tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14162253.post3087769462080460170..comments2024-03-27T08:39:28.807-06:00Comments on Wash Park Prophet: Washington State To Enact Bill Authorizing Gay MarriageAndrew Oh-Willekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02537151821869153861noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14162253.post-13051952125500067112012-01-25T16:51:40.417-07:002012-01-25T16:51:40.417-07:00I read your post. Your objection to Section 4 of ...I read your post. Your objection to Section 4 of the bill is baseless. In the context used, there is both no legal duty to marry anyone, and the only alternative to "civil" liability when used in that way is criminal liability, which no law purports to create and to which a First Amendment defense would be sufficient to secure a swift and certain dismissal in any case.<br /><br />Section 7 of the bill, which bans discrimination in commercial transactions that happen to be carried out by religious institutions is probably designed to prevent a business from calling itself a church simply to escape the law's requirements. But, one could imagine that being overenforced as applied. The hardest cases would involve religiously run medical facilities.<br /><br />However, Section 7 is probably subject to constitutional challenge in an appropriate case, could be construed narrowly to preserve its constitutionality, and even if found to be unconstitutional is probably severable from the rest of the legislation.Andrew Oh-Willekehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02537151821869153861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14162253.post-82154355900084618642012-01-25T14:56:43.827-07:002012-01-25T14:56:43.827-07:00The Washington State bill pretends to protect reli...The Washington State bill pretends to protect religious freedom but sections 4 and 7 quietly and completely take it away, and leave pastors, imams, rabbis, churches, mosques and synagogues open to action by the State Human Rights Commission, the Attorney General’s office (through the ALJ system) and the court system.<br /><br />They will be faced with the option of marrying people they don’t in good conscience believe their God allows them to marry, or being bankrupted.<br /><br />And once we let the government infringe the religious freedom of one group over one issue, it will be hard to keep them out of everyone else's spiritual practice as well.<br /><br />Here’s an analysis of the language of the bill as it pertains to religious freedom:<br />http://crybelovedcountry.com/2012/01/washingtons-gay-marriage-bill-a-frontal-attack-on-religious-freedom/Cry, Beloved Countryhttp://crybelovedcountry.comnoreply@blogger.com