Guest MINDSETTER™ Dan Lawlor: Time to Support Gay Marriage
Monday, November 28, 2011
The Catholic Bishop of Rhode Island recently argued “the homosexual agenda is relentless,” in a column titled, “Don't Ask, Don't Tell … Don't Sin.”
The Episcopal Bishop of Rhode Island likewise has argued recently, “I believe that Holy Matrimony is a sacred religious rite, whose definition should not be re-interpreted by legislation or civil courts.”
see:
So, a female married bishop and a male celibate bishop, in two denominations, both feel that marriage is a sacred religious rite that has nothing to do with the state.
The "relentless" agenda that the Catholic Bishop speaks of is for all people to be treated equal before civil law. The relentless agenda that says freedom of religion means that Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Unitarian Churches, alongside Jewish Congregations, have the same right to define marriage theologically as the Catholic Church. The relentless agenda that people, as citizens, have rights irrespective of their denomination.
The sacred rite that the Episcopal Bishop speaks of is one that is not the same as a civil law code. The bloody history of the early Protestant Church of England should be tale enough for the dangers of mixing politics and faith. Furthermore, once the door of interpreting the tradition is open – why must re-interpretation stop at female bishops, but not honestly gay ones?
Bishop Tobin and Bishop Wolf are quite right to preach theology and its applications - but in this country, there are many. Both make appeals to a universal theological reason. Yet, the kaledioscope that is religious freedom produces many sources of origin and truth. Theological diversity is the American game. To paraphrase John Locke, “What business is it of the tax collector if you worship in a meeting house or a synagogue?”
Tobin, as bishop in the Roman Catholic Church, can criticize the state and its positions. In fact, he should. Wolf as bishop in the Episcopal Church, can criticize the state and its positions. In fact, she should. Both have done admirable work around housing and homelessness in our state. Yet, the state, legally, is not Catholic, nor Episcopalian. It is a democratic republic with liberty for all. It is a home for all peoples. As a State Representative's literature said last election, “The state's laws should reflect the diversity of its people.”
In matters of culture and belief, the bishops should be loud and forthright. Yet, before the law, in a democratic society, they are one of many voices. We are equal before the law. Marriage equality should come to Rhode Island.
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Comments:
Hopkins, Steven
4:36am on Monday, November 28, 2011
No, this is NOT a democracy. It's a Republic. Represent diversity of it's people? Our people also include those that participate in incest between a parent and a closely related adult child, and polygamist. All consider deviant behavior at the moment, just as homosexual acts were not so long ago. . . until the psychology journals were re-written to define homosexual behavior as “normal”. If homosexual behavior makes marriage a civil right, then polygamy is also a “civil right”.
Brooke Evans
10:47am on Monday, November 28, 2011
Mr. Lawlor would have us erase the very clear line between a political concept – the freedom to pair bond with whom ever we so chose – and a Sacred religious institution defined by God and put down for us in writing. To wit: “From the beginning of creation He made them male and female. On this account a man will leave his father and his mother and the two will become one flesh so that they are no longer two [people], but they are one flesh. Therefore, what God has yoked together let no man put apart.” – Mark 10: 7-9
What is more, the Bible also condemns homosexuality as being dead wrong. Therefore, there is no LEGITIMATE RELIGIOUS pretext with which to argue that homosexuals have the same right to matrimony that heterosexuals have.
Now, if the legislative body wants to give homosexuals the right to a secular state of a committed pair bonding, that is not my concern. I don’t care if the state legislators want to give people the right to register their DOGS as domestic partners. But Marriage has already been instituted, defined and made Holy by God Almighty. It doesn’t need redefining.
Homophobic You Are
2:04pm on Monday, November 28, 2011
@Steven. Your comparison of being gay to incest is insulting and outdated. I wonder if your wife Lisa teaches these views to elementary school students in the Attleboro public schools? Hopefully you two didn't teach your children to think this way? Are you feeling guilty for having an incestuous relationship with Tyler at Worcester State College and Lindsay at Eastern Connecticut State University.
