top o' the mornin'® 5/29/2014

[earendel]

I don't know if I've said much about my church recently (other than mentioning handbell concerts and such) but it has taken some noteworthy (and controversial) positions of late. The most recent occurred yesterday - our deacons, in consultation with our ministerial staff, has decided to allow same-sex couples to have "weddings" at our church. Of course the current law in the commonwealth of Kentucky doesn't recognize same-sex marriages (although the law has been overturned, an appeal is under way, with the commonwealth claiming that allowing same-sex marriages would discourage "traditional" marriages and lower the birth rate, causing economic hardships down the road). The marriages would have no legal standing but they would provide a religious imprimatur. My church isn't the first one in Kentucky or Louisville to take this step, but it is the first one with "Baptist" in its name to do so. The local media have picked up on this - there was a news truck outside our church last night and they weren't there to cover our spring concert. The pastor and chair of deacons declined on-camera interviews (but the local station did a story anyway - http://www.wave3.com/story/25635583/hig ... -marriages).

[Catfish]

decided to allow same-sex couples to have "weddings" at our church.

<like!>

the commonwealth claiming that allowing same-sex marriages would discourage "traditional" marriages and lower the birth rate

<huh?>

[earendel]

decided to allow same-sex couples to have "weddings" at our church.

<like!>

the commonwealth claiming that allowing same-sex marriages would discourage "traditional" marriages and lower the birth rate

<huh?>

When the law was overturned, the attorney-general declined to appeal; the governor chose a private law firm to represent the commonwealth. One of the arguments that the governor made was

http://www.courier-journal.com/story/ne ... s/8891661/

The gist of the article is this statement:

In the 32-page appeal, attorney Leigh Gross Latherow says Kentucky has an interest in maintaining birth rates, which, if allowed to fall, can induce economic crises because of the reduced demand for good and services, and the reduction of the work force. She cited recent dips in the economies of Germany and Japan tied to declines in birth rates.

[Catfish]

decided to allow same-sex couples to have "weddings" at our church.

<like!>

the commonwealth claiming that allowing same-sex marriages would discourage "traditional" marriages and lower the birth rate

<huh?>

When the law was overturned, the attorney-general declined to appeal; the governor chose a private law firm to represent the commonwealth. One of the arguments that the governor made was

http://www.courier-journal.com/story/ne ... s/8891661/

The gist of the article is this statement:

In the 32-page appeal, attorney Leigh Gross Latherow says Kentucky has an interest in maintaining birth rates, which, if allowed to fall, can induce economic crises because of the reduced demand for good and services, and the reduction of the work force. She cited recent dips in the economies of Germany and Japan tied to declines in birth rates.

I don't get how same-sex marriage discourages "traditional" marriage. Are they saying that without the right to same-sex marriage, peeps would head right on over to an opposite-sex marriage in order to breed and keep the birth rate up?

[earendel]

I don't get how same-sex marriage discourages "traditional" marriage. Are they saying that without the right to same-sex marriage, peeps would head right on over to an opposite-sex marriage in order to breed and keep the birth rate up?

Don't ask me. I think it's a specious argument, but it's the only one that the commonwealth has to offer.

[elwoodblues]

I don't get how same-sex marriage discourages "traditional" marriage. Are they saying that without the right to same-sex marriage, peeps would head right on over to an opposite-sex marriage in order to breed and keep the birth rate up?

Don't ask me. I think it's a specious argument, but it's the only one that the commonwealth has to offer.

I don't even think the people who are trying to make that argument actually believe it. They are grasping at straws because there is no valid legal argument for excluding a certain group from the rights the rest of us have. That is why every state that has laws against same-sex marriage is losing in court.

And good for your church.

[elwoodblues]

I have yet to hear an argument against same-sex marriage that did not sound like it came from The Onion.