tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7535354299638217634.comments2023-11-05T06:38:04.851-06:00Minnesota Family CouncilMinnesota Family Councilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05497991102856192058noreply@blogger.comBlogger1222125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7535354299638217634.post-66325761230235858262010-11-17T17:09:33.697-06:002010-11-17T17:09:33.697-06:00Religious beliefs are irrelevant to this debate, b...Religious beliefs are irrelevant to this debate, because (1) the United States is not theocracy, and (2) churches will continue to be free to conduct or deny ceremonies to whomever they want.<br /><br />Procreation and parenting are irrelevant, since (1) couples do not have to marry to have children, and (2) the ability or even desire to have children is not a prerequisite for getting a marriage license.<br /><br />This is simply a matter of equal treatment under the law. <br /><br />Marriage is a legal concept involving legal rights (like inheritance or court testimony) and is recognized as more than a religious bond by the government (in for example, having different tax status for married people, and SS benefits). Corporations also are involved in the civiil definition because they give, for example, health care benefits to spouses. By what right does anybody get to say “we decided what marriage is at it excludes a whole group of people”? On face, that seems to violate equal rights, not to mention a true sense of morality. This is a civil rights issue, not a religious issue–and, of course, the government has no right deciding religious issues or making laws based on religious dogma, if it were a religious issue.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07147994025598152535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7535354299638217634.post-54980848962056867422010-11-15T15:28:24.563-06:002010-11-15T15:28:24.563-06:00Archbishop Nienstedt states in the DVD that gay ma...Archbishop Nienstedt states in the DVD that gay marriage poses a threat not only to the children taken out of the foster care system and adopted by married gay couples, but to children everywhere. He warns us that if we were to legalize gay marriage, the government would start teaching children in public schools that gay marriage is okay––something that is not consistent with Catholic teachings. The DVD further equates the effects of growing up in a household with two moms or two dads to growing up in a polygamous household, or an impoverished, financially struggling, single parent home.<br /><br /> The DVD tells us that the legalization of same-sex marriage will result in a world that no longer cares about a one-man one-woman vision of marriage, which will in turn result in a society that is, “callous and indifferent to the suffering it imposes on its own children, and on women who are left to carry the burden of parenting, and on men who are fundamentally dehumanized.”<br /><br /> How gay marriage results in heterosexual divorce and poverty, the DVD fails to address. How gay marriage leads to the acceptance of polygamy, the DVD makes no mention of either.<br /><br /> In the end, the DVD simply tries to equate gay marriage (an institution that would actually bring families together through the adoption of children) to broken homes and polygamy, without providing any facts to back it up. And, while the struggles of raising a child without a mother or father as support are certainly real, this stems from the fact that single parents are doing the job of two people and is not a reason to deny homosexuals the right to marry under civil law.<br /><br /> The DVD also aimed to reject the notion that the issue of gay marriage is an issue of civil rights. They did this in the most subtle way imaginable: by having a black man quote Martin Luther King Jr. The quote in question was from “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” and stated that for a law to be just it must be in line with natural law.<br /><br /> What the speaker fails to address is the very next line of the letter that states, “Any law that degrades human personality is unjust. All segregation statues are unjust because segregation distorts the soul.” Clearly this omitted line proves that MLK would not have supported discriminatory policies against any group, including homosexuals. The fact that the Church would go as far as to evoke MLK in an issue which he clearly wouldn’t have supported speaks volumes to the argument which the DVD presents.<br /><br /> To close its argument, the DVD states that the civil recognition of same-sex marriage would be an attack on our religious liberties as Catholics; however, no law that would be passed for gay marriage would have any impact on the Church’s ability to control its own definition of marriage. The legislature is discussing granting civil liberties to homosexuals in a legal way, not a religious one.<br /><br /> We have been told through this DVD to defend the historical definition of marriage through our votes. Well, up until 1967 it was a historical precedent not to let two people of different races get married in 17 states. In previous centuries, married women were considered their husband’s properties. But these things have changed, and it’s time for the civil definition of marriage to change again to account for our gay brothers and sisters, not in the Church, but at least in the civil arena.<br /><br />written by a staff of a local catholic school...Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02698011776756869178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7535354299638217634.post-7318606115421218922010-11-15T15:27:55.289-06:002010-11-15T15:27:55.289-06:00Staff Finds DVD unsubstantiated
