[mrobison]

I think this is more important than it appears. If marriage between same sex couples is sanctioned and becomes the law of the land, it will eventually be illegal for ANY church to refuse to perform such ceremonies. Who wants their church to lose the ability to perform ALL marriages because they take a stand against this?

[El Gato]

Who wants their church to lose the ability to perform ALL marriages because they take a stand against this?

I doubt that would happen. If nothing else you could do what people in Mexico do, where the State does not empower the clergy to perform legal marriage ceremonies. Peole just have two ceremonies, one in the church, one before a civil magistrate, or clerk whatever, the equivalent of getting married by a Justice of the Peace. For legal purposes only the civil marriage counts. The other one, if you choose to have one, is between you, the clergy of your choice, and God.

Because my daughter and her husband are of different faiths, they chose a minister of a third to perform their ceremony. I think he is younger than they are, in fact I'm sure he is.

[Luis Gonzalez]

It will not be illegal for Churchs noty to perform gay marriages, it is a direct violation of their religious beliefs, a point easily proven.

Here's the thing.

We cannot both continue to demand that the Feds stay out of our Churches, and that they enforce our religious beliefs in the form of Amendments, Laws, and statutes.

Trust the Founders, and allow the issue to be decided by the States.

[Dave S]

If marriage between same sex couples is sanctioned and becomes the law of the land, it will eventually be illegal for ANY church to refuse to perform such ceremonies. Who wants their church to lose the ability to perform ALL marriages because they take a stand against this?

What a crock. The state has Justices of the Peace who can perform marriage. A minister is not required for the marriage to be legal. The state can not force a church to perform a ceremony that they find blasphemous. Ever hear of the First Amendment? That protects the church against just such actions. Try thinking before you engage your mouth.