Gary Arnold
6:51pm on Monday, November 28, 2011
I do not advocate gay marriage and I feel that another minority view or principle is taking over the politically correct vs. what the majority believe in.
I do not think our law makers aka politicians are representing the majority but are caving into a special interest group just like the unions. We the majority, are not being fairly represented by our misguided politicians, they continue to self-serve their own interests.
RI politicians continually get off the track and focus on peripheral issues rather than tackling the unemployment, lost business base, unacceptable tax rates, and migration of the young from RI, of course our failing education system, corrupted conflict of interests etc., you know, the stuff that is really a deal maker or deal breaker for RI’s future.
pearl fanch
7:04pm on Monday, November 28, 2011
This has been brought up several times, and has been shot down several times. Please go away.
Marriage is between a man and a woman. End of story.
What don't you understand?!?!?!?!?
I believe civil unions were passed last year? Go with that.
Homophobic You Are
7:36pm on Monday, November 28, 2011
@ Pearl. Do you mean the inherently discriminatory Civil Unions bill?
Perhaps the next time you have a loved one in the hospital they will reject you visiting them.
Why don't you jump back on the good Bishop's little Tobin if it isn't occupied by an 11 year old.
Homophobic You Are
7:42pm on Monday, November 28, 2011
@ Gary
I bet you could get some of those Dual-Income-No-Kids couples to stay in RI if they were allowed to be legally recognized and protected. No need to think of those little details though. Keep complaining about your taxes while people are being systematically discriminated against by those politicians who are representing the minority.
Michael Trenn
9:19pm on Monday, November 28, 2011
Many Republicans, myself included, feel that we are unfairly blamed by the left for the lack of a RI gay marriage bill. In reality WE weren't the ones to keep it off the ballot, since we don't have the numbers to do so. It was the Democrats, shamelessly pandering to the homophobics for votes.
Michael Trenn
9:21pm on Monday, November 28, 2011
To put it in other wpords, the Democrats take the gay vote for granted, so why should they help you?
Russ Hryzan
1:53pm on Tuesday, November 29, 2011
The 1st amendment to the constitution clearly defines a freedom of religion for all Americans, but at the same time implies that we should not be governed by laws that are based on any specific religion. This applies to government-recognized relationships as well.
I find it disturbing how the religious fanatics (not representative of true constitutional conservatives by any means) continue to quote the same Leviticus verse from the bible with regards to this issue, but fail to mention some others that we seem to ignore. That very same book in the bible also promotes slavery (only if you buy people from nations around you), prohibits shaving of a man’s beard/facial hair, encourages children to be put to death for cursing at their parents, states eating shellfish is sinful, and also says that wearing clothes made from 2 different types of material is an abomination.
So can you really take anything seriously from that book in the bible if you are refusing to take the entire book seriously? If you believe in one line in the book but ignore the rest, then that makes you one of the biggest hypocrites around, and makes your credibility ZERO.
pearl fanch
5:14pm on Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Homophobic,
YOU alone are the reason that gay marriage should never be allowed.
Marriage is between a man and a woman. I don’t care who you are, what you think you’re capable of doing, but you’re not going to change that.
Now as a gay person, if you want to be recognized in some way, then the term civil union has been designated to you. Accept it, and move on. Stop pissing people off.
The ignorance in your last line, is a pure and simple reason why YOU personally, deserve to have the tar beat out of you on a daily basis.
I don’t hate you because you’re gay. I hate you because you’re ignorant.
Homophobic You Are
8:20pm on Tuesday, November 29, 2011
@ Pearl
Get over yourself. Gay marriage shouldn't exist because of me... Oh no, someone was mean to you.. better marginalize a group quick. Scapegoating idiot.
Now as a straight person, if you want to be recognized (by the government) in some way the term civil union should be used. Accept it and move on.
Stop pissing people off... kind of the point. You see when I wake up every morning as a second class citizen I don't really have the desire to be prim & proper.
The ignorance in your entire attitude is why we need legislation to protect this marginalized group.
I don't hate you at all.. I just think you are an idiot. Although I saw God the other day while I was in a backroom getting a beej... he hates you...