Illinois Does The Right Thing…Almost

Last updated on: December 6, 2010 at 6:58 pm by Jeffrey L. Falick

Illinois Does The Right Thing…Almost 2010-12-06T18:58:00-05:00 Jeffrey L. Falick

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

With my trip to Israel cancelled due to an illness in the family, I’ve had little to be happy about. My former abode of Illinois did provide me with something when they passed civil union legislation. Of course, it should be marriage, but that’s another story.

As Rabbi Adam Chalom so ably puts it in his Chicago Tribune blog post:

One of the most innovative arguments on this question claims that the religious freedom of liberal communities—from Humanistic and Reform synagogues to Unitarian and Methodist churches—to recognize same-sex couples as married is being restricted. Why shouldn’t a religious community be able to call a couple whom they consider married, “married?”

There is a short answer to this problem: the legal status granted to couples by the state can be a “civil union” (granted to the civitas, or citizen) for everyone, and the status recognized by religious institutions can be called “marriage” but carry no legal benefits. This might not solve all issues, but it would clarify the questions involved.

The family illness happens to be my mother-in-law. Her status as such was granted to us by our civil marriage in the Province of Quebec. It’s hard to believe that only fifty years ago Quebec was North America’s theocracy.

Why on earth does a government get involved in defining relationships between two consenting adults who have lovingly pledged to spend their lives together? There’s only one real reason: to appease religious fundamentalists. It puts to the lie the Republicans’ so-called principle of staying out of people’s personal lives.

Blog Entries

Church and State

Homophobia

Previous Post

December 5, 2010

It's Time For “Who Can Say The Most Ridiculous Thing About A Natural Disaster?”

Next Post

December 6, 2010 Taking Chanukah Too Seriously

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Blog Entries

Select a Month January 2017 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 March 2015 December 2014 February 2014 December 2013 October 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 September 2012 August 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: Rahab was a prostitute who helped the Israelite spies in Jericho.

Select your answer to see how you score.

TRUE FALSE