Login to Change.org
Create an Account
Jill Reisfeld
Recent Activity
-
Jill commented on the article |The Catholic Church can preach all it wants -- but it has no right to use tax-free dollars to try and influence government legislation. And that is what the Catholic Church is doing. It is not merely preaching -- it is campaigning.
The reason that religious institutions are tax exempt is because they are prohibited from influencing public legislation. By contributing money toward a ballot initiative, the Catholic Church is violating the conditions of its tax exempt status.
You can't have it both ways -- you can't argue for religious freedom while campaigning to take someone else's freedoms away.
-
Jill commented on the article |
Thank you William! You said it best with "I have a right to believe and practice as I wish and so do you. Let us take pains to protect each other in this." Even if I do not agree with someone, I will always protect their right to think and believe differently from me. Separation between church and state is so paramount to the success of a pluralistic democracy. Without it, we run the risk of devolving into a theocracy -- a placed I don't think any of us want to be.
I also agree with you that a lot of arguments are being fueled by the "leaders" of the various religious factions who have an ulterior motive; it is always easier to champion support for your cause when you have a common enemy. The Mormon leadership has fallen in line with this philosophy as well. Very sad IMHO.
My partner's family are devout Catholics and they are some of the most wonderful people I have ever met in my life. They love my partner unconditionally, and have welcomed me into their family with open arms (and I'm Jewish too). I have a feeling that many, if not all of them, would be disgusted to learn that their contributions to the Church are being used for such malicious purposes.
-
Jill commented on the article |
I agree with you Thomas -- which is why I believe we need to start countering the "biblical" arguments with the constitution rather than trying to make a counter-religious case for same-sex marriage.
-
Jill commented on the article |
Whether there is or isn't a biblical basis for or against same-sex marriage is irrelevant. Freedom of religion also means freedom FROM religion. No one religious affiliation has the right to dictate the lives of others based on its beliefs and biases.
Unlike the Catholic Church, I PAY TAXES, and therefore, I should have the right to marry any legal-age consenting adult that I choose, regardless of gender. I'm not hurting anyone.
I could care less what the Catholic Church thinks about homosexuality -- that is their perogative. However, for the church to use tax-free money to try and take away the rights of others -- simply because those rights don't jive with their narrow religious philosophy -- is both unjust and ILLEGAL.
Contrary to the belief of zealots, the United States is governed by the US Constitution -- not the bible. Using religion as an argument against same-sex marriage is unconstitutional -- it favors one group's religious beliefs over another's.
I'm sorry Catholic Church, the fact that you think same-sex love is "icky" and "sinful" is not enough to deny the rights of those who don't agree with you. I think many of your teachings are antiquated and depraved, yet I am not lobbying to take away your right to assemble and live according to your religious principles. I'm not even fighting to take away your tax-exempt status (which I think is a joke). And I'm certainly not trying to pass legislation that would prevent your ilk from marrying and raising families.
So please, do the world a favor, and find an actual cause to spend your money on. I hear there's lots of poverty and violence in the world. Perhaps you should start there.
Impact
0 Actions
0 Recruits