Advocates of same-sex “marriage” present the idea as a step forward for equality, tolerance and respect, but after spending hours reading articles and blogs for and against Proposition 8, three main “issues” were articulated. 1) Homosexual couples don’t have the same rights as those afforded heterosexual couples with regard to state granted rights (deathbed visitation, right of survivorship, etc.) – in California the Domestic Partner Act grants the same rights to all couples. 2) Homosexual couples don’t have the same rights as those afforded heterosexual couple with respect to federally granted rights (social security, etc.) – those are issues that are governed by the Federal Government and not alterable by state regulations. 3) Homosexual couples can’t be happy unless they are married – having had a marriage license the first time I got married didn’t make me happy, happiness came as the result of who I was with not a piece of paper that I had. So, in reality the goal is to change the definition of marriage, but with that redefinition comes reality.
Legalizing same-sex “marriage” is not a stand-alone policy, independent of all the other activities of the state. Once governments assert that same-sex unions are the equivalent of marriage, those governments must defend and enforce a whole host of other social changes, thereby, creating a paradigm shift in the social order. That redefinition will affect children and adults alike. This in and of itself isn’t bad as social change has been with this nation since its foundation, but unfortunately, these government-enforced changes conflict with a wide array of ordinary liberties, including religious freedom and ordinary private rights.
The first conflict that arises with redefining marriage is school curriculum. When the state says that same sex couples are equivalent to opposite-sex couples, school curriculum will inevitably have to support this claim. Contrary to what Jack O’Connell (Superintendent of Schools) says, the CA Dept of Ed web site says that 96% of all school children will be taught about same sex marriage. Parental “rights” will be taken away because they cannot “opt out” of this portion of the curriculum.
The next conflict, if same-sex couples can marry each other, they should be allowed to adopt. Anyone who says otherwise is acting against the policy of the state. The state must tell religious adoption agencies that they cannot refuse to place children with same-sex couples. It began with the persecution of Catholic Charities in Boston. The archdiocese has closed down its adoption program in Massachusetts. Freedom of religion will be lost to intolerance. Maybe that isn't important to you.
Third, certain portions of the Bible may be censored because they teach us that homosexual behavior is a sin. While I personally cannot judge another person, I can certainly identify sins. Otherwise, how do I know what I should and shouldn’t do, or how are we to judge criminal behavior? Are we to loose freedom of speech as well? Can’t happen you say – tell that to the pastor in Sweden who is facing a possible six month prison term for preaching against sodomy or the Canadian who can no longer distribute pamphlets against homosexuality. I guess freedom of speech doesn’t matter much either.
Fourth, businesses and individuals will not be allowed to refuse service to same-sex couples for what would be termed discriminatory. While refusing to perform a procedure, such as an abortion, for religious reasons is not discriminatory because it would apply to all patients, refusing to perform a procedure on a particular person because of their sexual orientation is. A doctor in California is already in litigation and a wedding photographer in New Mexico was fined $6800 by the state’s Human Rights Commission because she declined the business of a lesbian couple. Now we have good, decent, hardworking people being persecuted as the result of a modest reform.
Finally, the state of California would begin to issue marriage licenses for polygamy, polyandry, fathers and daughters, mothers and sons, first cousins, brothers and sisters, and the disciples of David Koresh, Warren Jeffs, etc. After all, refusing to do so would be bigoted, discriminatory and wrong. Is there any doubt that the ACLU wouldn’t champion their cause?
The underlying pattern is unmistakable. Legalizing same-sex “marriage” has brought in its wake state regulation of other parts of society. Advocates of same-sex “marriage” insist that theirs is a modest reform: a mere expansion of marriage to include people currently excluded. But the price of same-sex “marriage” is a reduction in tolerance for everyone else, and an expansion of the power of the state.
My thanks to you.
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2 comments:
You are a great writer! Thanks for the posts. This whole prop 8 thing has turned into a big mess and with it, I can see the signs of the times so clearly. Did you guys hear that there were envelopes with white powder sent to the SLC and LA temples, as well as to a Catholic place? It wasn't toxic, but still people trying to scare us. There have been many chapels here vandalized as well. Real mature.
P.S. I couldn't figure out what JD stands for, though;)
Amen! And very well written. I like your nicknames for the different TV stations...did you come up with that? Anyway, I hope many come across your blog and read with open minds. You have hit the nail on the head perfectly.
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