Separation of Church and State Issues With Same Sex Marriage
firstamendmentcenter.org: news:
As President Bush prepares to endorse a ban on gay marriage tomorrow and as religious groups argue for and against same-sex unions, some scholars say they also need to look ahead and ponder the practical problems if such marriages are one day widely legalized.
Their take: If gay marriage becomes recognized under law across the country, religious groups could face challenges to customary ways and practices, even to their finances.
Although 19 states have passed anti-gay marriage amendments, Marc D. Stern, general counsel of the American Jewish Congress and an influential ally of liberals on church-state separation, thinks widespread legalization of same-sex unions is inevitable.
From his perspective, that will cause major problems for religious agencies unless they start a campaign now so their ability to dissent is guaranteed. Already, he notes, Catholic Charities Boston ended a century of adoption services because an anti-discrimination law requires placements with same-sex couples in Massachusetts, the only state where gay marriage is now legal.