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Mormon Church To US Supreme Court: Ban Gay Marriage

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Ingledsva

HEATHEN ALASKAN
The Catholic church should be allowed to place children in Catholic homes, where that religion is practiced. There's nothing wrong with a parent using an adoption agency that matches their values, when placing their own child up for adoption.

No they shouldn't be able to drop the number of possible parents.

Same-sex couples, non-religious couples, couples in religions they don't approve of, etc.

They have an adoption agency license. That license comes with rules and laws.

If they don't want to follow them - then give up the license.

*
 

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber & Business Owner
In your opinion there's no value in raising a child up Catholic. But that's not your call. It's the parent's call.
I am saying when it comes to a child who needs a home, it only hurts the child to bicker over such things and install such barriers and obstacles.
A good rule of thumb is anything that holds children as political or social pawns, any time they are put into the middle of needless cross-fire, it is not good for a child. Sure, you don't want to let pedophiles or drug dealers adopt, but if someone is able to provide for the needs of a child in a safe environment, there is absolutely no reason to bar them from adopting.
 

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
No it is not. Let me rephrase your sentence to make it more accurate,

"According to our beliefs, we cannot support homosexuality. Therefore, we cannot allow you to adopt any of the children from this institution. We will, however, recommend other agencies that would be able to help you find a child to adopt. God bless and have a nice day."

If you believe that that is "foisting" a belief on someone, then I would also be guilty of "foisting" my belief about alcohol on those who come knocking on my door asking for some? I am "foisting" my belief that drinking alcohol is sinful if I tell them I have none and point them in the direction of where they could get some?

So, when someone tries to bum a cigarette off me, when I confess not to have a cigarette, I am "foisting" my beliefs concerning tobacco on that person? They can cry out, "Discrimination?"
For a truly accurate analogy, you would have to have freely accepted a job to give away cigarettes, and instead of distributing the cigarettes in accordance with your agreed terms of employment, you give them to your friends. You also refuse to quit (despite not doing your job properly) but still demand your paycheque.

THAT would capture what's really going on when Catholic abortion agencies refuse to place children with same-sex-parented families.
 

Serenity7855

Lambaster of the Angry Anti-Theists
I don't discredit Christianity. I only discredit the sort of short-sighted and egocentric, entitled self-indulgence that masquerades as "true Christianity" -- the sort that causes people to perpetuate the systemic violence in the name of "righteousness" that Jesus decried.

And how do you judge who is a true Christian? Did you use inductive reasoning, as I did?

You have no idea who I am, or what I have or have not experienced.

Yes, I do. I have read your post.
It's obvious to anyone with a brain stem that one who is a member of the clergy would have had significant and deep spiritual formation and is intimately acquainted with the Spirit and how it works, both in the lives of people and the church.

It matters not whether you are a clergy or a member of the congregation. In order to receive the testimony of the Holy Ghost one must be living as righteously as possible. You must be worthy and striving to live a Christ center lifestyle. Being a clergy does not absolve you from having to fulfill the same criteria as anyone else. I was a member of the clergy for 25 years but I received the testimony of the Holy Ghost long before I was a Bishop. You are using your position to exalt yourself.

One of my favorite scriptures reflects upon this very nicely

34 Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?

35 Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—

39 We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.

40 Hence many are called, but few are chosen.

Often, the Spirit unsettles us, rather than makes us comfortable. One thing the Spirit never does is put a truth upon us that serves to dehumanize any minority person, as you have consistently demonstrated here.

You misrepresent me. It is your post that is full of anger and unnecessary insults against me, like "if anyone with a brain stem". I have not condemned any minority group. I have made it clear that sexual perversion is a sin, however, two people who love each other can only be good. I have not condemned the sinner in anyway, I have condemned the sin. You are bearing false witness, why, I do not know.
Your ad hominem here is not a conviction on your part, but a cheap attempt at provocation. It won't work.
.
You call it Ad hominem because you do not comprehend what I am saying and why. I am voicing an opinion that you have never been privi to the prompting of the Holy Ghost and I base my opinion on the poor attitude that is more then prevalent in all of your posts here. That you find it offensive is because the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center. The light of Christ is given to every man. When the wicked hear the word of God as taught by the Spirit, the light of Christ swells within. This causes a painful conflict between the truth and the spirit of rebellion. This concept is taught with the imagery of the sword which represents the word of God, For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow (Heb 4:12)

I have a high degree of confidence in my own spiritual formation, and cannot be shaken by such obvious and vulgar tactics. Sorry -- no sale here, Skeezix

I am sure that you do have a high degree of confidence in your spiritual formation. I believe it is called egocentric narcissism, it certainly bears no resemblance to humility.

