Quote:
Originally Posted by SiblingRevelry
Ferd, as a former attorney, I am going to tell you that no church can be compelled to turn over their property for a use that is inimical to its belief system--in general.
There are exceptions. For example, if the church is renting out a government-owned building for church services, it cannot object if the governmental authority also chooses to rent out to gay and lesbian couples for marriage ceremonies. There could be other governmental entanglements that may oblige a church to allow its property to be used for marriages it objects to. But that's the key--GOVERNMENT ENTANGLEMENTS. If you don't have government entanglements, you have nothing to worry about.
It would require repealing the First Amendment to get to the point you're talking about. Did you not read the examples I gave? Churches can't be forced to marry interracial couples, or couples who do not meet the ecclesiastical standards set by the church. I live in a city with a Mormon temple; I can't tell the Mormons I want to get married in their temple, it'd absolutely not be allowed since I'm not Mormon.
I don't want to be argumentative about this, but I am tired of these scare stories. If preachers can turn down interracial couples, and all that happens is some (IMHO justified) bad press, the same thing can and will happen with gay marriage. And, to be blunt, we have gay marriage in eight states--can you name a single church where there is no government entanglement that has been forced to perform a gay marriage against its will? Please, bring it forward. I want to see it. I am tired of these rumors and (to be blunt) flat-out lies.
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Sorry SR. but no matter how much legal talkytalk you use, you cannot undo what has already been done. There are dozens of examples of churches/individuals who have refused gay ceremonies that have been successfully sued.
If a church rents to the public, they will not be able to refuse gay couples. period.
Now if they only provide marriage services/access to their building to MEMBERS of the church, or can prove they only perform marriages to those who are adherants to thier particular set of beliefs, I agree they have legal standing to refuse all others.
but open that door one crack, and rent out to some couple who are not christian, and they will never again be able to refuse a gay couple who wishes to rent from them.
That is simple reality. it has already been established in the courts. I dont care how many law degrees you have.
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