Today New York Governor David Paterson is introducing legislation to legalize same-sex marriage in that state. This comes after a similar bill failed last year in the State Senate.
Some, including gay rights groups, aren't happy with the governor's decision. Speculation that this was done for political reasons, and not a desire to see same-sex marriage have been widespread. The governor apparently didn't fight to make sure he had the votes before introducing the legislation.
Although some are cynical about this move, Paterson's words ring like a true endorsement of full equality, "Rights should not be stifled by fear. What we should understand is that silence should not be a response to injustice. And that if we take not action, we will surely lose."
State Senator Ruben Diaz however, is set on blocking the legislation from ever becoming law, saying "The Jews just finished their holy week. The Catholics just received
the new archbishop. The evangelical Christians just celebrated Good
Friday and resurrection. He comes out to do this at this time? It's a
challenge the governor is sending to every religious person in New York
and the time for us has come for us to accept the challenge."
While I hope the bill passes, it's not looking likely. What do you guys think, was it a smart decision to introduce the bill before securing support for it?
– Andy
I don’t care if he did it for political reasons, or because it’s the right thing to do… he STILL did it, when so many still won’t ! So for this I applaud the governor. AS for Mr. Diaz, ever heard of this wonderful thing called separation of church and state? It’s this wonderful lil concept we founded this freakin country on ! The churches and religious groups don’t have to LIKE gay marriage, but they have no right to influence political process or be in any way involved with it ! This is a basic human right that all people should share….If the catholic (or any other) church doesn’t like it, they have the right by all means to ban gay marriages from being performed in their churches. mosques, etc. but NOT the right to stop them bases on their beliefs ! GO GIT EM GOV !!!!
Wow KP, surely you are not THAT naive to think churches and religious groups “have no right to influence political process..” ALL Americans have a right to voice their support or opposition to something they do not believe in…and religious groups have every right to do so. You may not like it anymore than these groups do not like having gay marriage recognized. If you look outside of your gay bubble, you’ll realize that PACs have been the strong arm(s) for their particular special interest groups for decades.
If Mr. Paterson wishes to go above the voice of his constituents, and cram it through his State’s legislature, then he may be in for a rude awakening when his tactics fall through by not having enough votes. This could also be political suicide for his career too. Sorry Gov, but you need to do your homework first and listen to your voters.
Mr. Diaz is also offending many Christians who believe that same-sex marriage is a God-given right
(such as members of the United Church of Christ, or even Episcopalians). He suggests that his sect and others that agree with his bigoted views own the trademarks to Jesus Christ and Easter and Holy Week. He thinks that gives him the privilege to exclude anyone else who might think it is actually a sign of Jesus’s good works and continuing positive influence on the world, for Paterson to introduce this bill so close to Easter. Mr. Diaz, you do not speak for Jesus!!!
navymscle if churches want to start influencing legislation and get political then they by law lose their 501c3 tax exempt status. Or rather, they are supposed to.
I doubt the bill will pass, but here’s hoping.
brandon: a church can still influence its members without the political inferences. A sermon is a sermon, and a church will take its moral message to their parishioners, congregation, etc. before risking its tax exempt status. Also, while the law may hold the main arm of a religious organization (ie Assemblies of God) accountable, it would be difficult to police every church without receiving backlash from every church organization that will see this as some radical liberal witch hunt; and not to mention a huge infringement of their rights to free speech. And in the end, you now have all these religious organizations pooling their resources and gaining more power to fight their causes. So there are some serious caveats to those on the far left wishing to expunge the world of all religion.
Personally, I also doubt the bill will pass, but I do think it will stand a better chance if (when) Cuomo is in charge.