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Loading ...NH gov will sign gay marriage bill if it’s changed
05.14.2009 3:13pm EDT
(Concord) New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch says he will sign a bill to make his state the sixth to legalize gay marriage, but only if it strengthens protections for churches opposed to gay marriage.
The bill has been passed by the Legislature, but hasn’t yet reached Lynch’s desk.It would allow churches to decide whether they will conduct religious marriages for same-sex couples. But Lynch said Thursday he wants clearer language to ensure that people won’t be forced to violate their religious principles. He says laws in Connecticut and Vermont do that.
The only other New England state not committed to recognizing same-sex marriage is Rhode Island. It’s also legal in Iowa.
If divorced people want to marry in a church, they have to find a church that will marry them. Churches can, and always have had the ability, to marry whomever they want. There are plenty of churches that will gladly marry gay or lesbian couples. No big deal. Funny, though, that it never needed to be written into the law until we came along.
I want the government to recognize my marriage, not some ridiculous cult. Let them continue their select-a-verse habit of picking which parts of the Bible they obey.
I have no idea whatsoever what churches have to do with a CIVIL LAW marriage bill… but clear up the confusion and get on with it.
At least Governor Lynch has verified that he is an adult and a leader: “”My personal views on the subject of marriage have been shaped by my own experience, tradition and upbringing. But as Governor of New Hampshire, I recognize that I have a responsibility to consider this issue through a broader lens.”
…Which is way more than OBAMA has done, by being held back by the bigoted fear beliefs of his surrogate father, Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
Now even SARAH PALIN is congratualting him for thinking straight about marriage equality, just like she and Carrie Prejean do!
State number six!
These revisions would be entirely reasonable, and, frankly *help* same-sex marriage proponents by further weakening the “religious freedom” argument that right-wingers try throw out there.
Good call, Gov. Lynch!
PROTECT the “churches”? HA!
Give ‘em their silly wording…. I’d personally rather BURN the damned “churches” down than set foot in one anyway.
This is great news.
I don’t need some weirdo in a costume to validate my marriage for me.
I always thought the outdoor marriages were the best anyway!
Yes, the Governor reasoned this very well and should be applauded. I agree, that it will actually help down the road.
And what about the laws protecting us from their churches and the bigotry they bring? I’m sure that’ll be added, too.
Homophobia and religious extremism. When one studies civilisation and finds that the Irish people are 60,000 years old; 54,000 years older than the Jews/Palestinians; Egypt or Greece and that the myth of Catholicism or Christianity is a mere 2009 years old; one soon realises that there is little evidence to prove any of the cross related bogus elements of that cult. In the year 300 AD when Emperor Constantine who to some was the first pope; went on to fabricate Christianity – a fantasy – which turned out to be one of the most hateful & evil concoctions ever perpetrated on the world. The Vatican supported Hitler and religion is responsible for more corruption and violence in the world. Pope Ratzinger was involved in the Nazi youth. The Pope & Vatican with its blatant witchcraft related to the bible and its hateful beliefs; tries to rule with extreme prejudices against the world … that may fall victim to religions’ absolute evil. To think of Matthew Sheppard choking on his own blood after being savagely beaten; virtually sanctioned by the church … is beyond comprehension … yet is the same as boys being bullied into suicide; most likely being supported by their parents’ religious beliefs. What ever happened to … “Love Your Fellowman?” Perhaps the evil preachers should be told to take their cult out of America. Didn’t Thomas Jefferson say that church and state should be separated by a wall and it’s written in the Constitution that there must be separation of church and state. Bigotry and hatemongering against gays should be banned. Tell them to take that cross and shove it where the sun don’t shine … and pay their taxes along the way before they take that cross down forever … with its final station; extinction. It is written; so therefore it shall be? We are the chosen people? Who wrote that crap? United States is supposedly fighting for democracy? It is suppressing gay rights and following an extremist religious & bigoted family values path according to a basic cult riding roughshod over the rights of gay people. Canada and Britain are more civilized with its military and basic dignity. We must respect that these fine dignified gentlemen … His Excellency Governor Schwarzenegger, The Honorable Attorney General Jerry Brown, His Excellency Mayor Gavin Newson, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano & The Honorable Rep. Barney Frank (D) who is personally openly gay … are trying to guarantee equal rights and reflect the respect shown to all; as stated in the American Constitution. To see the religious lunatics manipulate government and our lives … is shameful.
