The original question was about a church being sued over NOT performing gay marriages, right? To simply answer the question...no, I don't think they would have a leg to stand on if someone did try. There are going to be crazy people out there who would try, but I don't think it would follow through. God has our back...that is why prop 8 failed. Also, a church has every right to stand by their doctrine. If they aren't allowed to stand behind their doctrine, then it violates the amendment that it is a part of. A church can follow loopholes...like only allow church members to be married, and not allow people to become members who do not believe the entire Word of God and the churches doctrine (in all issues, like homosexuality). A church has the right to turn away any prospective church member if they think their heart is not in the right place or if they think they are not in agreement with their doctrine. In our church, you have to be approved by the elder's.
But a Catholic adoption agency has closed its doors because they were told that they MUST adopt to gay/lesbian couples, even though it was against their beliefs. This actually goes beyond a church. Think about E-Harmony. They were advertised as a Christian match-making service, and as such was for straight couples only. They were sued, and the gay folks won. They had to pay all kinds of money, open it up for gays, and were told they couldn't shut down for so many years. Sure, they're not a church, but don't they have the right to follow their sincerely-held beliefs?
Jackie, I think when it comes to churches themselves it's different. I can't explain why I think that, but I do.
The examples you brough up Jackie are scary. I do think a church is different but for how long? Also, remember what the Word says and what it has prepared us for as far as what direction the world is going in and what will happen before the second coming. I think we will witness many things we never thought possible.
I should also add that some years ago, the Pope himself announced that the Catholic church would be accepting to the homosexual lifestyle, and that based on research he believed that they were born that way. I don't agree with it, but being that the adoptin agency was Catholic, that may have been the reason why the couple had a leg to stand on.
Actually, it passed. LOL I am not laughing at you by the way. This is confussed often, even by Californians. It was one of those strangly written props. So in this case, it was a wonderful thing that it passed.
Although Prop 8 passed, it didn't pass by much. I can't give you the exact number but it was very close. Props of this type have come around often in Cali and for a while the yes and no votes were far and apart. We saw a strong pull toward protecting marriage. Everytime this matter is up for vote, both sides are evening out which tells me that eventually the sanctity of marriage will no longer be protected.
That's ok, I'm laughing with you. I knew it was worded weird and even when I saw the advertisements it was strangely confusing.:lol: I didn't know if I wanted to say no or yes to it with the way the commercials worded it.
Back to the op's question, as I already posted, it will depend on how your law is written. I keep reading that "no" the church can't be sued but under a new law, it can if it is written into law. Otherwise the churches in Cali wouldn't have been making such a big stink about Prop 8. Contrary to popular belief, NO on 8 was not simply to allow gays to marry. It would have forced the church to perform the ceremony or be sued for denying homosexuals the right to marry resulting in the pastors license being revoked or church closing, as I already stated in another post.
I couldn't rightfully call a church that doesn't hold onto God's word a Christian church, even if the world does. Again, if it doesn't go along with the Word, something is seriously wrong with the foundation of that church. This is a bit off topic, but I think this is why we see so many types of "Christian" churches.
I do not know how adoption agencies works, but I would think that somehow they would have to work at least with the county, unless it is a private adoption. Even then, the county is notified one way or another. Still, what disturbs me is that this couple knew what would happen and they still pushed to adopt from this orphanage.
That would be a great topic for the Christian Issues forum. Maybe a discussion on Christian church history? Regardless, remember that this is a diverse forum and some reading this thread may well be those you maintain aren't holding up God's Word.
This reminded me of the lesbian couple that wanted my BIL to marry them. (I posted about them on one of the previous posts on this thread.) Anyways, before they came to the church my BIL pastored, they attended a church that had a lesbian pastor and she said she would marry them. I do not know the full details but I wonder why they didn't remain where they could have been married in a church that agreed with homosexuality.
I understand that. I am just responding to your posts because I do not uphold your beliefs in this matter. This is what is great about discussions. We all have an opinion.
