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sparkindarknessI think the forces of bigotry have great trouble understanding the very concept of government imposing on your faith - so let’s have a nice look at some good examples and bad examples.
Some bad examples
The government trying to stop religious organisations being bigoted in their hiring practices for non-clerical workers. It is not religious oppression. These aren’t even religious posts - seriously, your faith requires your janitor and secretary to be straight and cis gendered?! House of Lords, Archbiship of York - this isn’t about your religious freedom - this is about your hatred and bigotry trying to attack and hurt us as per usual. But of course, the chuch - while remaining silent and wishy washy on issues of life and death like Uganda passing kill-gays legislation is always quick and vocal when it comes to oppressing homosexuals.
Ann Widecome, always a poster child for homophobic bigotry believes that equality laws that protect GBLT people from persecution are oppressing Christians. Because not inciting violence against us is oppressive. Because not being able to fire us or exclude us from employment is oppressive. Because us having legal rights is oppressive.
It is not religious oppression to expect you to treat fellow human beings with respect. It is disgusting that this has to be said and that these organisations make any claim to be ‘moral’ institutions.
Now for some good examples of the right to religion being oppressed
Gay couples forbidden from solemnising their relationships in Oklahoma. Note here that Oklahoma already bans gay marriage - so we’re talking about a religious commitment ceremony as opposed to a legally recognised relationship. But no, if the couple agrees, the religious leader agrees, even the actual faith agrees, it’s a criminal act for a cleric to solemnise a same sex union.
What about their religious choices? What about their faith? What about their right to religion?
Or in the UK, where were are finally looking at changing the enforced anti-religion element of the almost-but-not-really-marriage-like-civil-partnership. See, I have one of these (though, frankly I will call myself married because I refuse to not use the word because some bigots decide I am not worthy of it). I’m also a religious man - but I was barred by freaking law from including my faith in my wedding. I had 2 ceremonies because, legally, a civil partnership ceremony cannot be held on religious ground and cannot include religious elements (pfft, not that the registrar recognised my religious elements :P). Where are my religious rights there? Where is my right to religious expression? Why is my faith forced to conform to a bigoted standard?
This change is being proposed because many religious groups are complaining because their religion is being dictated to by this discriminatory provision
It just goes to show - it’s not now and never has been about religious rights. It’s about hatred and bigotry, pure and simple.
Some bad examples
The government trying to stop religious organisations being bigoted in their hiring practices for non-clerical workers. It is not religious oppression. These aren’t even religious posts - seriously, your faith requires your janitor and secretary to be straight and cis gendered?! House of Lords, Archbiship of York - this isn’t about your religious freedom - this is about your hatred and bigotry trying to attack and hurt us as per usual. But of course, the chuch - while remaining silent and wishy washy on issues of life and death like Uganda passing kill-gays legislation is always quick and vocal when it comes to oppressing homosexuals.
Ann Widecome, always a poster child for homophobic bigotry believes that equality laws that protect GBLT people from persecution are oppressing Christians. Because not inciting violence against us is oppressive. Because not being able to fire us or exclude us from employment is oppressive. Because us having legal rights is oppressive.
It is not religious oppression to expect you to treat fellow human beings with respect. It is disgusting that this has to be said and that these organisations make any claim to be ‘moral’ institutions.
Now for some good examples of the right to religion being oppressed
Gay couples forbidden from solemnising their relationships in Oklahoma. Note here that Oklahoma already bans gay marriage - so we’re talking about a religious commitment ceremony as opposed to a legally recognised relationship. But no, if the couple agrees, the religious leader agrees, even the actual faith agrees, it’s a criminal act for a cleric to solemnise a same sex union.
What about their religious choices? What about their faith? What about their right to religion?
Or in the UK, where were are finally looking at changing the enforced anti-religion element of the almost-but-not-really-marriage-like-civil-partnership. See, I have one of these (though, frankly I will call myself married because I refuse to not use the word because some bigots decide I am not worthy of it). I’m also a religious man - but I was barred by freaking law from including my faith in my wedding. I had 2 ceremonies because, legally, a civil partnership ceremony cannot be held on religious ground and cannot include religious elements (pfft, not that the registrar recognised my religious elements :P). Where are my religious rights there? Where is my right to religious expression? Why is my faith forced to conform to a bigoted standard?
This change is being proposed because many religious groups are complaining because their religion is being dictated to by this discriminatory provision
It just goes to show - it’s not now and never has been about religious rights. It’s about hatred and bigotry, pure and simple.