin. The Bible says homosexuality is a sin. A child is a physical manifestation of a spiritual truth-the two shall become one. God told and Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply. God gives up on homosexuals and turns His face away. He says they will pay for this sin within their own bodies and homosexual's life expectancy rates are 20 years below societal norms. Homosexuality increased before all great society's collapsed. Thus, I believe it is okay for our government to protect our society from anything that is bad for us, collectively.

Answer 7

Oompa-Loompas only have to do three jumping jacks to get married