Box Turtle Bulletin
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobby“Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife…”
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyFebruary 23rd, 2011
The bill in the Maryland legislature to provide for marriage equality has been debated and reviewed by the state Senate. A few amendments were added which would allow the Knights of Columbus or other religion-based mutual insurance organizations to determine their own membership requirements, which would allow churches to restrict the use of their recreation halls to such marriage receptions as are consistent with their beliefs, and which would allow religious marriage seminars to limit their education to those that meet their beliefs. Several hostile amendments were rejected.
It appears that the bill has picked up an additional supporting senator and will soon move to the House (NECN)
State senators voted 25-22 Wednesday to advance the measure to a final vote, which could come as soon as Thursday.
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beachewtoy75
February 23rd, 2011
GREAT NEWS!
But..
Am I the only one irked by the part “which would allow churches to restrict the use of their recreation halls to such marriage receptions as are consistent with their beliefs”?
I uphold the rights for religious institutions to be able to allow whoever they want it for whatever reason, but it’s totally unnecessary and (I assume) it’s only because of Ocean Grove, NJ that it’s even in there!
It gives the impression that without that language churches would be REQUIRED to perform gay weddings and that isn’t true.
Erin
February 23rd, 2011
Beachwtoy, Ocean Grove had a public property, and they violated NJ anti-discrimination law by denying a lesbian couple use of that property for a civil union ceremony. You probably already know that already, but it’s important to clear up all the little details, because the family groups sure love to use that (incorrectly) as an example of the “consequences” of gay marriage they always talk about.
Aconite
February 23rd, 2011
If a church is getting a tax break for letting the public use church property but also getting to restrict who uses it, that’s grounds for a legitimate lawsuit and should not be exempted. It’s not much progress to say “This set of people has these civil rights but only if you feel like acknowledging them. We won’t make you treat them equally under the law; you can legally discriminate against them in the name of your religion.”
If the law is simply stating what is already law–that churches will not be forced to open their doors and rituals to people they disapprove of–okay, what the hell. If it makes the idiots feel better to hear again that they can be as petty as they like in their own churches, it’s no skin off my back when I can walk down to city hall or one of the various churches or synagogues that’s not so backward and get married.
Timothy Kincaid
February 23rd, 2011
Aconite,
The situation in your first paragraph is what happened in New Jersey. The Methodist campground lost a property tax benefit afforded to those who provide public use because of their discrimination.
But your second paragraph is what applies in this case.
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