Religion

cbayer

(146,218 posts) Wed Jul 10, 2013, 02:14 PM Jul 2013

Indiana Makes Criminals of Pro-Gay Clergy

http://www.religiondispatches.org/dispatches/candacechellew-hodge/7191/indiana_makes_criminals_of_pro_gay_clergy/

Candace Chellew-Hodge
July 9, 2013 5:00pm

[See UPDATE at the end of the post--Eds.]

The old saw on the religious right has long been that if marriage equality for LGBT couples becomes the law of the land, that churches and clergy will be forced to marry those couples.

They use the rhetoric of "freedom of religion" to get special amendments written into state marriage laws that clergy will never be forced to do such a thing, or clergy will be safe from arrest if they refuse.

Apparently, this bit of "religious freedom" only extends to anti-gay churches and clergy, because in Indiana, their Republican-controlled legislature, in revising its marriage laws, has revealed a little heralded clause in the law that makes it illegal for clergy or churches in that state to marry people of the same sex, or those not eligible to legally marry.

I don't suppose it should be a huge surprise that conservative Christians and their Republican lawmaker allies are hypocrites, but it is a bit incredulous that pro-marriage equality clergy might be under threat of arrest for "solemnizing" same-sex marriages. That old "separation of church and state" thing that conservatives trot out—only when they need it—certainly gets shredded in this law.

more at link, including an update from the editors

10 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Indiana Makes Criminals of Pro-Gay Clergy (Original Post) cbayer Jul 2013 OP

I always fill my gas tank DocMac Jul 2013 #1

So... bunnies Jul 2013 #2

Amazing isn't it. And then there is this part: cbayer Jul 2013 #4

What?! bunnies Jul 2013 #6

I am sure there are churches and pastors that aren't fine with it. The author admonishes cbayer Jul 2013 #8

My only visit to Indiana was a trip pscot Jul 2013 #3

Is prostitution legal in Indiana? cbayer Jul 2013 #5

I doubt it pscot Jul 2013 #7

Better headline: Religious Zealots Make Criminals of Pro-Gay Clergy cleanhippie Jul 2013 #9

Our Town locks Jul 2013 #10

DocMac

(1,628 posts)

1. I always fill my gas tank

Reply to cbayer (Original post)

Wed Jul 10, 2013, 02:28 PM

Jul 2013

before driving through that state.

bunnies

(15,859 posts)

2. So...

Reply to cbayer (Original post)

Wed Jul 10, 2013, 02:35 PM

Jul 2013

Its ok for the gov't to tell churches what to do as long as its anti-lgbt? wow.

cbayer

(146,218 posts)

4. Amazing isn't it. And then there is this part:

Reply to bunnies (Reply #2)

Wed Jul 10, 2013, 02:45 PM

Jul 2013

the law also carries misdemeanor charges for any same-sex couples who attempt to get married

Now, to be fair, this is a very old law that applies to all "illegal" marriages and has only recently come to light because of the marriage equality movement.

Would hope that Indiana will rectify this.

bunnies

(15,859 posts)

6. What?!

Reply to cbayer (Reply #4)

Wed Jul 10, 2013, 02:54 PM

Jul 2013

Criminalizing people who dare attempt to get married? Could the discrimination BE any more blatant? Thats about the most absurd "law" I think Ive ever heard of.

And Im just blown away that the churches are fine with the gov't telling them who they can marry. Imagine if the law were reversed? Heads would be exploding if there were a law requiring all churches to perform same-sex weddings & criminalizing the denial of such ceremony. Yet the other way around is perfectly acceptable?! W.T.F. Talk about hypocrisy!

cbayer

(146,218 posts)

8. I am sure there are churches and pastors that aren't fine with it. The author admonishes

Reply to bunnies (Reply #6)

Wed Jul 10, 2013, 03:20 PM

Jul 2013

them, however, for not taking a stand on this.

Lots of progressive/liberal religious people read the linked site. Perhaps she will be able to spur some into action.

We shall see.

pscot

(21,024 posts)

3. My only visit to Indiana was a trip

Reply to cbayer (Original post)

Wed Jul 10, 2013, 02:40 PM

Jul 2013

to a brothel.

cbayer

(146,218 posts)

5. Is prostitution legal in Indiana?

Reply to pscot (Reply #3)

Wed Jul 10, 2013, 02:45 PM

Jul 2013

pscot

(21,024 posts)

7. I doubt it

Reply to cbayer (Reply #5)

Wed Jul 10, 2013, 02:56 PM

Jul 2013

This was long ago. The place was a roadhouse on the Illinois/Indiana border. In retrospect, it was probably run by the mob out of Chicago.

cleanhippie

(19,705 posts)

9. Better headline: Religious Zealots Make Criminals of Pro-Gay Clergy

Reply to cbayer (Original post)

Wed Jul 10, 2013, 08:20 PM

Jul 2013

And more accurate. Let us not forget that it is Religious people, specifically Christians, that are the ones doing this and everything else to oppress LGBT's and their supporters. RELIGIOUS PEOPLE.

locks

(2,012 posts)

10. Our Town

Reply to cbayer (Original post)

Wed Jul 10, 2013, 10:23 PM

Jul 2013

With all the terrible restrictive laws against gay marriage, women's health care, voter's rights, etc. being passed by Repub state legislatures, I imagine if we tried to tell them how crazy they are being and that we will no longer visit their beautiful states we wouldn't be doing much traveling. Let's see, some of those would be: Maine, N. Car, VA, FL, S. Car, W.VA, GA, TN, MS, AL, LA, ARK, WI, OH, IN, OK, TX, KS, UT, ID, WY, ND, SD, NE, KY, MI,NV.... Have I missed any?

All we can do is be thankful (to God or whatever) that we know good caring people, some religious, some not, in every one of those states who are doing the real "Lord's work", and trying to keep their states from sliding back into the dark ages.

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