Let Church Decide
- Print print this page
- Discuss 18 comments, Blog about
Advertisement
In regard to Kevin Smith’s opinion piece in your Sunday, Aug. 7 edition, any Christian church should be willing to baptize an infant regardless of the sexual orientation of the parents; he/she is a child of God.
There is a relatively simple solution for resolving the marriage problem, and a constitutional amendment is not needed. The state should reserve the right for only the legally binding commitment, and it should be called “union.” The state would have to grant it within current legal laws, regardless of the sexual orientation of the applicants.
This would eliminate churches making legally binding commitments; they would still have the right to marry people and it would be up to their discretion to marry people in same-sex relationships. Most denominations consider same-sex relationships sin, and thus only heterosexual couples could get married and receive God’s blessing on their relationship.
This would solve the problem of same-sex couples getting legal rights for their relationship.
Harald Steltzer
Aberdeen
More like this story
Advertisement
Comments
cornbread 1 year, 9 months ago
Everyone who agrees with this, please call Senator Harris Blake. Blake is supporting a constitutional amendment that would prohibit this idea.
TreadLightly 1 year, 9 months ago
Armies have corps, divisions, brigades, battalions, companies, platoons, squads and individual soldiers. Boy Scouts have regions, councils, districts, troops, patrols and individual scouts. Many organizations likewise follow the same "units within units" that goes back at least to Moses.
All religious considerations aside, our nation functions the same way. Nation, states, counties, cities, families and individuals. Each one has an important function, and in nearly every case, the most important unit is the SMALLEST ONE! (As in squad and family.) And that is the unit that is impacted by homosexual unions.
I could not say that it impacts our NATION, our STATE or our COUNTY, but when you get down to CITY or neighborhood, the kids on the streets show us the impact. The dopeheads, the gangs and the petty thieves are reminders that something is BAD wrong.
The fact that you can't send your small children to the playground by themselves shows that an important link in our chain is broken. I believe that link is that basic FAMILY unit that shpes the lives of young children. Experience has shown that the best way for a youn male to learn to be a REAL MAN is to grow up in the shadow of a REAL MAN.. Sorry, but homosexuals do not qualify for the role of of teaching young men how to be REAL FATHERS.
Natural causes and tragedies beyond our control break down some families, but in any case, children not raised in a complete family are at risk for ensueing "tragedy upon tragedy." Broken families should be the exception, rather than the model. Follow it to its logical conclusion, and ask what kind of world we would have if MOST families were homosexual unions.
Marxists need to destroy that family unit to advance their cause, and it appears that strategy is being followed in AMERICA. Homosexual unions are just the latest wrinkle in that strategy. What a national shame that so many churches aid and abet their cause.
JER 1 year, 9 months ago
To think I'm sharing citizenship in this country with the likes of TreadLightly makes me want to puke.
Hembloche 1 year, 9 months ago
Agreed 100%. Guess some people just need an outlet for their hatred and homosexuals happen to be the easy mark at this time. We'll look back in 20-30 years, from our cities on the moon, amazed that bigots like that so nonchalantly post this kind of nonsense.
RmeMP 1 year, 9 months ago
WoW... So according to you, he should just keep his personal beliefs to himself since you don't agree with them? While you obviously don't agree with them, he at least took a mature route of trying to explain his rationale, instead of simply saying, "wow gay people make me want to puke".
You see, this is the problem with you liberals (which we know from your previous posts you are) - you just CAN NOT have an adult discussion with someone you don't agree with.
I'm sorry "JER" if I hurt your feelings, I understand that you'll probably just take your ball and go home now...
JER 1 year, 9 months ago
My first inclination was to take my ball and make you eat it, but I learned in another of your posts that you were bullied as a child so I won't make you relive any of that. Any idiot can explain why he believes the moon is made of cheese but that does not make the moon a dairy product. I have tried in the past to take a mature tact with conservative, right wing, teahadist nut cases. It doesn't work when people have closed minds. Please excuse me while I throw up on you as well.
RmeMP 1 year, 9 months ago
number one - I would LOVE to see you "make me eat it" number two - Since I am not a "conservative, right wing, teahadist nut case", why don't you try holding a mature conversation with me? number three - After you are done throwing up on me, let me buy you a beer and walk you home to mommy so she can take care of you ;)
JER 1 year, 9 months ago
I would be very happy to have a mature conversation with you on this subject. So you will know where I stand on the matter, I am in favor of allowing people to love and wed whoever they choose. What's your opinion on the subject?
