LDS Apostle Dallin Oaks’ defense of his “civil rights” analogy is typical of Christians with whom I have spoken on the same-sex marriage issue. He would have us believe that Christians (and before them Hebrews) invented marriage and therefore have some ownership of it and its definition. This is ludicrous. People were getting married before the Mosaic law. Marriage was practiced in many cultures and ways not influenced by Judeo-Christian values.
Oaks notes a deterioration of public respect for religious freedom. This is because the religious, in their zeal to convert and control, have tried, often successfully, to require those who do not share their beliefs to live as though they do. The deterioration of respect also comes from religions involving themselves in politics with the financial edge of being free of taxes and financial scrutiny. Those who are not “people of faith” do not have a tax-free, private organization that can raise money that can be used for political purposes. Perhaps if religions paid taxes their opinions on political issues would be met with more respect. Perhaps if their financial records were open to public scrutiny like other political organizations, they would find the respect they seek. John Mealey Moab
Defining marriage - Salt Lake Tribune
Beautifully Said:]
