At church on Sunday before we had our 5th Sunday discussion we had a short discussion about the upcoming marriage amendment to our state constitution that is on the ballot here in Arizona (California and Florida are also voting on one). I was surprised to realize all the effects that not passing the amendment should have besides leaving it open for judges to rule that same-sex marriage is allowed, despite there already being a law against it in our state.
The church has a great, but really long
article about why we need to do everything we can to make sure these amendments pass. Here are some of the points that really surprised, and even scared me a little bit:
Legalizing same-sex marriage will affect a wide spectrum of government activities and policies. Once a state government declares that same-sex unions are a civil right, those governments almost certainly will enforce a wide variety of other policies intended to ensure that there is no discrimination against same-sex couples. This may well place "church and state on a collision course." [16] The prospect of same-sex marriage has already spawned legal collisions with the rights of free speech and of action based on religious beliefs. For example, advocates and government officials in certain states already are challenging the long-held right of religious adoption agencies to follow their religious beliefs and only place children in homes with both a mother and a father. As a result, Catholic Charities in Boston has stopped offering adoption services.Other advocates of same-sex marriage are suggesting that tax exemptions and benefits be withdrawn from any religious organization that does not embrace same-sex unions. [17] Public accommodation laws are already being used as leverage in an attempt to force religious organizations to allow marriage celebrations or receptions in religious facilities that are otherwise open to the public. Accrediting organizations in some instances are asserting pressure on religious schools and universities to provide married housing for same-sex couples. Student religious organizations are being told by some universities that they may lose their campus recognition and benefits if they exclude same-sex couples from club membership. [18] Many of these examples have already become the legal reality in several nations of the European Union, and the European Parliament has recommended that laws guaranteeing and protecting the rights of same-sex couples be made uniform across the EU. [19] Thus, if same-sex marriage becomes a recognized civil right, there will be substantial conflicts with religious freedom. And in some important areas, religious freedom may be diminished. So basically the advocates of same-sex marriage would try to make the church lose its non-profit organization designation, would try to force the church to allow marriages between same sex couples to take place in church buildings, try to force them to place children for adoption in same-sex couples homes, etc. The "law" would begin trying to dictate how churches should be run.
The
article also explains very eloquently the difference between tolerance and endorsing an action:
In today’s secular world, the idea of tolerance has come to mean something entirely different. Instead of love, it has come to mean condone – acceptance of wrongful behavior as the price of friendship. Jesus taught that we love and care for one another without condoning transgression. But today’s politically palatable definition insists that unless one accepts the sin he does not tolerate the sinner.
As Elder Dallin H. Oaks has explained,
Tolerance obviously requires a non-contentious manner of relating toward one another’s differences. But tolerance does not require abandoning one’s standards or one’s opinions on political or public policy choices. Tolerance is a way of reacting to diversity, not a command to insulate it from examination. [15]
Anyway, reading this and talking about it really made me think about how important it is to get involved and make sure that these amendments pass. I know most of you who read this blog are in states that don't have this as an issue this upcoming election, but if you want to donate money, or see what else you can do,
here is a website you can check out.
Sorry for the really long post. :)
So besides superglue, any suggestions for getting them to stay in? I just realized that her hair would fit into mini pigtails and these barrettes were all that I had around to try. I'm thinking mini rubber bands?
