California's top court overturns gay marriage ban

[christiangirl]

Jeni--thanx for the interjection, I'll look at that. I think I remember something about that in history (though I definitely forgot once the semester was over).

Originally Posted by shinerbock

I don't think there is anything wrong with gay people trying to do that. Other than my personal objections to their lifestyle, I could care less if they decide to use legal channels to advance their cause. I hope they fail, but I don't object to them making the attempt (personal objections noted, of course).

I don't know why that made me laugh so hard, but it did.

Originally Posted by JonoBN41

When and if same-sex marriage becomes legal, however, I would think it would be the prerogative of any particular church (or Church) to decline performing the ceremony, just as some won't marry a Christian and a Jew, for example.

Hmmm, I thought of that briefly. I guess it depends on the denomination and if it allows individual churches to do what would not be accepted by the whole (Mormons come to mind, for some reason).

Excellent discussion, guys. So, strictly for S&G, let's say gay marriage is legalized and could be performed at any courthouse, city hall, what have you. However, about 60-70% of America's churches refused to do the ceremony and would not recognize gay marriages and/or families. Would churches still retain the right to offer their services (pre-marital counseling, family ministry, etc.) as they please? I'm not asking if it would be morally acceptable for churches to deny these things to gay couples, just if you think they would still have the right to. Would the protests continue until churches were more open or would governmental rights be enough reason for everybody to go sit down and move on?

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by christiangirl

Jeni--thanx for the interjection, I'll look at that. I think I remember something about that in history (though I definitely forgot once the semester was over).


I don't know why that made me laugh so hard, but it did.


Hmmm, I thought of that briefly. I guess it depends on the denomination and if it allows individual churches to do what would not be accepted by the whole (Mormons come to mind, for some reason).

Excellent discussion, guys. So, strictly for S&G, let's say gay marriage is legalized and could be performed at any courthouse, city hall, what have you. However, about 60-70% of America's churches refused to do the ceremony and would not recognize gay marriages and/or families. Would churches still retain the right to offer their services (pre-marital counseling, family ministry, etc.) as they please? I'm not asking if it would be morally acceptable for churches to deny these things to gay couples, just if you think they would still have the right to. Would the protests continue until churches were more open or would governmental rights be enough reason for everybody to go sit down and move on?

Of course churches have the right to do what they want in that regard, just as they do now. Technically, you could probably be married in the eyes of the church but not in the eyes of the law (like the polygamists), just as you can be married by law but not in the eyes of the church (like a Catholic who has been divorced, didn't have that marriage annulled and didn't marry the second time in the church) Churches get to do what they want.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by christiangirl

Excellent discussion, guys. So, strictly for S&G, let's say gay marriage is legalized and could be performed at any courthouse, city hall, what have you. However, about 60-70% of America's churches refused to do the ceremony and would not recognize gay marriages and/or families. Would churches still retain the right to offer their services (pre-marital counseling, family ministry, etc.) as they please? I'm not asking if it would be morally acceptable for churches to deny these things to gay couples, just if you think they would still have the right to. Would the protests continue until churches were more open or would governmental rights be enough reason for everybody to go sit down and move on?

Um, churches already decline to marry certain couples. Some won't marry interfaith couples, some won't marry a couple that hasn't been baptized, many won't marry couples that don't first go through premarital counseling, some won't marry couples they just don't feel should be married (after meeting with them), and some won't marry couples that have lived together. Most also have rules regarding dress, music and decorations if you want to get married in their church, if you want to get really specific. Our society in no way mandates that churches must marry any couple, or that couples must get married in a church, and couples that do marry in a church do not receive any special legal rights as a result. Marriage is a contractual relationship, not a religious state.

[Tom Earp]

I love reading PlayBoy/Penthouse about this type of relationship.