How is it that religious institutions are permitted to donate, not to mention campaign, for issues and candidates in US elections and maintain their tax-exempt status? What ever happened to separation of church and state? I'll bet those donations to Prop 8 in California would have been much lower had there been a chance the churches would lose their non-profit status.
What irritates me is that specifically the Catholic church tried to influence the outcome of this issue. (It's hard to be irritated by the Mormons as they are already mentally ill, and it's not polite to pick on the retarded.) The Catholic church holds an opinion on many things in society, but you don't see them attempting to have laws enacted. For example, you don't see the church pushing for outlawing adultery or condoms. Why were they so intent on influencing this issue?
Why were bald faced lies permitted to be plastered across the TV?
One only has to look to the big neighbor to the north to see what happens when equal rights are granted. Here in Canada, gay marriage has been legal across the land for over 3 years. (4 in Quebec) In fact, I was given special consideration on my immigration application for the situation I was in with Serge, and that was eight years ago. (in a relationship, but unable to live legally together in the same country.) So what has happened to this obviously godless land up here? Nothing. Except the marriage license at city hall is issued to both gay and straight couples. In fact it's so nothing, most people just roll their eyes when I mention the Arkansas, Florida, Arizona and California legislation enacted yesterday. Of course I live in the city, I suppose the insulated rural folk may disagree.
Though I feel pretty gripy (except for YAY Obama) I sure feel lucky to live up here. Americans think they live in the freest country in the world. And that my friends is utter hogwash.
26 comments:
After this election.. I may be calling you looking one of your rental units.
Keep those of u s beneath you in your thoughts down here in the land off the damned.
-C
You are so right Torn, it feels less and less like a democracy here and more like a communist state. The only thing they have against gays is that the Jewish law book of Leviticus calls it an abomination. They used the Biblical phrase: Slaves obey your masters, to justify slavery for many years. Oh, and let me add, Yeah, Obama! ed
Oh, there are plenty of countries with greater personal freedoms - like Estonia, of all places. Although the US may rate higher in terms of being a stronger capitalist market, many tend to see that economic freedom as the only index of our success as a democracy. It's certainly heretical to suggest that the US might not be at the top of the heap when it comes to free countries.
But then, that's why US schools never really teach about other countries.
I agree w/you. The fact that these people cannot see their hypocrisy is maddening. Not to mention that it just plain goes against the Constitution and all the principles that this country was founded on.
And the Mormoms, they are a strange lot, aren't they.
It just wears me out.
I'm so thankful that Obama got elected and yet so weary of the ignorance that still exists.
By my calculations it will take 20 - 35 years for gay & lesbian citizens of the USA to be recognized ~ equal rights under the law.
Having spent a short time in Tofino & Victoria in June I can say that I would love to make the move.
Y'all Tofino has some of the most handsome men on earth.
Someday I hope we too will wake up to the "yawn" that this issue should be. Nothing dire happens to the world or to het marriages when any two people are allowed to commit to each other in love. Alas! we are not there.
I am in agreement with you on the tax issue: religious institutions should be treated as any business is treated in terms of taxes (real estate and profit/income) and as political action committees. If they are truly "non-profit" (giving away what comes in to the poor, etc.), then they would pay no taxes and they certainly would not build the "cathedrals to ego" that many are building now.
Under the whole 'one man/one woman' bit that a man could legally marry a T-girl in California. I bet the prop 8 people missed that (unless there's some sort of marriage license rule having to show your sex at birth)
anyhow, I actually believe that religious marriage should not be recognized. It's a personal thing to have a religious ceremony and I don't see why it has legal weight. I think that for rights, benefits, etc. the only union that should be recognized is a state contract and that should apply to everyone.
So the RC Church was against it, but Latino voters divided evenly on the issue.
Obama was clear that he is against same-sex marriage. Over 70% of the increased number of black voters in California voted in favour of Prop 8.
There was one influence that arguably had the greatest effect on the passage of Prop 8. Sadly, it wasn't the RC or Mormon churches, it was Obama.
Perhaps thats why the Canadian national election was so boring. The budget is balanced, we are working on the environment and the kooks are somewhat kept at bay.
Even some of us insulated rural folk are appalled at the legislation, of course, some of my Conservative neighbors might disagree but that's just because they've never seen a real-live homosexical.
That they know of.
Shouldn't the Catholic churches be saving their money to pay for the lawyers for when the priests get caught diddling the kids? I mean really, isn't that a bigger sin in the eyes of the Lord?
Oh no, wait, they can go confess on Sunday to absolve them of that guilt. Whatever. I hate religion.
The passing of Prop 8 may be the seminal event that the Stonewall Riots were. Let's not give up hope.
I agree with snooze. In the Netherlands, for example, religious marriage is not recognised. The gouvernment doesn't consider you married until you do the civil thing at city hall. Now THAT is separation of state and church.
Obama also called 8 divisive and wrong. Yes he said that crap about marriage, but go find the Youtube of the speech he gave comparing gay rights and black civil rights.
I wish I could just hate the Mormons and Catholics for this but I volunteered for the no on 8 people and their leadership had no clue how to be effective. They wasted a lot of people's efforts and goodwill with their strategy... If you can even say they had one. I'm furious with them.
The more we lay the blame with Catholics or Mormons or African Americans or Obama, the less we will look to our own strategies and find the winning one.
Unfortunately, most Americans are unaware of what is happening in other nations nor do they recognize that many of their assumptions are far out of step with Europe and Canada.
Why were bald faced lies permitted to be plastered across the TV?
Yeah! That's what I wanted to know? What ever happened to "truth in advertising"?
The Arkansas thing infuriates me to no end.
This is yet another reason of why I am probably going to move north if I can find a job.
Yeah, I've always thought that we have a lot more personal freedoms up here. And I count my blessings.
We had a church down the road with a "Vote Yes to Prop 2 - marriage is 1 man and 1 woman." I find myself more and more hating organized religion.
You might want to buy another apartment building to house all the refugees.
Although the marriage losses have me down, I am harboring a small kernel of hope that somehow our rights will be restored.
(I loved your crack about the Mormons).
Maybe Kelly Stern's way to get back at them is this: http://kellystern.net/2008/11/05/if-we-cant-get-married-then-they-cant-get-divorced.aspx
poor things. i hear that the premier dropped the writ in quebec and you're in store for another election. i just don't envy you at all.
canada has a somewhat schizophrenic view of where government should or shouldn't be, but you can thank trudeau for starting the process of keeping the "government out of the bedrooms of the people."
unless you count alberta (the deep south of canada) for the most part we don't have a defined bible belt.
Speaking as a former IRS employee, churches should and do lose their tax-exempt status ...when caught. If you know of a church that is guilty of this, report it to your local IRS office, or the closest one to you. The churches will be investigated.
It's fucking scandalous. Tax the churches!
And now you know why I live in Australia. I, like you, was able to apply for residency on the grounds of my relationship with my partner. That application was approved after a 2 year waiting period and since then I have also recieved my citizenship. The US doesn't recognise same sex couples in matters of immigration hence my move to australia as they would not allow my hubby to move to the US permanently. I still retain my US citizenship but I choose to live in a place were I am recognised along with my partner. Don't get me wrong Australia still has a way to go as far as equal rights for gay people but they are at least trying.
It's interesting that I came across this as a fellow blogger had me sign a petition against the Latter Day Saints for the same reason and their 501(c)3 status. Hogwash, indeed!
Canada is so far ahead of the US in so many ways. We often tell people that Seattle is actually suburban Vancouver, BC.
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