Menu
ReligiousLiberty.TV / Founders' First Freedom®
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Articles
ReligiousLiberty.TV / Founders' First Freedom®

OPINION: Gay Rights and Religious Liberty (Los Angeles Times)

Posted on June 17, 2008 by ReligiousLiberty.TV

The Los Angeles Times today published an article by Marc D. Stern of the American Jewish Congress describing the impact that gay marriage might have on religious organizations. A link follows these excerpts:

In its controversial decision, the [California Supreme Court] insisted that these same-sex marriages would not “diminish any other person’s constitutional rights” or “impinge upon the religious freedom of any religious organization, official or any other person.” Religious liberty would be unaffected, the chief justice wrote, because no member of the clergy would be compelled to officiate at a same-sex ceremony and no church could be compelled to change its policies or practices.

And yet there is substantial reason to believe that these assurances about the safety of religious liberty are either wrong or reflect a cramped view of religion.

Stern then describes examples where religious rights and gay rights sometimes come into conflict, including the fertility clinic case. Stern concludes:

Given the array of church views on homosexuality, and the number of secular organizations offering social services to same-sex couples, allowing religious groups opposed to same-sex marriage to put that opposition into practice beyond the sanctuary is not likely to often seriously impede anyone.

Concurring in the May 15 California marriage judgment, Justice Joyce L. Kennard observed that the court’s most important role was to preserve constitutional rights “from obliteration by the majority.”

If past rulings are any guide, it is religious rights that are likely to be “obliterated” by an emerging popular majority supporting same-sex relationships — and it seems unlikely that the California courts will intervene. That’s a shame.

Read the full article at http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-stern17-2008jun17,0,6772243.story

 

  • American Jewish Congress
  • Civil Rights
  • fertility clinic
  • free exercise of religion
  • gay marriage
  • Marc D. Stern
  • Opinion
  • religious rights
  • Tweets by RelLibertyTV

    Recent Posts

    • Learn About US Government and Liberty of Conscience in the Nation's Capitol: New Course for Adventist High School Students Gives College Credit

      Learn About US Government and Liberty of Conscience in the Nation's Capitol: New Course for Adventist High School Students Gives College Credit

      March 28, 2023
    • Founders’ First Freedom files Amicus Brief in US Supreme Court in Support of Workplace Religious Freedom

      Founders’ First Freedom files Amicus Brief in US Supreme Court in Support of Workplace Religious Freedom

      March 26, 2023
    • U.S. District Court Dismisses Hunter v. US Dept of Education Lawsuit

      U.S. District Court Dismisses Hunter v. US Dept of Education Lawsuit

      February 5, 2023
    • Colorado Court: Baker Must Provide "Non-Expressive" Cake to Transgender Customer

      Colorado Court: Baker Must Provide "Non-Expressive" Cake to Transgender Customer

      January 30, 2023
    • Supreme Court to Hear Christian Postal Employee Religious Discrimination Claim - Groff v. DeJoy

      Supreme Court to Hear Christian Postal Employee Religious Discrimination Claim - Groff v. DeJoy

      January 13, 2023

    We are not a law firm, do not provide any legal services, legal advice or “lawyer referral services” and do not provide or participate in any legal representation.

    ©2023 ReligiousLiberty.TV / Founders' First Freedom® | WordPress Theme by Superb Themes
    Manage Cookie Consent
    To provide the best experience, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent may adversely affect certain features and functions.
    Functional Always active
    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
    Preferences
    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
    Statistics
    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
    Marketing
    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
    Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
    View preferences
    {title} {title} {title}