The churches ARE able to do that. And they do every day, they can deny marrying a couple if they don't want to, unlike justices of the peace. Which is why this "fear" is ridiculous.
Yet they still fear lawsuits due to the way this law could affect other laws on the books. Obviously they're concerned, yet you blindly assume their concerns are unfounded.Your reaction is irrational and knee-jerk. You are not even trying to consider their positions. You made up your mind before you even read the article.--Either way they cannot be sued for "refusing gay marriages" as in the article headline, but for refusing to hold civil parternships in churches.---Oh that makes it's ok then! Their religion forbids homosexuality! Don't you get it!? Forcing them to officiate over any ceremony celebrating a homosexual relationship infringes on their right to practice their religion however they want.
--- but this comment reveals you to be just as indoctrinated and blibkered as the rest of the right on digg.--The only side indoctrinated on digg on the leftists, and their knee-jerk hatred of all things 'right-wing'.--First up - from the article - "The amendment states that national faith groups will not be forced to carry out civil partnerships. " This whole thing is just more paranoia from the church in England - there is no story here.---That's your opinion. In the opinion of the churches, there is a real possibility this law would give leeway for gay lobbyists to sue churches that refuse to perform homosexual marriage ceremonies.---Second what is that list you just spouted?*the most surveillance in western EuropeSo? Explain to me why thats bad again?---Every one is watched, yet the crime rate is the highest in western Europe. The point is, the UK is tightly controlled by the government and dysfunctional.---The crime rates are high because they are pushed up by burglary - a byproduct of being a wealthy nation.---All of western Europe is wealthy.---In terms of violent crime the US is way higher - the murder rate in London is 2.9 per 100,000 compared with 8.6 per 100,000 in New York and 49.15 per 100,000 in Washington DC.---That's because murder is endemic in the US inner city, due to very high homicide rates among the black minority. Homicide in the British black community is similarly far higher than the national average. The US just happens to have a larger black minority.---*the most lenient criminal justice system for real criminals in western EuropeDefine real criminals.---People who rob and attack others. For example, a British business man was arrested for beating a man who broke into his home and tied up his family. The intruder and FIFTY previous convictions:<a class="user" href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/6811239/Businessman-jailed-for-attacking-intruder-who-goes-free.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politic ...</a>---*the most tyrannical laws that punish peaceful citizens in western EuropeCItation needed.---<a class="user" href="http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/0,1000000085,40057470,00.htm?tag=mncol;txt" rel="nofollow">http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/0,100000008 ...</a>---*the most socialized health care system in western EuropeBy socialised do you mean best? The NHS covers the entire population, for free. ---It has the lowest cancer rate in western Europe.
you seem unclear about a lot of things; i have yet to ascertain whether it is through ignorance or intent. regardless, you also seem to have quite the chip on your shoulder. it's quite off-putting.
I'm gay, and I think that taking legal action to force churches to perform your marriage is atrocious. Why would I want to be married by an organization that hates me?
sageerrantMar 4, 2010
They fear that they can be sued.But they can't be sued. Their fears are unfounded and worthy of ridicule.
lydeckerMar 4, 2010
The churches ARE able to do that. And they do every day, they can deny marrying a couple if they don't want to, unlike justices of the peace. Which is why this "fear" is ridiculous.
thecoolestguyMar 5, 2010
Yet they still fear lawsuits due to the way this law could affect other laws on the books. Obviously they're concerned, yet you blindly assume their concerns are unfounded.Your reaction is irrational and knee-jerk. You are not even trying to consider their positions. You made up your mind before you even read the article.--Either way they cannot be sued for "refusing gay marriages" as in the article headline, but for refusing to hold civil parternships in churches.---Oh that makes it's ok then! Their religion forbids homosexuality! Don't you get it!? Forcing them to officiate over any ceremony celebrating a homosexual relationship infringes on their right to practice their religion however they want.
thecoolestguyMar 5, 2010
--- but this comment reveals you to be just as indoctrinated and blibkered as the rest of the right on digg.--The only side indoctrinated on digg on the leftists, and their knee-jerk hatred of all things 'right-wing'.--First up - from the article - "The amendment states that national faith groups will not be forced to carry out civil partnerships. " This whole thing is just more paranoia from the church in England - there is no story here.---That's your opinion. In the opinion of the churches, there is a real possibility this law would give leeway for gay lobbyists to sue churches that refuse to perform homosexual marriage ceremonies.---Second what is that list you just spouted?*the most surveillance in western EuropeSo? Explain to me why thats bad again?---Every one is watched, yet the crime rate is the highest in western Europe. The point is, the UK is tightly controlled by the government and dysfunctional.---The crime rates are high because they are pushed up by burglary - a byproduct of being a wealthy nation.---All of western Europe is wealthy.---In terms of violent crime the US is way higher - the murder rate in London is 2.9 per 100,000 compared with 8.6 per 100,000 in New York and 49.15 per 100,000 in Washington DC.---That's because murder is endemic in the US inner city, due to very high homicide rates among the black minority. Homicide in the British black community is similarly far higher than the national average. The US just happens to have a larger black minority.---*the most lenient criminal justice system for real criminals in western EuropeDefine real criminals.---People who rob and attack others. For example, a British business man was arrested for beating a man who broke into his home and tied up his family. The intruder and FIFTY previous convictions:<a class="user" href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/6811239/Businessman-jailed-for-attacking-intruder-who-goes-free.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politic ...</a>---*the most tyrannical laws that punish peaceful citizens in western EuropeCItation needed.---<a class="user" href="http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/0,1000000085,40057470,00.htm?tag=mncol;txt" rel="nofollow">http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/0,100000008 ...</a>---*the most socialized health care system in western EuropeBy socialised do you mean best? The NHS covers the entire population, for free. ---It has the lowest cancer rate in western Europe.
lydeckerMar 5, 2010
What? I was not lying in order to further any agenda. Could you please cite what you are referring to?And here we can see that private churches are exempt from ENDA. Maybe I wasn't clear that I was referring to ENDA when talking about non-discrimination legislation, because you seemed to disagree. My apologies for being unclear:<a class="user" href="http://www.civilrights.org/lgbt/enda/religious-exemption.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.civilrights.org/lgbt/enda/religious-exe ...</a>And it appears in the UK they do have a similar exemption when it comes to this:<a class="user" href="http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=88880" rel="nofollow">http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=88880</a>Anyway, the facts are that no church has ever, nor will ever, be forced to perform a marriage.And you can bet I have a problem with many of the politically driven religious right, and can condemn their fear-mongering.
civsMar 6, 2010
you seem unclear about a lot of things; i have yet to ascertain whether it is through ignorance or intent. regardless, you also seem to have quite the chip on your shoulder. it's quite off-putting.
geewillie86Mar 19, 2010
I'm gay, and I think that taking legal action to force churches to perform your marriage is atrocious. Why would I want to be married by an organization that hates me?