While, for obvious reasons, gay couples can't go through the traditional process of having a child, they go for adoption. Since gay marriage has been legalized, adoption agencies can't turn away gay couples because of that reason.
"They basically suggested that any law that distinguishes between same-sex couples and different-sex couples, whether it's for purposes of marriage or anything else, violates the Constitution if the government is doing it, (that) the government can't make those distinctions," Picarello said.This article is aimed at the Catholic adoption agencies in particular and for this quote it's saying that even though the Catholic people obviously find gay marriage immoral, by law they are required to forsake their beliefs and allow gay couples to walk in and adopt a child. I feel like that a pretty big "Screw you" to the churches face.
While i am in obvious support for gay rights, there has to be a line where other people and in this case religions are concerned. It's a pretty common fact that certain people are against gay marriage. Those people own businesses, work in the government, or are even realtors. Yet, by law, if they turn away someone just because of sexuality, they can be sued for discrimination. and in the case of the Catholic adoption agencies, they're forced to sit and play nice no matter how much they want to throw the gay couple out. Those people were raised and have believed their entire lives that homosexuality is wrong and immoral; yet because the government says it's legal, they're forced to acknowledge it.
While we shouldn't condone persecution of gays, doesn't mean we can condone trampling on people's beliefs and values.
Works Cited
Sadowski, Dennis. "Religious Discrimination Occurs When Gays Are Allowed to Be Foster Parents." Gay Parenting. Ed. Beth Rosenthal. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Advance of Same-Sex Marriage Deepens Concern for Religious Liberty." 2011. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.
I think you're pretty darn open-minded about adoption from Catholic charities. The reason they cannot have that much leverage (religious freedom) is that they take government money to help fund their adoption efforts. Thus, they must abide by federal rules. And that means no discrimination to legally married couples.
ReplyDeleteDoes a person have to "trample" on others' beliefs to coexist? Not necessarily. What does it matter if the religious person working at a Catholic adoption agency doesn't believe in divorce, either? Should only first-marriage couples be allowed to adopt? People can believe a wide, zany variety of things, can't they? So does it infringe on the right of the adoption worker or the family adopting the child more? Whose life is more affected?
Respecting people's religious beliefs should extend to not having their beliefs affect people who also don't believe. The Catholic church has threatened to stop running adoptions due to this rule. Who is really being Christian then, I wonder?
What would be interesting here would also be to read the opposing viewpoint to this one!
I agree with how you opened your blog post every couple gay or not should be happy and ecstatic about awaiting the arrival of their new child. Newborn child or even an adopted child. I am happy that gay marriage has been legalized and adoption agencies can no longer turn them away. I never understood in the first place how a government has the right to tell you, you cannot be with the person you love and want to be with for the rest of your life because they are the same gender as you. However I disagree with the trampling. The government is not trampling their beliefs because the government is giving them funding for the children of the adoption agency. The government before did say gay marriage was illegal and people had to hide their relationships. What I think it really comes down to the child in the orphanage are you going make them group up there without parents, because the people working in the agency refuse to let the child be raised in a loving home of two gentlemen or two women. Simply because they are in love with the same sex. I do see and understand where you are coming from.
ReplyDeletethank you. i say trampling on their beliefs because, like you said, the government gives them funding; BUT if they start turning away gay couples for that reason then they can lose that funding and all that funding would normally pay for. not to mention a civil suit.The government is forcing them to make a choice between funding to continue what they're doing and their religion.
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