I just speak that which I believe is true. I use no tactics.

You must know that to say to me that I used "obvious and vulgar tactics." is the words of someone with a hostile attitude and is an attack on me rather then the topic of debate. It is what you accuse me of ad hominem. We call that hypocritical.

It would seem as though you can't refute my arguments and have no other riposte but to intimate that I'm not a "real Christian." The only claim I've made is that the Holy Spirit does not trump critical textual study.

I have refuted every indictment that you have made against my opinion. Every point that you have made in contradiction of my opinion has been vindicated by me. I have stated that you cannot be a practicing Christian because of your obvious hostile mannerism. A Christian would know that when Jesus arrived on this earth He fulfilled the Mosaic Laws in the beatitudes and at some point of His mission here he instigated the everlasting Abrahamic Covenant. That is my opinion that has been gleaned from your posts here.

What are you trying to say here "trump critical textual study". Are you trying to be clever or are you trying to belittle me. Only what you are saying is lost in you meaningless phraseology.

You'd be the first such person who has never doubted.

Words in my mouth. I didn't say that I never doubt, I just don't act on it and give it no time.

It would seem obvious that your own inner struggle has resulted in "analysis" of one whom you don't know that is tenuous at best, and embarrassing for you at most.

Which inner struggle do you refer to.

I'm not bringing doubt upon it -- only pointing out your hubris.

That you call me arrogant shows your bad judgement of character and adds another insult (ad hominem) to your already lengthy list. But I will not defend it for fear of being supercilious
I know hyperbole when I see it.

I recognize a thesaurus when I see it being used as well. You could have just said exaggeration.[/QUOTE]
 
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Serenity7855

Lambaster of the Angry Anti-Theists
So god is an exclusivist who only picks those whom he deems worthy to share in eternal secrets and esoteric messages? I thought he "so loved the world?" That it wasn't an issue of him choosing, but of us accepting?

God does not pick us, we pick Him.
 

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber & Business Owner
*facepalm*

I may not be able to get married in Australia, but I am glad I am not American right now.
It just depends on where you're at in America. Where I'm at, for example, the want to preserve the "rights of sincerely held religious beliefs" to discriminate against homosexuals up to the point of refusing to work with them, they want to criminalize transsexuals students using restrooms, locker rooms, and other gender-segregated facilities that are appropriate for their identified and presented-sex, and in one bill that would have granted civil rights, gender identity and expression was utterly and entirely absent from the bill. But it tends to not be like that in-and-around the larger metropolis areas long the North-Eastern coastal/New England area (but they get bitter nasty winters which is the reason I'm not moving there), and along the West coast. From what I've heard, pretty much the intolerant are the only ones not tolerated in such places. Which is just fine with me because I am so sick and tired of people showing intolerance towards me, and others, over even the most trivial and petty crap, which includes not believing in the Christian god and even going as far to question and challenge the Bible, and it's just a normal part of life. There are many Hispanic immigrants here, but they are generally treated and thought poorly of, which drives me nuts, it's very typical for anyone who is black, especially young black men, to be viewed as thugs, and anyone who even looks remotely Middle Eastern is automatically an Arabic Muslim who supports terrorism.
I guess one way of putting would be that it's kind a like online gaming, in that the coastal areas tend to be more of the civilized and respectful PC players, whereas the "heartland" and "MidWest" areas are more like console gaming where you are far more likely to have a run-in with an ugly gamer/American.
 

dgirl1986

Big Queer Chesticles!
It just depends on where you're at in America. Where I'm at, for example, the want to preserve the "rights of sincerely held religious beliefs" to discriminate against homosexuals up to the point of refusing to work with them, they want to criminalize transsexuals students using restrooms, locker rooms, and other gender-segregated facilities that are appropriate for their identified and presented-sex, and in one bill that would have granted civil rights, gender identity and expression was utterly and entirely absent from the bill. But it tends to not be like that in-and-around the larger metropolis areas long the North-Eastern coastal/New England area (but they get bitter nasty winters which is the reason I'm not moving there), and along the West coast. From what I've heard, pretty much the intolerant are the only ones not tolerated in such places. Which is just fine with me because I am so sick and tired of people showing intolerance towards me, and others, over even the most trivial and petty crap, which includes not believing in the Christian god and even going as far to question and challenge the Bible, and it's just a normal part of life. There are many Hispanic immigrants here, but they are generally treated and thought poorly of, which drives me nuts, it's very typical for anyone who is black, especially young black men, to be viewed as thugs, and anyone who even looks remotely Middle Eastern is automatically an Arabic Muslim who supports terrorism.
I guess one way of putting would be that it's kind a like online gaming, in that the coastal areas tend to be more of the civilized and respectful PC players, whereas the "heartland" and "MidWest" areas are more like console gaming where you are far more likely to have a run-in with an ugly gamer/American.

