Same-sex marriage has nothing to do with religion. So wise up and shut up, religious liars

Some religious leaders opposing same-sex marriage argue that it is an assault against them, and they say that churches would be forced to perform same-sex weddings. That would be miraculous indeed, since the Constitution of the United States guarantees religious freedom, and same-sex marriage is a civil contract, a government-issued contract, having nothing to do with religion. Same-sex marriage has nothing to do with religion and won't make churches, mosques, temples or synagogues do anything they don't want to; it has no effect whatsoever on any house of worship or any single worshiper's beliefs or the devotional practices they share with others on holy days or anytime.

So, "SHUT UP!" are my only words to these religious leaders. It is high time to call them to account, and to call them what they are: either ignoramuses or liars. They are either too stupid to know what Freedom of Religion means or else they understand it but spread lies anyway, hoping to scare believers into thinking that suddenly they are being threatened somehow. Give me a break!

Americans United is an organization opposing a Constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. We can take relevant text of their website and adapt it to same-sex marriage in general to get a clear idea of what perfidious nonsense these deceitful religious leaders are engaging in:

Arguments that...houses of worship could be forced to perform same-sex unions...are fallacious. Under the First Amendment’s Free Exercise Clause, houses of worship are free to limit marriage on whatever theological grounds they choose. Thus, a church may limit marriage to its own members, require marrying couples to promise to raise children in the faith, refuse to perform ceremonies for anyone who has been divorced or impose other types of limitations based on the group’s tenets and beliefs. The right of religious bodies to decide which couples they will marry and which they will not is already protected by the First Amendment.... [Opponents of same-sex marriage] have raised this issue as a scare tactic; it is wholly without merit.

That is what the arguments are that same-sex marriage threatens religious practice: "Wholly without merit."

Comments

[Elizabeth]

Right now any minister can refuse to marry any couple they chose to refuse for any reason. My father was a minister and he occasionally did refuse if he felt one or both of the couple weren't really committed to the marriage. He didn't do it often because he didn't feel he could generally judge. The point was he could and did refuse to marry couples. The argument by the religious right is totally bogus. Thank you for calling them on it.

[Matt]

I totally AGREE, I too have a similar story. My good friend and Airsoft buddy, is a minister at our church and he too has refuse marriage to couple whom he feels aren't committed!

Thanks for a great post,
Matt Razor