The Catholic ...Staff Finds DVD unsubstantiated<br /><br /> The Catholic Church has been a long-standing opponent of gay marriage both in civil law and the Church itself. In keeping with this teaching, Archbishop Nienstedt produced and mailed a DVD in which he explicitly endorses an amendment to our state constitution that would bar homosexuals from the right to marry under civil law.<br /><br /> We as a staff believe the Church has both the right to have a teaching on this issue and to deny homosexuals the right to get married within the Church itself. However, we also feel that the DVD many of our families received is inappropriate due to the civil nature of the issue, and the content is nothing more than simple, emotional propaganda.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02698011776756869178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7535354299638217634.post-47938462481165623012010-11-08T10:48:40.878-06:002010-11-08T10:48:40.878-06:00pro marriage when the highest levels of divorce is...pro marriage when the highest levels of divorce is within Christian homes, pro marriage when the highest amounts of teen pregnancy is in the bible belt!<br /><br />Pro family when they refuse homes to children to adopted families that have to go through huge leaps in tests and evaluations to prove they are a healthy happy, and financially ok home to bring up a child.<br /><br />Pro Christ when they are the most UNCHRIST like people in the world.<br /><br />they have spent MILLIONS in the last year to fight against same sex marriage when there are hungry and homeless children in their city.<br /><br />so much for pro family.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07147994025598152535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7535354299638217634.post-8173316441775944682010-11-07T00:20:06.016-06:002010-11-07T00:20:06.016-06:00It certainly takes a lot of chutzpah to be opposed...It certainly takes a lot of chutzpah to be opposed to allowing people marry whomever they might want, and then calling yourself "pro-marriage."<br /><br />What next? Being pro-temperance while you're getting drunk?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7535354299638217634.post-33759634956955333032010-11-02T12:05:14.855-06:002010-11-02T12:05:14.855-06:00It was that interview on national tv, that showed ...It was that interview on national tv, that showed that all that Andy has written was indeed true.<br /><br />Thank you Andy Birkey for pointing out the UnGodly way of The MFC.<br /><br />I will continue to pray for your souls, for the only one is to judge is God. I fear for what you will meet on Judgement day.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07147994025598152535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7535354299638217634.post-69197920827766344672010-10-29T15:25:17.946-06:002010-10-29T15:25:17.946-06:00How is socialism inconsistent with Christian princ...How is socialism inconsistent with Christian principles? Saying something does not make it so.Troyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08000801766472938222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7535354299638217634.post-68952620480032621992010-10-28T06:12:53.801-06:002010-10-28T06:12:53.801-06:00For information on the Catholic Church and the poo...For information on the Catholic Church and the poor, read this:<br /><br /><b> http://northlandcatholic.blogspot.com/2010/10/just-in-case-you-were-wondering-about.html </b>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08332138030182107580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7535354299638217634.post-88433330976158724732010-10-28T06:08:43.561-06:002010-10-28T06:08:43.561-06:00Thank you, Chuck.
And to amplify for your readers...Thank you, Chuck.<br /><br />And to amplify for your readers, the point is not so much the use of the "photoshopped" photo of a "priest", it is that the message is that of a "priest wearing an Ignore the Poor button."<br /><br />That "Ignore the Poor" message recalls the recent news stores about objections to the Marriage DVD that was sent to all of the Catholics in Minnesota. While paid for by an anonymous donor, the DVD was endorsed by all of the 6 Catholic bishops of Minnesota.<br /><br />Most of the objections in the comments sections of newspapers included the gripe that the money should have been used to help the poor.<br /><br />The DFL's leadership, unanimously in favor of Homosexual Marriage, abhors the Catholic Church's objections to any law endorsing that and they have used their opposition to Dan Hall in Senate District 40 as an opportunity to also slander the Catholic Church.<br /><br />They need every vote they can get to control the Legislature so that they can pass legislation on Homosexual Marriage and abortion, too.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08332138030182107580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7535354299638217634.post-8096330216088988022010-10-24T13:57:53.951-06:002010-10-24T13:57:53.951-06:00Oh, please Elaine. I guess we can't pass laws...Oh, please Elaine. I guess we can't pass laws to feed the poor, take care of the elderly or protect borrowers, to name just a few.<br /><br />Have you ever considered how you benefit from the religious moral foundations that have influenced our government and courts?<br /><br />Next you'll want to test our legislators for latent, devious moral thoughts that might influence legislation.<br /><br />Craigg, every time we pass a law it forces an idea, philosophy, worldview and, yes even morality on the governed. <br /><br />Clearly, all of your comments desire to "enslave" people of faith by "indoctrinating" them according to your "oppressive" speech codes.