RmeMP 1 year, 9 months ago
ok JER, here is my opionion:
I beleieve that a "marriage" is a religious act, which joins a man and woman together in the eyes of god (who specifically says that a marriage is between a man and a woman).
I do NOT have a problem with a gay/lesbian couple being able to have some sort of "union" in the eyes of the state which gives them the same finanicial and law binding rights of a heterosexual "married" couple; as long as it is not called a "marriage".
I have NO problem with someone choosing to love someone else the same sex as them - that is my position.
Hembloche 1 year, 9 months ago
Out of curiosity do you believe that atheists should be allowed to be married? Since they don't believe in god, how can they be joined together "in the eyes of god"? How about Buddhists marrying Christians? HIndus and Muslims?
JER 1 year, 9 months ago
Excellent, we have expressed our opinions..
CaddieMaster 1 year, 9 months ago
Where did JER and Hembloche say Treadlightly should keep his ideas to himself? They just expressed disappointment that he had them and disagreed with them. You then make the problem into liberals in general, and imply that JER and Hembloche should be trying to have an "adult discussion" about what Treadlightly said? I really don't think it's quite the conservative vs liberal issue you're implying it is - I think I'm conservative about a lot of issues, but I certainly don't agree that homosexual unions or marriage is tearing at the fabric of society, and I certainly don't agree with the radical view (and these days it's in the minority) that Treadlightly espouses. In fact, conservatives - and we're hearing it from the Tea Party more these days - should be working to get the government out of the bedroom, and stop worrying about sexual orientation.
JER 1 year, 9 months ago
Thank you for your comments, CaddieMaster.
JER 1 year, 9 months ago
Thank you for your comments, CaddyMaster.
RmeMP 1 year, 9 months ago
ok... you said JER "disagreed" - I don't think, "To think I'm sharing citizenship in this country with the likes of TreadLightly makes me want to puke" is a way to "disagree" - it's childish and shows a weak mind who cannot properly express in words his feelings. BTW, if you think that Treadlightly's view is the minority, then why is gay marriage stay not allowed by law? (hint - his thinking is actually the MAJORITY)
my personal view on the subject has already been expressed in another one of these threads...Just because I am defending someone elses views, does not mean that I agree with them - I am simply respected his opinion to do so... and not respond childish like some do (JER).
JER 1 year, 9 months ago
I believe my comment very accurately described exactly how I felt about TreadLightly's comments. And since you are doing the "by the way" thing, there was a time in history when everyone thought the world was flat. Not a majority...everyone!! Guess what, that did not make the world flat. There was a time when a majority said owning slaves was OK, guess what, it is not OK. You can have whatever view you want to take about any subject. If I agree with you, I'll tell you. If I disagree, I'll tell you that, as well. When your view (like that expressed by TreadLightly), is so disgustingly repulsive, I'll let you know that it makes me sick to see someone that ignorant.
carlj1161 1 year, 9 months ago
So what constitutes a "real man"? Does a "real man" hate people who aren't like him? Does a "real man" have no tolerance for other people's beliefs and decisions? Does a "real man" hate anybody? Is a "real man" perfect? And who appointed you as the one who defines what a real man is? And who appointed you as the one who decides what a family is? Is a mom, dad, 2.5 children and a dog named spot a perfect family? or Is a loving parent(s) who care and love their children a family? Let the church decide? Tell me what church you go to so I can stay away from it. I want my daughter to grow up with an open mind and an open heart. I want her to learn to at least respect everyone, no matter how they choose to live their lives. I have met a lot of people in my line of work who have "same sex" partners. Let me tell you I would trust them more so than some of the so called "Christians" I have met around here.
Hembloche 1 year, 9 months ago
Word.
JER 1 year, 9 months ago
Thank you for your comments, carlj1161.
coffecreme 1 year, 9 months ago
I do not think the church can make a legal binding commitment. They can perform the ceremony but it then has to be registered in the state in order to make it a legal binding commitment. I know of a few around here that had a minister "marry" them and it was not registered. Thus they felt married in the eyes of God but for legal purposes it was not legally binding.