Arguments for, against same-sex marriage

I am an Episcopal priest, currently the rector of Trinity Episcopal Church here in Everett ... I am writing to encourage people to support the values embraced in our state's marriage law by voting "Approve" on Referendum 74 for marriage equality this November ...

[Joe DeCaro]

from HeraldNet:

"In 2009, voters approved the 'Everything but Marriage' law. That means a same-sex couple already has every legal right and obligation in Washington that an opposite sex couple has. No exceptions. While Referendum 74 will not grant same-sex couples any new benefits, it will redefine marriage for everyone ...

"If marriage is redefined in Washington, those who believe marriage is between one man and one woman would soon find themselves being treated as the legal equivalent of bigots for acting on their beliefs. Refusal to accommodate and recognize same-sex 'marriages' would be the equivalent of racial discrimination. Not only will the law penalize traditional marriage supporters, but also the power of government will work to promote this belief through the culture ...

"The union of one man and one woman has been the definition of marriage since before Washington was a state and the United States was a country. God is the author of marriage and virtually every nation since the dawn of time has recognized marriage as one man and one woman. All citizens in our state -- gay and straight -- are respected and welcomed, and they have the right to live as they choose. But, they do not have the right to redefine marriage for our entire society ..."

Amen.

[NOTFADEAWAY]

Christianity is a dieing religion. They are losing more members everyday. People are tried of a sheeple mentality.

[Listen to the Word]

The author of the story did not have to identify himself as an Episcopal priest. It is evident from his anti-biblical views.

Christianity does appear to be a dying religion -- not because of pressure from the outside but from self-inflicted wounds. TEC is a prime example. The more liberal it gets, the more members it loses. So what is TEC's answer? More liberalism! More losses!

On the other hand, I happened to believe Jesus when he said that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church. Certainly, the picture we get of the end times from Revelation is a church that is on the verge of destruction from the inside and outside. However, just before that happens, the Lord returns to take his church to glory. Some may think that is a nice thought or a myth or fable. I happen to think it is true.

[Joe DeCaro]

Listen to the Word wrote:

The author of the story did not have to identify himself as an Episcopal priest. It is evident from his anti-biblical views ...

... it's a she, and the other author is her opposite number:

Reject R-74: Redefining marriage would affect all of us
By Dave Woodward

Woodward's views are represented in post #1.

[MiddleWay]

Listen to the Word wrote:

On the other hand, I happened to believe Jesus when he said that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church..

Jesus didn't say that, there were no CHURCHES, there were only synagogues and temples.

LOL!

You bought right in to the roman rewrite.........

[cjrian]

MiddleWay wrote:

Jesus didn't say that, there were no CHURCHES, there were only synagogues and temples.
LOL!
You bought right in to the roman rewrite.........

Semantics!
Splitting hairs
Grappling to find a distinction without a difference

A House of Worship may be a Synagog or a Church

Yer nitpicking and not seeing

[T McCabe]

Three male personalities living as one being for all eternity sounds might 'queer' to me.

Just another Mystery of Faith to accept or reject.

[RevKen]

T McCabe wrote:

Three male personalities living as one being for all eternity sounds might 'queer' to me.
Just another Mystery of Faith to accept or reject.

Ain't that a FACT!

[Joe DeCaro]

T McCabe wrote:

Three male personalities living as one being for all eternity sounds might 'queer' to me ...

Perhaps there's something 'queer' with your hearing?

[MiddleWay]

cjrian wrote:

<quoted text>
Semantics!
Splitting hairs
Grappling to find a distinction without a difference
A House of Worship may be a Synagog or a Church
Yer nitpicking and not seeing

LOL!

Not in the Bible.

Let's not pretend lies and rewrites are anything but that.....

