The leadership of several religious groups, including the Presbyterian, Lutheran and Episcopal churches, has sent an open letter to Congress opposing the Federal Marriage Amendment that would ban gay marriages nationwide:
"Although we have differing opinions on rights for same-sex couples, we believe the Federal Marriage Amendment reflects a fundamental disregard for individual civil rights and ignores differences among our nation's many religious traditions," the letter said. The United Church of Christ and the Unitarian Universalist Association, which recognize same-sex marriages, also signed the letter. So did representatives of the Anti-Defamation League, the Union for Reform Judaism, the liberal Alliance of Baptists and the Quakers.The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, helped orchestrate the letter. As United Church of Christ minister, he said, "I am disturbed that even though I can perform a religious ritual to unite a same-gender couple, the state won't recognize it because some different religious group thinks I am theologically wrong."
I am often accused by those whose views I oppose, namely the religious right, of being "anti-Christian" or "anti-religious", but that accusation betrays their own presumptuousness in thinking that they alone speak for Christianity. There are many moderate and rational voices within the religious community, and they stand beside me in arguing against the theocratic and authoritarian views of the religious right.
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In general I agree with your point...but I would not characterize the Roman Catholic Church as religious right even if it could be construed as theocratic and certainly authoritarian. And yet the Catholic Churcha has taken a strong position against any marriage other than the traditional one. There are probably a number of moderate and rational voices against gay marriage; most would undoubtedly support civil unions for same sex couples. They have taken a principled stand. Some of the culture war that seems to be occuring does so because we demonize our opponents...in matters big and small. Here the priciples no longer compete and ad hominem arguments flourish.
In general I agree with your point...but I would not characterize the Roman Catholic Church as religious right even if it could be construed as theocratic and certainly authoritarian. And yet the Catholic Churcha has taken a strong position against any marriage other than the traditional one.
The Catholic Church is a mixed bag. I do not generally consider them part of the religious right, though there are obviously some Catholics who belong in that group - Pat Buchanan, Paul Weyrich, Cal Thomas.
There are probably a number of moderate and rational voices against gay marriage; most would undoubtedly support civil unions for same sex couples. They have taken a principled stand.
If there are moderate and rational voices against gay marriage, I have not heard them. All of the arguments against gay marriage that I have seen are purely emotional and entirely illogical.