[Vision2020] R-74 will protect religious freedom

[Tom Hansen]

V-peeps . . .

Recently, Rodna and I celebrated the thirty-nine most wonderful years of our lives, our 39th wedding anniversary.

To deny any two people this same experience amounts to nothing short of selfish ignorance.

Courtesy of today's (September 19, 2012) Moscow-Pullman Daily News.

-------------------------------------

R-74 will protect religious freedom
By Douglas Call

If voters approve Referendum 74 on the November ballot, this will legalize same-sex marriage in Washington State. Preserve Marriage Washington (preservemarriagewashington.com) opposes R-74 because same-sex marriage poses "serious and widespread consequences for society."
If R-74 passes, marriage will be legally defined as "genderless," and PMW argues this conflicts with the idea that marriage is a unique institution for the purpose of procreation. PMW writes that under R-74's "genderless definition of marriage, the interests of children - and therefore society's intrinsic interest in marriage - is eliminated entirely." The reality is R-74 does nothing to interfere with or limit heterosexual marriage or procreation and, unlike PMW, R-74 does nothing to devalue childless marriages of any kind.
PMW argues if R-74 passes, unnamed experts foresee an "immense" volume of litigation over discrimination when services are denied on the basis of same-sex marriage. In fact, R-74 explicitly preserves the right of clergy to choose whether or not to provide same-sex marriage ceremonies. It is also notable that since the passage of Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2661 in 2006, it has been illegal to discriminate against gays in Washington state. There is no evidence that implementation of ESHB 2661 led to a plethora of lawsuits and there is no evidence the outcome of passing R-74 will be any different.
PMW argues children will be taught that marriage is genderless even if this is against the wishes of their parents. This is a frivolous concern. Creationism persists in the U.S. despite the fact that evolutionary theory is widely taught in public schools. Clearly, religious institutions have the ability to counteract education when orthodoxy is challenged.
If R-74 passes, religious organizations with government contracts for social services (e.g., adoption, health clinics, low-income housing) could lose those contracts if they elect to discriminate on the basis of same-sex marriage. PMW considers this a negative outcome. In fact, ensuring charity without discrimination is a morally correct position. Advocates of discrimination will be replaced by more egalitarian organizations.
Notably absent from the PMW website is explicit acknowledgement that religious doctrine is the primary motivation to oppose R-74. Biblical Scripture defines homosexuality an "abomination" (Leviticus 20:13) and it could be argued as supporting a one-man-one-woman definition for marriage (Genesis 2:18). While opponents of same-sex marriage cite these points to support their position, they conveniently ignore the fact that Scripture either explicitly or implicitly condones polygamy (Leviticus 25:44-46), rape (Deuteronomy 22:28-29), slavery (Leviticus 25:44-46), murder (Leviticus 20:9) and genocide (1 Samuel 15:2-3). Scripture does not record an opinion from Jesus about homosexuality, but Jesus also failed to condemn slavery. Thus, applying his purported judgments to modern times is suspect at best. Indeed, these are just a few examples of the pitfalls and inconsistencies from Scripture that make religiously justified discrimination against gays a house of cards.
In the final analysis, however, the question before us is not whether or not we "believe" that same-sex marriage should be allowed. Opposition to same-sex marriage is clearly rooted in religious doctrine and this vote is about a more fundamental question. A "no" vote for R-74 endorses the idea that the religious doctrine of the majority should dictate the freedoms of a minority, and it endorses the idea that our secular government should enforce these religious doctrines. A "yes" vote for R-74 also has little to do with your support or opposition for same-sex marriage, but it has everything to do with preserving the wall separating church and state.
Vote yes on R-74 and stand firm against religious discrimination and religious intrusion into government.
---------------
Washington Referendum R-74
http://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/initiatives/text/r074.pdf
------------------------------------

Seeya round town, Moscow, because . . .

"Moscow Cares"
http://www.MoscowCares.com
  
Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"We're a town of about 23,000 with 10,000 college students.  The college students are not very active in local elections (thank goodness!)."

- Dale Courtney (March 28, 2007)
 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/vision2020/attachments/20120919/165a2f18/attachment.html>