[MiddleWay]

RevKen wrote:

<quoted text>
Lack of a sense of humor is the sign of blind arrogance. Do you have anything of substance to say in defense of your baseless claims?
Everything you have said on the topic of homosexuality on these threads, so far, is an erroneous display of poorly thought out hypocrisy and bigotry in which you USE the bible to support YOUR views. The bible was never intended to be used in this manner.
Why should anyone expect anything else you might present to be in any way different or more substantial than what you have already posted?
I am glad that a touch of ridicule got your attention. That was its intended purpose. Your response shows that there is still a spark of intelligence left in you that may be worth redeeming.
Rev. Ken

I don't know, the ability to copy and paste might be done by a monkey*.........

*see joline

[Lalala]

I will never support same-sex marriage as it in it self would be an endorsement that engourging you reproductive organs with some of the same gender is a normal, acceptable, and/or natural act.

I do not care what you do to/with your reporductive organs in private, just don't expect me to consider it a normal, acceptable, and/or natural act.

Marriage is between a man and a woman.

[MiddleWay]

Lalala wrote:

I will never support same-sex marriage as it in it self would be an endorsement that engourging you reproductive organs with some of the same gender is a normal, acceptable, and/or natural act.
I do not care what you do to/with your reporductive organs in private, just don't expect me to consider it a normal, acceptable, and/or natural act.
Marriage is between a man and a woman.

How many slaves do you own?

Do you have a bleeding shed for you wife?

How many adulterers have you stoned today?

Just making sure you literately keep Scripture.

LOL..........

[Lalala]

MiddleWay wrote:

<quoted text>
How many slaves do you own?
Do you have a bleeding shed for you wife?
How many adulterers have you stoned today?
Just making sure you literately keep Scripture.
LOL..........

? What Scripture ?

I will never support same-sex marriage as it in it self would be an endorsement that engourging you reproductive organs with some of the same gender is a normal, acceptable, and/or natural act.

I do not care what you do to/with your reporductive organs in private, just don't expect me to consider it a normal, acceptable, and/or natural act.

Marriage is between a man and a woman.

[MiddleWay]

Lalala wrote:

<quoted text>
? What Scripture ?
I will never support same-sex marriage as it in it self would be an endorsement that engourging you reproductive organs with some of the same gender is a normal, acceptable, and/or natural act.
I do not care what you do to/with your reporductive organs in private, just don't expect me to consider it a normal, acceptable, and/or natural act.
Marriage is between a man and a woman.

Whew. I thought YOU thought you were following Scripture.

Now I see you are just a bigot....

[Lalala]

MiddleWay wrote:

<quoted text>
Whew. I thought YOU thought you were following Scripture.
Now I see you are just a bigot....

Nothing of value to add, just insult, typical.

Marriage is between a man and a woman.

[RevKen]

Lalala wrote:

<quoted text>
Nothing of value to add, just insult, typical.
Marriage is between a man and a woman.

Marriage is between the two who regard themselves to be married to each other.

Whether or not family and friends or the state or a group that gathers as a religious sect or even an individual priest or shaman yoked with the responsibility of guiding patterns of belief and which or who chooses to bestow some certain amount of legitimacy, cultural or statutory or spiritual, is another issue.

Many like yourself have difficulty empathizing with the lives and motivations of some others who appear to be different, usually balking at accepting these differences because of deeply-held religious beliefs that they have been taught, but have never taken the time to thoroughly question or understand.

Beliefs, rightly or wrongly held, cause much strife in this world.

Rev. Ken

[Joe DeCaro]

RevKen wrote:

<quoted text>
Marriage is between the two who regard themselves to be married to each other ...

...before God, or is that now optional?

[RevKen]

Joe DeCaro wrote:

<quoted text>
...before God, or is that now optional?

Whose God are you referring to? Yours or theirs?

[WotMeWorry]

RevKen wrote:

<quoted text>
Lack of a sense of humor is the sign of blind arrogance.

Whereas some resort to what they regard as humor as a means of avoiding the truth so they can remain in their ignorance.