Gay Marriage and Religion

This is a great little discussion of the legal issues involved with the intersection of religion and gay marriage. I'm fascinated by this sort of thing, but I understand if you're not.

It brings up a couple of really good points, though. The institution of marriage is both religious and secular. The religious folk are free to put whatever restrictions upon marriage they would like--there is no guarantee of equal opportunity in religion, and there never has been. And probably never will be. They are allowed specific first-amendment protection against being forced to do things they don't want to do. Catholicism is free to keep women and married men out of the priesthood, for example.

I personally have never heard the argument that if GLBT folks are afforded the right to marry then churches will be forced to marry them against their beliefs. I agree with the response that it would never happen. But it's a great argument if you want to get even socially moderate religious people to vote against allowing that to happen.

Secular institutions (like the courts and the law) have an obligation to serve all people equally. When it comes to the law, people should be equal. And I think someday they will.