Why do religious leaders think they should have ANY influence in politics? When they want “BINGO” in states that don’t allow gambling, or when they want to continue NOT PAYING taxes, they sure know how to scream SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE!

Yet they want their various dogmas to be considered by the government, as it pertains to restricting other peoples rights on everything under the sun?

There are places in this world where these churches would be reprimanded for interfering with matters of the state!

After we win marriage rights, ALL progressives should come together to press for FULL TAXATION of religious groups who get involved in politics on ANY issue.

I can give money to a church and take it off of my taxes, as they are a non-profit. I CAN’T however take donations to the HRC or LAMBDA off of my taxes because even though they are a non-profit, they are involved in politics!

When a church or some phony “arm of the the church” get’s involved in politics, they should face the same fate! You cannot tell me that opposing ssm, abortion and stem cell research is a “primary” mission of ANY faith, as the dogma they ALL adhere to was written LONG before such terms and concepts were even invented!

I say liberal non-profit groups with no tax exempt status should start suits pointing to the tax exemptions afforded to “religious” groups who are JUST AS politically active.

ALL organized religions value money over beliefs. The FIRST ruling that declares a sect, a church, even a single parish liable for taxes, due to political involvement, and 99% of churches will FINALLY keep to themselves and keep the contents of their little freak shows within the confines of their own little theaters and willing audience members.

I’m so sick of people who think their thoughts/ideas are automatically worthy of respect and deference simply because said ideas stem from some faith group THEY CHOOSE to belong to!

How absurd?

And besides we’re not asking for the church to preform any same-sex marriages. They can keep their homophobic views for all I care and keep promoting hatred. I have never wanted to be married in a church, even before I realized my sexuality. We’re simply asking for marriage recognized by the STATE, right?

I think the religious leaders of the world need to go crawl back under the rock they came out of and stay their for the rest of their lives. The less society is corrupted by religion the better.

They were also standing on the side of marriage equality in Maine and speaking out for marriage equality as it says here.

Yes, there are many theofascists, but on the other hand, there are also many truly good and decent people of faith speaking again and again for equality for all in this land.

If the religious right succeeds at denying marriage equality to same-sex couples, then they will also have succeeded at denying freedom of religion to churches who disagree with their narrow interpretations of the Bible. The religious right does not have a right to decide what is true Christian belief.

LGBT activists must press the point that we do not believe in restricting religious freedom. We want to protect and enhance religious freedom throughout America and around the world. Supporting the right of same-sex couples to marry, while protecting the right of churches and religious groups to marry or not marry same-sex couples in accord with their teachings is one way we will enhance religious freedom.

As for the religious right, I have some advice: Stop defying Exodus 20:16, which reads, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.” This is one of the ten commandments and does not permit an exception for lying against your LGBT neighbours, nor does it permit you to lie by saying that permitting same-sex couples the right to marry will undermine or destroy freedom of religion.

The comments by the religious right only raises fear and hate against the LGBT community, while driving large numbers of people away from God. Shame on them!