That seems less bad in my head now :)
 

Scott C.

Just one guy
For the reasons stated. They are breaking their contract, - and the law, - with these discriminations, - and religious only placements.

I agree that they should obey the law. It's such a law that I have a problem with. It's ridiculous to prevent a religious organization from having an adoption license, simply because they want to place children within their value system.

The law allows gay marriage and gay adoption. I'm perfectly fine with gays going to government adoption agencies (who must allow this) or to private agencies who accept it. I wish them well.

What next? Are you going to deny churches the legal right to perform marriages if they won't perform gay marriages for religious reasons? Is that what's next down this line of reasoning? Some say, oh no, that won't happen, but that's how absurd this line of thinking can become.

I'm not sure if you're suggesting that parents should not be able to select any characteristics they want for the adoptive parents. The natural parents ARE the parents until parenthood is legally transferred. The absurdity level is off the charts to deny a parent such a basic right.

What's next down this path of reasoning? Deny a parent the right to raise their children in the religion of their choosing? Is the government going to decide that it's immoral to teach your children anything religious which can't be proven by the quorum of scientists assigned to monitor parents and religion? Sounds absurd? It won't surprise me.

Are children going to be removed from the homes of families where the parents teach that premarital sex is a sin? I mean I'm sure there are scientific publications (yes with peer review) that show that abstinence is unhealthy. After all, it's only by the good grace of the government that you're allowed to keep your children at all.

Let's see, and then we could pass a law that churches can't teach that adultery is a sin. Think of all the unhappy spouses who cheat out of desperation. Then they get all depressed with guilt. That darn church induced guilt. And that increases the mental health problems in our country, which costs us all money. So you see, when a church teaches that adultery is a sin, it negatively impacts all of us and we have a social duty to put a stop to it for the good of all. No organization should be allowed to preach such hate!

Sounds impossible? I'm paranoid? We're well on our way.
 
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JoStories

Well-Known Member
Why should a public school, which I help fund, teach what I consider offensive?

Why would I need to “avoid” this? Can’t the school accommodate me and my children?

Why would my children need to go somewhere else?

What about my children? Are they less than yours in that you want your Christian ideals taught in that school and you don't want my Buddhist path taught. What kind of hypocrisy is that? You want that school to accommodate your children and you say that your tax dollars pay for that school, but so do mine. Why should that make me less or my children forced to endure your Christian ideals? How is that fair?
 

JoStories

Well-Known Member
Forcing a Church to offer services to those they deem unworthy, according to their doctrine and interpretation of scripture, is not religious freedom.*(You only quoted this portion)

The State is trying to force the Church to change their definitions of what a “marriage” and “family” are, which would change their doctrine.

For people claiming to want “freedom”, they don’t seem to understand that that should apply to people you disagree with too. Same-sex couples are free to choose other organizations to receive adoption services. Why demand that a religion conform to their way of thinking? “My way or the highway”?

I personally don't believe any church should be forced to do anything that is contrary to their beliefs. You do have that right to believe as you wish and no one should force you otherwise. However, that being said, the state is not trying to change the definition of what marriage and family are. All that happened is that the SCOTUS agreed that consenting adults of the same sex can marry. That's all. I don't believe that a church should be forced to do anything that runs contrary to their beliefs but you don't get to define what marriage and family are for me. I support and would defend your right to disagree but I also would expect that you would defend my rights in kind. If not, then that would be truly hypocritical.
 

JoStories

Well-Known Member
I contend that the refusal to recognize “same-sex marriage” is not discriminatory at all.

I challenge you to share cases of discrimination in regards to this issue and I bet the only cases of true discrimination were caused by someone’s personal opinion and action and was not endorsed by the actual doctrine of any religio

You are aware that it is discriminatory to refuse gays services outside the church or in any workplace, etc. I have personally brought these kinds of actions to my supervisors when someone said something that was out of line. Discrimination is treating me differently based on my sexual orientation. It is the same as discrimination based on skin color. Where it pertains to SSM would only be with someone who is a JP or other official who would refuse a gay couple. If your church wants to deny a couple, fine. I would go elsewhere. In any other scenario, it would be discriminatory.
 
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