The order by Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore that judges stop issuing marriage licenses to gay couples re-opens a messy legal case. But it shouldn’t. This is a discussion that should be taking place within and among faith communities—not my side vs. your side but real digging into the theology of gay relations. The key question is: are we treating biblical passages about homosexuality differently from the way we treat other passages?
Far fewer court battles would erupt if those bringing the suits first worked together on the religious material. In short, get the issue out of the courts and back into religious discourse, where it belongs. That’s one thing the separation of church and state is for: to keep preference for any one religion out of the state (and secular law) and to keep the state out of religion. This is a religious discussion we’re having, so let’s have it.
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