Wow! LDS endorses national same-sex marriage bill
Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2022 1:08 am
https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2022/11 ... t-federal/
In an unexpected move, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gave its support Tuesday to a proposed federal law that would not only recognize all legal marriages but also codify ones between same-sex couples.
The Utah-based faith’s doctrine “related to marriage between a man and a woman is well known and will remain unchanged,” according to a news release posted to the church’s website. “We are grateful for the continuing efforts of those who work to ensure the Respect for Marriage Act includes appropriate religious freedom protections while respecting the law and preserving the rights of our LGBTQ brothers and sisters.”
It seems a somewhat of a reversal for the church, which famously put its members and a lot of money behind California’s Proposition 8 in 2008 to oppose same-sex marriage before it was legalized by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Some perspectives apparently have changed.
“We believe this approach is the way forward,” the release said. “As we work together to preserve the principles and practices of religious freedom together with the rights of LGBTQ individuals, much can be accomplished to heal relationships and foster greater understanding.”
The church’s remarks come after the act’s sponsors added an amendment to the House-passed bill exempting religious organizations from providing “services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods or privileges for the solemnization or celebration of a marriage.” Neither could the act be used to alter the tax-exempt status of any organization.
“For instance,” stated a one-page fact sheet provided by the office of Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., “a church, university, or other nonprofit’s eligibility for tax-exempt status…would not be affected by this legislation.”
The amendment also specified that the measure did not extend to polygamous marriages.
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, remains unconvinced the amendment goes far enough in protecting the rights of institutions that may oppose same-sex marriage.
“Any potential threat to religious liberty must be met with a thorough and thoughtful defense,” he said through a spokesperson. “Current law, coupled with the Respect for Marriage Act, leaves certain religious organizations, educational institutions and individual exercise of religious beliefs more vulnerable to attack. I am actively working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to shore up those vulnerabilities.”
Lee’s vote may not prove necessary, however. According to CNN, key senators heading up the effort believe they have the votes needed for it to pass and are calling on leadership to put it on the floor for a vote as soon as possible.
Utah’s four House representatives — all Republican and all Latter-day Saint — voted in favor of the act in the summer before the addition of the recent amendment and its exemptions for religious organizations.
In an unexpected move, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gave its support Tuesday to a proposed federal law that would not only recognize all legal marriages but also codify ones between same-sex couples.
The Utah-based faith’s doctrine “related to marriage between a man and a woman is well known and will remain unchanged,” according to a news release posted to the church’s website. “We are grateful for the continuing efforts of those who work to ensure the Respect for Marriage Act includes appropriate religious freedom protections while respecting the law and preserving the rights of our LGBTQ brothers and sisters.”
It seems a somewhat of a reversal for the church, which famously put its members and a lot of money behind California’s Proposition 8 in 2008 to oppose same-sex marriage before it was legalized by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Some perspectives apparently have changed.
“We believe this approach is the way forward,” the release said. “As we work together to preserve the principles and practices of religious freedom together with the rights of LGBTQ individuals, much can be accomplished to heal relationships and foster greater understanding.”
The church’s remarks come after the act’s sponsors added an amendment to the House-passed bill exempting religious organizations from providing “services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods or privileges for the solemnization or celebration of a marriage.” Neither could the act be used to alter the tax-exempt status of any organization.
“For instance,” stated a one-page fact sheet provided by the office of Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., “a church, university, or other nonprofit’s eligibility for tax-exempt status…would not be affected by this legislation.”
The amendment also specified that the measure did not extend to polygamous marriages.
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, remains unconvinced the amendment goes far enough in protecting the rights of institutions that may oppose same-sex marriage.
“Any potential threat to religious liberty must be met with a thorough and thoughtful defense,” he said through a spokesperson. “Current law, coupled with the Respect for Marriage Act, leaves certain religious organizations, educational institutions and individual exercise of religious beliefs more vulnerable to attack. I am actively working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to shore up those vulnerabilities.”
Lee’s vote may not prove necessary, however. According to CNN, key senators heading up the effort believe they have the votes needed for it to pass and are calling on leadership to put it on the floor for a vote as soon as possible.
Utah’s four House representatives — all Republican and all Latter-day Saint — voted in favor of the act in the summer before the addition of the recent amendment and its exemptions for religious organizations.