Defeat in Maine a harsh blow to gay-marriage drive (tax, lawsuits)

[DONNIEANDDONNA417]

What do you guys think of this?

Moderator cut: Please do not post copy right material. Post a snippet and a link instead.

[shadowfax1997]

As I heard on the radio - the election was a vote for the status quo - keep marriage as is and spending basically out of control. I agree with that sentiment.

[msina]

There's a thread in the politics forum

[island mermaid]

Originally Posted by msina

There's a thread in the politics forum

It's been reported and I expect the lock to take place any moment now.

Great minds think alike.

[tcrackly]

I don't have a problem with gay marriage per se but I do not agree with some of the structuring of the law. As I understand it the law mandates that religious organizations must recognize and /or perform the rite if requested or face discrimination charges. I see that as a violation of the separation of church and state.
The Catholic church has doctrine that only fully recognizes a Catholic marriage as binding. They will not remarry someone divorced from a Catholic service unless the Church recognizes the previous union as nullified by Church strictures. That is their right to belief. If the Church were to reexamine it's doctrine to find gay marriage acceptable it is also their right to change their policies. The Church has no right to prevent the State nor any other religious organizations from performing a gay marriage service no more than the State has the right to force the Church to accept it.
I think gays that commit to each other in love and obligation have the right to a legally recognized binding contract that protects both parties and their dependents. Of course that also adds more volume to the court system for the inevitable divorces. Oh well.

[Maineah]

Baldacci is a turd. The legislature was wrong to pass that bill against the will of the people and they let them know it. Same thing happened with the soda and beer tax to fund Dirigo Health Care, The people said no to that sleazy little deal too. If the people want gay marriage in Maine the People should decide not the legislature. It may happen eventually but not by legislative fiat or via the court. .

[mensaguy]

Originally Posted by tcrackly

I don't have a problem with gay marriage per se but I do not agree with some of the structuring of the law. As I understand it the law mandates that religious organizations must recognize and /or perform the rite if requested or face discrimination charges. I see that as a violation of the separation of church and state. .....

That is absolutely wrong. The law specifically allowed any church or minister to refuse to perform any marriage they decide they do not want to do for any reason. It also held them harmless to lawsuits for such refusals. That (IMO) kept church and state pretty sell separated.

[mensaguy]

Originally Posted by msina

There's a thread in the politics forum

It's been moved to the Elections sub-forum.

[DONNIEANDDONNA417]

Did you guys hear about the justice of peace who refuse to marry the interracial couple...I just read that he resigned

[broadbill]

Originally Posted by DONNIEANDDONNA417

What do you guys think of this?

I think you shouldn't cut/paste text from the internet....