Texas Governor Signs Religious Bills

[Forgiven1]

Recently, Gov. Abbott of Texas signed two bills. One which protects Pastors performing wedding ceremonies according to their beliefs.

Governor Abbott Signs Pastor Protection Act Into Law (84R)

gov.texas.gov

Another one preventing government from closing places of worship for any reason. This one grew out the mandates from COVID and he subsequently ordered religious activities as "essential."

Abbott signs religious freedom law prohibiting government from closing places of worship

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law prohibiting government agencies and officials in the state from ordering churches and other houses of worship to close.

www.foxnews.com

 

[NewCreation435]

I don't know why you would want a pastor to perform your wedding if you knew that he didn't support your marriage to begin with?

 

[tango]

I don't know why you would want a pastor to perform your wedding if you knew that he didn't support your marriage to begin with?

This is the thing I've often wondered. When it comes to pastors, or bakeries, or photographers, or any other service, why would anyone specifically choose a service provider they know doesn't want their business?

I'd have thought that anyone choosing companies to cater for their weddings (or indeed any other function) would choose a company that actually wanted the business. Even without playing discrimination cards, if I don't feel like a business cares whether I spend my money there or not I can usually find somewhere else to spend it. In the last few months I've started to feel like the beer distributor I preferred for years doesn't really care if I shop there or not, so I started shopping elsewhere.

The free market is a wonderful thing

 

[JRT]

Many Christian denominations have approved same sex marriages because it is simply the right thing to do. Remember that marriage is a covenant between two people. Christian Churches did not even require an "official church marriage" till the 11th century.

 

[Forgiven1]

This post is not about whether same sex marriage is right or wrong. It is about the fact that in the State of Texas, Pastors of the churches who believe marriage is between one man and one woman is able to say no to performing same sex marriage as it against their belief.

If you want to debate the rightness or wrongness of such, start your own thread.

Also, it may be hard to believe, that there still are churches which hold to the one man and one woman concept of marriage.

ALSO, no government employee can order churches to close like they were doing during the pandemic. This bill is to pre-empt that from happening again.

 

[Josiah]

Recently, Gov. Abbott of Texas signed two bills.

Thank God!



.

 

[Lamb]

This post is not about whether same sex marriage is right or wrong. It is about the fact that in the State of Texas, Pastors of the churches who believe marriage is between one man and one woman is able to say no to performing same sex marriage as it against their belief.

If you want to debate the rightness or wrongness of such, start your own thread.

Also, it may be hard to believe, that there still are churches which hold to the one man and one woman concept of marriage.

ALSO, no government employee can order churches to close like they were doing during the pandemic. This bill is to pre-empt that from happening again.

This is a relief that your state had the courage to stand up for their religious beliefs. I hope other states recognize their rights and follow suit.

 

[tango]

This post is not about whether same sex marriage is right or wrong. It is about the fact that in the State of Texas, Pastors of the churches who believe marriage is between one man and one woman is able to say no to performing same sex marriage as it against their belief.

If you want to debate the rightness or wrongness of such, start your own thread.

Also, it may be hard to believe, that there still are churches which hold to the one man and one woman concept of marriage.

ALSO, no government employee can order churches to close like they were doing during the pandemic. This bill is to pre-empt that from happening again.

I think this is the key thing. Whatever any given person might believe about whether same-sex marriage is good or bad it's about recognizing the fact that some people believe differently. In an age when you don't have to get married in a church there's really no reason to require churches to bless a marriage they consider to be violate their beliefs.

 

[hedrick]

This post is not about whether same sex marriage is right or wrong. It is about the fact that in the State of Texas, Pastors of the churches who believe marriage is between one man and one woman is able to say no to performing same sex marriage as it against their belief.

If you want to debate the rightness or wrongness of such, start your own thread.

Also, it may be hard to believe, that there still are churches which hold to the one man and one woman concept of marriage.

ALSO, no government employee can order churches to close like they were doing during the pandemic. This bill is to pre-empt that from happening again.

These laws look like posturing more than reality. No church can be ordered to perform same sex marriage now, and the history of things like racially mixed marriage show that it's not going to happen in the future even without laws like this.

The law exempting churches from health issues sounds courageous now that the major problems are over. However it could easily cause trouble in the next epidemic. All you'd need is an epidemic with a slightly different characteristics and this could produce a disaster that even Texas can't ignore.

 

[Lamb]

I have done a thread clean up and the white supremacist has been banned since hate like that is not tolerated here.

 

[Forgiven1]

I have done a thread clean up and the white supremacist has been banned since hate like that is not tolerated here.

Thank you Lammchen

 

[tango]

I have done a thread clean up and the white supremacist has been banned since hate like that is not tolerated here.

Awww..... just when they were getting entertaining too. Their interpretations of Scripture were..... interesting.

Seriously, good that they aren't here any more.