<br /><br />Get a grip, the Founding Fathers expected religious convictions and morality to be part of the political debate. Go back and read Jeffersons' quote. Their genius was to prohibit a state religion.Chuck Darrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07465685472496171314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7535354299638217634.post-75797121372659176732010-10-24T09:44:35.940-06:002010-10-24T09:44:35.940-06:00Elaine, we agree that Congress shall make no law r...Elaine, we agree that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. But, as Gersons' article points out, people are welcome to bring their strongly held religious convictions into politics.<br />Do you understand that establishment means no national religion?<br />It doesn't prohibit religious expression in the marketplace of ideas.<br />However, putting "John 3:16" in the Constitution would be wrong. Establishing a particular denomination as a national religion would be wrong.Chuck Darrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07465685472496171314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7535354299638217634.post-76070672165680049822010-10-24T09:33:18.809-06:002010-10-24T09:33:18.809-06:00They say indoctrination? The ones who are trying ...They say indoctrination? The ones who are trying to indoctrinate the nation with their singular religious views?<br /><br />Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religionUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08593459124227347742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7535354299638217634.post-53386193650536398052010-10-24T09:31:41.901-06:002010-10-24T09:31:41.901-06:00Congress shall make no law respecting an establish...Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion<br /><br />Laws should protect all humans. and respect the differences within it.<br /><br />Even if your religion fully is against it in all ways. For it is your choice to have that religion. if you need to live in a state that only reflects your opinions than move to a country that is sanctioned by a singular religion. <br /><br />It was the religious right that caused and formed the bully. It is the religious extremists that put the rock into the bully's hand and showed him how to throw that stone. It gave the bully the motive, the opportunity but then tells them to stop?<br /><br />The religious extremists have the blood of these children on their hands.<br /><br />How will they atone for their sins?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08593459124227347742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7535354299638217634.post-49875377208515635622010-10-24T09:28:10.661-06:002010-10-24T09:28:10.661-06:00Congress shall make no law respecting an establish...Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religionUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08593459124227347742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7535354299638217634.post-12778651724184748682010-10-24T09:26:55.275-06:002010-10-24T09:26:55.275-06:00Lets start with the homes, and parents that teach ...Lets start with the homes, and parents that teach these kids how to bully.<br /><br />Lets start with the ones that preach to them on how to become a bully, how to force their hatred they learned by the extremist religious groups. Where they were indoctrinated as children into that hatred. The real child abuse of our nation!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08593459124227347742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7535354299638217634.post-89149111312510742132010-10-24T09:25:00.016-06:002010-10-24T09:25:00.016-06:00I find it troubling that you don't get that th...I find it troubling that you don't get that they take the opinions and the actual example of the mans life over a singular man.<br /><br />The family has come out AGAINST this add. The wife, of the man, the one that knew him best said this was NOT what he would have wanted.<br /><br />I find it troubling that you can not face that one of his most trusted adviser was an out gay man.<br /><br />i find it troubling that you can use the image of a great man who fought against the injustice of all things against civil and social injustice especially of the race injustices, when its the religious right extremist groups such as yours, that stood up against him!<br /><br />For I find it troubling how you can say you follow your bible to the word, and that bible condones slavery!<br /><br />You are in my opinion the slave masters of today.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08593459124227347742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7535354299638217634.post-47726457136537586342010-10-24T09:21:30.550-06:002010-10-24T09:21:30.550-06:00They take from the pocket of all society, but they...They take from the pocket of all society, but they then tell the public that they must live within their singular religious views.<br /><br />Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion<br /><br />And when you start to fashion your lives in the political, then you are no longer a faith establishment, you are a political one.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08593459124227347742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7535354299638217634.post-7237431708799311272010-10-24T09:19:27.290-06:002010-10-24T09:19:27.290-06:00Congress shall make no law respecting an establish...Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion<br /><br />The oppression and indoctrination lies within the fact that you want to force the laws to represent and to be written in a religious factor.<br /><br />You do not get that you are a singular voice. That there will not be a law that is religious!<br /><br />That is for your faith, your lifestyle and your choice to make. Follow your Gods laws, and live within them, do not force those opinions onto others. That is where oppression lies!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08593459124227347742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7535354299638217634.post-18056200760456331832010-10-24T09:16:32.340-06:002010-10-24T09:16:32.340-06:00Congress shall make no law respecting an establish...Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion<br /><br />This is what you don't get. <br /><br />You are a singular religion. YOU ARE NOT THE face of America.<br /><br />You oppress by forcing your singular view onto the public. Shout your opinions. vote on those opinions. but Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion!<br /><br /><br />Otherwise if you want to live in a religious state, there are plenty of other countries that are run that way. <br /><br />To force others to live within your religious views is a form of slavery.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08593459124227347742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7535354299638217634.post-26484395236935381992010-10-22T06:27:59.805-06:002010-10-22T06:27:59.805-06:00So Craigg, according to Jim, people of faith are w...So Craigg, according to Jim, people of faith are welcome to express their values in the public square. Your comments insist that this expression is indoctrination, etc., etc,. etc.,Minnesota Family Councilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05497991102856192058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7535354299638217634.post-22504608981299109652010-10-22T06:18:07.614-06:002010-10-22T06:18:07.614-06:00We find it troubling that Jim and Craigg refuse to...We find it troubling that Jim and Craigg refuse to comment on Pastor Bob Battles remarks.Minnesota Family Councilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05497991102856192058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7535354299638217634.post-64053978650240115922010-10-21T15:18:21.794-06:002010-10-21T15:18:21.794-06:00Many religious theists will automatically assume t...Many religious theists will automatically assume that if the public square is godless, then they are being discriminated against and/or their right to free exercise of religion is being infringed upon. If this were true, that would mean that a “godly” public square discriminates against atheists. Is that what they desire? The truth is that the public square must be godless in order for the religious liberty of all to be protected. The idea that a godless public square infringes on liberty is based upon two misunderstandings.<br /><br />First, many will assume that “godless” means that all religious expression is banned from the public square. This is incorrect because the adjective “godless” here refers to the nature of the public square itself, not the nature of the views which citizens bring to it. The public square is “godless” just like obtaining a driver’s license is godless: worship of gods plays no role. Another analogy is to point out that the public square is neither Republican nor Democrat because the nature of the public square does not reflect the policies of either political party; this does not mean, however, that citizens expressing the views of either party are banned. It simply means that they express those views on neutral ground. The same is the case with religious theists — the public square is neutral, even if they are not.<br /><br />Second, many will think that if the public square is “godless,” then “godless” beliefs are being advanced to the detriment of religious beliefs. This is akin to the common argument that if public entities like school boards dropped explicitly Christian prayers, then the absence of an endorsement of Christianity would mean that the board is “promoting” atheism. This is obviously false — if school boards fail to endorse capitalism, does this mean they are endorsing communism? There is a middle-ground of neutrality where no one is being endorsed at all, and that’s what’s happening in a godless public square.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09242002866704881680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7535354299638217634.post-35137759405183258482010-10-21T15:17:33.470-06:002010-10-21T15:17:33.470-06:00There is absolutely no effort to prevent individua...There is absolutely no effort to prevent individuals from acknowledging or worshipping gods in the public square. What is restricted is the ability of the government to acknowledge or worship gods in the public square. To say that the public square is godless does not mean that religious and theistic beliefs don’t exist within it, but instead that the religious and theistic beliefs in it belong to the individuals in it rather than to the public square itself.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09242002866704881680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7535354299638217634.post-52599361318683319492010-10-21T15:16:14.670-06:002010-10-21T15:16:14.670-06:00Contrary to what the Christian Right might like pe...Contrary to what the Christian Right might like people to believe, godlessness is not enforced atheism or an active suppression of religion. Instead, godlessness is simply the absence of any specific worship or recognition of any gods. The godlessness of the public square is the absence of any official recognition or worship of any specific gods, regardless of what individuals might do on their own while in the public square. Official godlessness is thus a guarantee for personal liberty.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09242002866704881680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7535354299638217634.post-50234908512340277482010-10-21T14:47:26.469-06:002010-10-21T14:47:26.469-06:00It is only week to answer but my religion says so....It is only week to answer but my religion says so.<br /><br />For that is not what is the right of the public.<br /><br />Express what you may in the square, but you will never win a debate, when it comes to only backing it with your faith. For that is what we are protected from.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09242002866704881680noreply@blogger.com