Posted on 06/26/2015 7:10:25 PM PDT by NYer
Most were not surprised by the Supreme Court decision today. Court watchers who had attended the hearings earlier this year were rather certain that the mood of the court was to find a constitutional right to marriage and extend it to those with same-sex attraction.
I am not a lawyer and will not therefore speak to the legal demerits of this decision. Others, including the minority on the Court, can speak to that.
But as a citizen I wonder how we have come to a place in our legal and legislative system where unelected judges for life, who in effect answer to no one, can make such increasingly common and sweeping decisions regarding basic human institutions.
Increasingly in our nation, many are beginning to feel quite powerless over the most basic aspects of their life. Governmental decisions in both the executive and judicial branches of government are eclipsing and overruling plebiscites and laws crafted by and enacted by elected legislators, who are answerable to the American people. Judges are imposing, often at brisk speed, sweeping changes with little opportunity for appeal or redress. The wide use of executive power by presidents has also become wide and sweeping in the same matters.
The balance of power has shifted dramatically toward the judicial branch and judges who “know better” than the American people or their elected legislators.
Clearly there's a place for judicial review of laws and policies. But it's increasingly evident that the judicial activism of recent decades is way out of balance.
Sadly, both conservatives and liberals have often had recourse to courts for matters that really should have been handled in the giveand-take of the legislative process. Too many people have preferred to gamble with judicial fiats, rather than building political consensus.
(Excerpt) Read more at ncregister.com ...
“Not actually. The sexual degenerates are being used by the father of lies to destroy a major obstacle for his planned global rule.”
^^^^^^ This.
In provinces and countries with strong hate speech laws that is no longer possible. Has nothing to do with tax-free status or not. Coming here within six months.
1/3 of the SCOTUS is queer, apparently. Them that knew that knew it was a slam dunk.
As a matter of law, religious organizations are exempt from income tax and are exempt from reporting financial information and limits IRS examinations. If recognized as 501(c) then contributions are deductible as itemized deductions by contributors.
I don’t feel that the government can easily remove that exemption for exercising their religious beliefs. To some extent they may be able to if engaged in campaigning for political candidates. However, this has not been fully tested against 1st amendment rights.Many of the cases concerning health care and abortion has been held for religious freedom . Some are still pending. Even the political aspects have not seem even handed as many democratic leaning churches have been very political.
However, if the federal government provides government funds services such as adoptions, hospitals, etc, then the government can stop these payments claiming discrimination.
But an out of control government and judiciary seems to be able to do what they want.
This is not God’s will. God has given us free will to turn our backs on God and sin.
The culture will make it more difficult to follow God’s will. We are only here temporarily. We need to endure like Christ did, so that we join Him for eternal life.
Just remember that love conquers more than hate does.
....Or you will see places of worship quit the tax exemption thing first, thus freeing it.
Look for more churches to go that route.
We will not turn it around despite our best Human efforts.
That doesn't stop me from opining on FR or making donations to the Cruz campaign, but I am not deluded into thinking we will change all God's Plans for our Eternity with Him.
God Bless
If a state’s delegation doesn’t like the new amendment, vote it down. It is the last hope. If an Article V Convention fails, the Republic is lost.
We recently began a Patrician discussion group at our parish one member hit the nail on the head when he said that the vast majority of our society (including himself) is lazy, ignorant, or apathetic. They don't know what is going on, and worse they don't care that they don't know.
You left off marrying the toaster (Paraphilia)
I would hope and pray that you are wrong, but in my heart I fear you are 100% correct.
bkmk
If you are among the many Americans of whatever sexual orientation who favor expanding same-sex marriage, by all means celebrate todays decision, Chief Justice Roberts wrote. Celebrate the achievement of a desired goal. Celebrate the opportunity for a new expression of commitment to a partner,” Chief Justice Roberts.
[[Stop blaming God.]]
I Blamed God? Where? Nothing in that quote you posted shows me blaming God for anything and you apparently completely missed the point I was making about the comparison between today’s society and Sodom-
You are absolutely right. Listened to Rush Limbaugh yesterday. He has been saying the same thing for a long time. The gay actor who played the part of Mr. Sulu on Star Trek was interviewed on CNN. Rush played portions of that interview:
Oh, and, by the way, for those of you who think that you will still have access to the freedom of religion clause in the First Amendment? You won't for long. Grab audio sound bite 23. George Takei who played, what was it, Mr. Sulu on Star Trek? Star Trek, exactly right. Star Trek. Mr. Sulu. Anyway, he's a gay activist, George Takei on CNN. The bespectacled Ashleigh Banfield said, "There's so much left to be said regarding the actual process..."See? It's never a win. It's never over.
There is never happiness on the left. It's fleeting and temporary, and it is the case with gay marriage, because Ms. Banfield said, "While the Supreme Court has had its say, there's still a lot of messy work that needs to be done in at least 20 of those states that still recognize those bans." There is? I thought this meant that we were all aligned, we were all together, and there was love just breaking out all over the country. I thought all that was at stake here was some people who were denied marriage because of their sexual orientation, just wanted to be accepted.
They just wanted to be included.
They want their dignity to be recognized.
But it's about much more than that, as you and I well know. It's not about being accepted. It's about forcing. It's about redefining. The use of force is involved here -- intimidation, bullying, what have you -- and George Takei signals there's more to come. The rest of her question is this: "Those states, George, they still need to be challenged. So is the work of gay activist over or do you still see this as a challenge to the finish line?"
TAKEI: Indeed we see it as a challenge. It's going to be a -- a new challenge. But we are very mindful of that challenge that still remains. They are now -- some of these, um, states, are -- going to try to use the, uh, shroud of religious freedom. I believe in religious freedom, and people who argue that are entitled to their freedom. But they do not have the freedom to impose their religious values on to others. I've heard some of the people, uh, expressing their comments on the, uh, Supreme Court ruling, and they're entitled to that. But they are not entitled to impose their will on everybody.
RUSH: You see, this is what's wrong with this. Nobody in the... I can't believe I'm saying this. Nobody in the heterosexual world is forcing anything on anybody. They're minding their own business and having something forced on them, is what's happening here. So Mr. Takei says: Hey, you're free to have your religious beliefs. Have them all you like. I have mine, too. But you can't impose your religious values on to others.
(But Mr. Takei and his group can impose their beliefs on you all day every day or you will lose your business.) You honoring your religion... You own a bake store, to give an example. A gay couple walks in; wants a cake. You say, "Sorry, my religion forbids supporting gay marriage." That's the end of your business. That couple's going to walk out, go somewhere, come back with an army of lawyers, and you're finished.
+1
Please provide proof of this.
There is NO political solution. We are way past that. The only real solution will be spiritual!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.