Churches Trying to Influence Courts

Rick Rojas reports at LATimes that "Christian and Jewish Clergy Voice Support For Gay-Marriage Ruling". Well, yeah. You can find clergy that supports or opposes just about anything.

A dozen Christian and Jewish clergy offered support Wednesday for a U.S. District Court ruling in August that found California's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional.

It's not a ban. But hey, a whole dozen clergy can't be wrong!

At a Los Angeles news conference, the group said it planned to file an amicus brief in support of Judge Vaughn Walker's decision to strike down Proposition 8, the 2008 initiative that banned gay marriage.

It's not a ban. And it is a state constitutional amendment. Does everyone who files an amicus brief hold a press conference? Would the Los Angeles Times cover a news conference held by twelve clergy supporting the bride+groom requirement in state marriage licensing?

Representatives from the Los Angeles Episcopal diocese, the United Church of Christ, the Progressive Jewish Alliance and other liberal religious groups spoke of marriage equality as part of religious freedom Wednesday in the gathering at the St. Paul Cathedral Center, the Episcopal diocese headquarters.

"Marriage equality"? It isn't. It is marriage neutering. As far as religious freedom - haven't we been told we have to keep religion out of this? Aren't churches supposed to stay out of this? I'll be waiting for the other marriage neutering advocates to condemn this involvement by these clergy, and demand an investigation into their organizations. I'm sure a critical documentary is right around the corner, as well as derisive plays.

The Rev. Fernando Santillana, pastor of Norwalk United Methodist Church, called it a Christian responsibility to speak up for equality.

Neutering state marriage licensing is not a matter of equality. We already have equal treatment of individuals. Actions and associations that are not equal are not to be treated equally by laws.

"We are all divine creations. Some are heterosexual and some are not. But we are all God's creatures," Santillana said.

I agree, but that does not require the neutering of state marriage licensing.

"We have to be the voice that speaks for God in a society that is divided."

Looking over the Christian Scriptures, I see that the God Santillana claims to represent has already made it clear that marriage is something that always unites a bride and a groom.