“That’s a false choice,,, this guys job is to teach and convince, not to create law enforcing his belief.”
What if the Orthodox Priest believes it is a sin to murder? Should he encourage laws against it?
What if he believes it is a sin to steal? Shall he work for that to be illegal?
What moral beliefs is he allowed to want reflected in the civil code, and what moral beliefs are excluded?
Trite argument. Murder and theft are crimes against the rights of a specific individual, THAT is why they are codified. Athiest and saved both agree that they dont want to be murdered or be the victim of theft.
But this guy wants women to dress in a way that satisfies his religion. Her wearing a short skirt “doesn’t pick a pocket, nor break a bone”.
Thats why he shouldn’t expect to get a LAW. Maybe i dont like to see a man in a dress,, should there be a law that he can’t walk around in womens clothes? My preacher wears pants, like a man. See the problem?
“What moral beliefs is he allowed to want reflected in the civil code, and what moral beliefs are excluded?”
An example would be church attendance, or maybe fasting for lent, or maybe women working outside the home. He might have sincere and theologically correct positions on those issues,,, but i believe he would be morally wrong to try to codify them into civil law. Thats not for him to IMPOSE on those outside his flock.
OTOH, When there is a violation of a persons individual rights, such as murder or theft, we write a law.
Your only defense is to become a theocrat or collectivist. That church should rule temporally, or that the collective is the most important unit of rights. (the same argument the anti-gun crowd uses to attack the 2nd amendment)