This bogus religious filth should be banned. It exists as a tax exempt structure which discriminates against human rights. The pope, bishops and mormons are cult members promoting discrimination against minorities. That bogus black book called the bible should be banned. Religion and the churches should now be exposed as a bigoted structure that gets away with hate mongering. Love between two guys or girls existed long before these cults existed. By enjoying their tax exempt status and benefits from the state … it also puts them at the mercy of America; to be forced to adhere to the human rights laws. Religion is thriving like a cancerous growth on society that should be stopped in its tracks; outlawed & banned. Interesting global occurrence … Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien told the Vatican that there was to be no cross erected over the Canadian Parliament buildings … figuratively speaking; when the Pope demanded the Prime Minister go against gay rights. An Alberta bishop had the audacity to say that The Canadian Prime Minister would go to hell for going against the church. Such outrageous evil threats; the religious extremists force upon us trying to multiply … with their control over birthing like animals at the pulpit. With reference to protecting the children. The Right Honourable Prime Minister … in return; basically told the Pope to go to Hell. The Honourable Hedy Fry, member of the Canadian Liberal Parliament, who happens to be a doctor spoke eloquently to defend the rights of babies being born and stated that she delivered hundreds of newborn children and she was in fact defending their rights by speaking on behalf of equal rights and therefore defending the integrity, dignity and equality for gays.
Many theologians state quite correctly that the birth; crucifixion; resurrection and other elements of christianity actually didn’t even happen! Today’s evangelical extremists are like the nazis who cast others into ovens & are actually supremacists – who practice their bogus hocus pocus – and are trying to suppress and deprive others of their happiness and their legal rights in an open and proud society. Liberty College, Oral Roberts University and others should be looked at as tax exempt terroristic training grounds for evangelical lunatics. It was refreshing in his final weeks; to hear President Bush acknowledge that he didn’t believe in any of that religious bunk.
I am the son of a catholic father who never went to church and a protestant mother who took us to church and Sunday school. Although we as young children would sneak out the side door and play by the cannon from World War One where my grand-father fought for freedom as a Sgt Mgr at Vimy and father who fought at Normandy on D-Day for freedom. Onward christian soldiers … I think not. Such drivel. To be manipulated by a santa claus; an easter bunny and worst of all a bogus cross. One should appreciate each day of life and not expect another … and if there is it will be given by a God of Love. Pat Robertson should be taken to task for his grandstanding filth. Einstein stated in a letter recently auctioned that the bible was collection of primitive legends. He said believing in God was childish and he as a Jew is no different than another person … not chosen by God. Do you want to be lambs at the slaughter or be wise and reject religious cultist manipulation? Mean & nasty; run by evil and bogus religious cults from Rome or wherever. Is this the world you want? The pope talks about ending prejudice and hate; what a hypocrite!
A great story … pertains to a boy at a catholic school in Oshawa, Ontario … who wanted to take his boyfriend to his school prom. The nasty catholic school forbid this. The boy’s father is an employee with General Motors Canada and the courageous union leader … Buzz Hargrove stood up for the boys’ rights. The boy took his case through the courts and because the school was benefiting from government funding and demands equal rights void of discrimination; the judge ordered the school to allow the boys to attend together. Their limo arrived at their prom with adoring onlookers … there wasn’t a dry eye to be found.
Governor Lynch, your state borders with Canada. Call Catholic Montreal and Quebec and ask them how they’ve been doing this. Churches have enough protections, and claiming they don’t is a red herring.
What about those persons and churches that support gay marriage, will their religious beliefs and principles be upheld too?
Just put the stupid wording and send it to his desk. They will still claim their religious rights are being infringed anyway. These religious folks don’t want same-sex marriage period!
Okay…in 100 years, this added language will appear quaint and laughable…an artifact of a foolish culture at a foolish moment in time. {…sigh…}
It’s all politics anyway. He probably just wants to look like he’s considering everyone’s needs; LGBT people and Christians.
We all know that the churches are already safe, but this will probably keep him more popular with the less extremist Christians.
The request to change the wording, like the nature of the request implies, will do only that. It doesn’t change anything, but it probably puts his mind at ease, and satisfies some Christians. And if we get what we want… then like everyone else says, who gives a flying fruitcake?
G. D. MacDonald hope you got everything off your chest. The Canadian Catholic ” Prom Queen ” was told very whimsicly in the 2004 movie by that name. An Interesting fact the Canadian Government help Fund / Sponsor the movie.
The ” Prom Queen ” Legal Case decision regarded Article 15 of the Canadian Bill of Rights led to all the other Gay Rights to follow including Same Sex Marraige.
Let the church folks do what they want if they want to continue down their little paths of “self-righteousness”, so be it! But allow us our equal civil rights to marriage so that we can continue on with our lives, caring for and looking after our spouses, our children and our families the way we were meant to.