U.S. District Judge Robert Shelby, ruling in a lawsuit found that the amendment to the Utah State Constitution defining marriage as being only between one man and one woman excludes gay citizens of their right to due process and equal protection under the United States Constitution."The state's current laws deny its gay and lesbian citizens their fundamental right to marry and, in doing so, demean the dignity of these same sex couples for no rational reason. Accordingly, the court finds that these laws are unconstitutional," Shelby said.
It is interesting that the first thing those who agree with such an amendment to the Utah Constitution or to the U.S. Constitution say is that the Bible says being gay is an "Abomination" as if that has any legal bearing on the U.S. Constitution. The Bible is not part of the Constitution; your argument is invalid.
And what about the law of the land we are admonished to follow? Or does that only apply to those laws we like?
Statement from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
"The Church has been consistent in its support of traditional marriage while teaching that all people should be treated with respect. This ruling by a district court will work its way through the judicial process. We continue to believe that voters in Utah did the right thing by providing clear direction in the state constitution that marriage should be between a man and a woman and we are hopeful that this view will be validated by a higher court."
— Cody Craynor, spokesperson for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsAccording to local fox affiliate Fox13 "FOX 13 News contacted officials with Box Elder, Duchesne, San Juan, Uintah, Utah, Wayne and Weber counties, and officials said they are not issuing marriage certificates to same-sex couples for now. Most said they are waiting for instructions from state officials.Utah County Clerk/Auditor Bryan Thompson issued a statement to FOX 13 News regarding marriage licenses:
'Based upon today’s ruling by US District Court Judge Robert Shelby that Utah’s same sex marriage ban is unconstitutional; I am seeking further clarification from the State, and the Utah County Attorney’s Office. Until I receive the further clarification that I’m seeking, the Utah County Clerk’s Office will not be making any policy changes in regards to which we issue marriage licenses. We will continue at this time to issue a marriage license only to applicant couples (male and female) who appear together at the Utah County Clerk’s Office.'”
He could just say "I won't let the gays marry until the state makes me" and at least be honest about it.
If this judgment holds then Utah will be the 15th state to legalize same sex unions. Just a few years ago it seemed impossible but now it looks as if, state by state, gay marriage will be legal and the civil rights of gay people and due process under the U.S.Constitution will be given and protected.Imagine that, all alike unto God AND each other.I love that the church says it's been consistent in it's advocacy for "Traditional Marriage" but pointing out that all are equal unto God, but some are more equal than others and more deserving of civil rights, of human rights, than those who aren't quite as equal as they are, eh? Correct me if I'm wrong but is this not the line line of B.S. our Church was famous for spouting in regard to why all races are alike unto God, it's just that Black people can't participate in certain Temple ceremonies and Black men can't receive the Priesthood, and they will be servants in Heaven because they were "less valiant" in the pre-existence?Oh but we've moved on from that embarrassment so why wait to remove the same line of separate but equal theology and policy from current teachings?Jesus says in Matthew 19:12:
For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.
He says if you can become a eunuch to serve God whole heartedly then you should. He asks those who can be celibate to be celibate.
And here is where I'd like to share with you what Jesus had to say about Gay people, I'd like to but I can't because he never broached the subject, he never once mentioned homosexuality.
So if Christ never broached a subject then how can any teachings on the subject be truly Christian?
Read my last post.
It will explain why men with short hair is every bit the abomination that gay men are. Why if you work on the sabbath, Saturday technically, then you are to be stoned to death. And why we ought to decide that it is better to refuse to cast the first stone as the only man who truly was without sin did.
Or maybe we should just be more concerned with whether or not we are known to be His disciples because of our love, rather than our hate filled diatribes about who is and who is not sinning. Paul states in the new testament that all fall short of the glory of God. Jesus says we should pull out the beam in our own eye before pulling the mote from our brothers eye.
Or maybe we just worry about whether or not how we live our own lives is a mirror to the way Christ led his, and instead lead by the example of love as Christ did.
For those of you who say homosexuality is against nature, you must be thinking of an alternate universe containing an Earth where it does not exist because in nature on this Earth there are over 1,500 animals which have been found to practice same sex behavior, and not just sex but forming bonds and partnerships.
Here's a list.
If you're still wondering how this law against same sex unions was overturned read this.Pope Francis said this about God “In Christmas, God reveals himself not as one who stands above and who dominates the universe, but as He who lowers himself. It means that to be like Him, we do not have to place ourselves above the others, but come down, come down and serve them, become small among the small, and poor among the poor.” And this: “It is an ugly thing when one sees a Christian who does not want to lower himself, who does not want to serve, a Christian who parades around everywhere. It’s terrible, no? That person isn’t a Christian.”When we not only allow those who are different to have the same rights as ourselves but we lower ourselves and serve them, we lower ourselves as Christ did throughout His life. One of the last things Jesus did before His crucifixion was to lower himsself and wash and kiss the feet of His disciples, His students.They were His students and yet their master lowered Himself and served them.This tendancy of Jesus is why He is sometimes called "The Servant King." Only those who lower themselves to serve are worthy to stand tall and lead. This, I believe, is why Jesus said "The first shall be the last and the last shall be the first." Yet as of Monday night, the 23rd of December, there are four county clerks offices refusing to serve anyone lest they serve those they consider unworthy, Juab, Piute, Beaver and San Juan counties are not issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples according to KSL.
"I claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of my own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may."Allow people to live by the dictates of THEIR conscience instead of mine?! What radical would suggest such a thing??Oh wait that's right; it was Joseph Smith in the 11th Article of Faith.Somehow I doubt Brother Joseph would have approved of members of his church legislating their beliefs, like the word of wisdom, and inflicting it on those who would use their free agency "wrongly." Nor do I believe Jesus would have us alienate members of our own family because some of us mistakenly believe that the Proclamation of the Family is some sort of divine revelation rather than what it in fact is; which is a statement of policy by Church leaders.
Nowhere in that proclamation does it say to alienate members of your family over their sexual orientation.
I say this because these are not abstractions we are dealing with; these are people, men and women, adults and teens who are being ostracized by not just strangers or government policies and laws but their own family.
Aren't we called to be our brothers keeper?
So why should we cast them aside and say you do not deserve the same rights as I do?
They are no more and no less children of God than we are; and now in the state of Utah they are finally being viewed as such at least legally. Amen!
