The United States was a result of religious persecution, as much as it was brought about by the desire of man, to explore his world. It was the reason many left Ireland, Spain, France, and elsewhere, to battle the unknown, simply so they could believe in GOD, as they wished to do so.
The ruling by the Iowa courts, to over turn the law the said marriage was only between a man & woman, is a victory not for gay rights, but for religious freedom, for the principles that founded the United States. Yet many, simply see it as the exact opposite, because they do not wish to see, they do not wish to believe, that others have a different view on GOD, than they do.
The mistake is that one looks at this, as being about marriage, when the truth is, it is about a minority, being allowed to have the same benefits the majority have, under their civil structure. It does not force any Church to change its beliefs, to alter its core values about marriage, or homosexuality.
If the Mormons want to believe that homosexuality is wrong, or the Catholics want to, this law changes nothing about that. They are free to believe it, and to try and convince their followers of it, but what they are being denied, is the right to force that view on everyone else, who is not of their sect.
If the Catholics believe they are the only one’s who can be absolved of their sins, by the Priests, that is up to them. Other Christian Sects like the Anglicans, the Baptists, etc. don’t believe it, but that view, doesnt stop them from it. It does not prevent them from being married, or buried, or attending their church.
It doesn’t deny them the right to make donations that are tax deductible, nor does it deny their church special taxation status. And that is really what this is all about. Simply put, if the Catholics believe only they speak for GOD, they cannot force the civilian government to deny the Anglicans the same tax breaks they enjoy. Even if they are the over whelming majority in society.
And the ruling in Iowa is just that. It says no church, has the right to deny another, the same civil rights, that they themselves, enjoy.
