Love Thy Neighbor as...

Governor Christine Gregoire, of the great State of Washington, recently shared with her citizens that she plans on introducing legislation that will allow same sex marriages.

Can you hear the intake of breath from those that are sure this will be the end of mankind, as we know it??!!

The Pope chimed in last week with the following on marriage and same sex marriage, “…“This is not a simple social convention, but rather the fundamental cell of every society. Consequently, policies which undermine the family threaten human dignity and the future of humanity itself...”

Next thing you know, he and the other flame-throwers, will be quoting the “Good Book.”

Lets take a stroll through their source material.

In the Old Testament, called that by those that put slightly more stock in the New Testament, don’t know it is more accurately referred to as Holy Scripture, the Bible or the Tanakh, the Hebrew acronym for its three major sections Torah (the five books of Moses), Prophets, and Writings.

There are 5,888 verses in the Torah, and homosexual behavior is mentioned in just two of them. Leviticus 18:22 reads, "Do not lie with a male as one lies with a woman. It is an offensive thing."
Leviticus 20:13 repeats the prohibition, and claims that such an act to be a killing offense.

That's it! Nothing else about who can lie with whom! Interesting it says nothing about women so presumably the boys of old were as intrigued by ladies getting frisky as they are today-

Rabbi Mark S. Glickman of Congregation Kol Shalom said it so clearly in a recent Seattle Times article.

“…Note that the Bible only discusses sexual contact between two men; it contains no prohibition whatsoever of lesbianism. If the Bible is to be our guide, we'll be hard-pressed to find a reason to forbid women from marrying women.

More generally, the meaning of these two verses isn't at all clear. The Hebrew term for what they prohibit is "mishk'vei-ishah" literally, "woman-laying." A man isn't supposed to "woman-lay" with another man. I suppose "woman-laying" could refer to any sexual contact whatsoever, but it could just as easily mean something else.

Maybe the Bible is prohibiting certain sexual positions. Or maybe it doesn't want sex between men to be a matter of conquest as it often was between men and women during antiquity. Maybe the Bible just wants homosexual activity to be different from heterosexual activity.

Regardless, the Bible doesn't mention same-sex marriage at all. Same-sex marriage hadn't been invented back then…”
Neither had the internet, MySpace, Facebook, Studebakers or Tutti Fruti ice cream.

So, now what?

Perhaps the righteous will claim the bible meant to say something that is not in the book, or impose upon the books hidden meanings and codes telling us how bad all this really is for all of us.

Okay, how does any same sex marriage impact anyone else?
If a traditional marriage arrangement lives next door to a couple of the same sex is that going to influence their loving relationship?
Will kids run amuck if they uncover that some neighbor is married to someone of the same gender?
Will a hetero’s medical insurance soar because “they” are getting equal coverage?
Will traffic lights stay red longer?

Maybe all these overly excited people should delve into the real message of all holy books and try to live their lives accordingly.

“Love thy neighbor as thyself,” might be a good place to start.

Ministerial Exception!!??

Is this the way it should be???
Supreme Court rules against the rights of employees!!
Limited worker rights...
No recourse if fired for "religious" reasons...

“…In what may be its most significant religious-liberty decision in two decades, the Supreme Court on Wednesday for the first time recognized a "ministerial exception" to employment-discrimination laws, saying that churches and other religious groups must be free to choose and dismiss their employees without government interference…”

"The interest of society in the enforcement of employment-discrimination statutes is undoubtedly important," Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. wrote in a decision that was surprising in both its sweep and unanimity. "But so, too, is the interest of religious groups in choosing who will preach their beliefs, teach their faith and carry out their mission."

What this means in reality is that anyone who works for a religious organization can be dismissed by that organization if the employer deems the employee is teaching, or acting, or in conversation sharing a thought, that may be considered au contraire to their particular interpretation of the tenets of their faith.

Unfortunately, the way this has been applied over the ages, and in a recent Seattle court case, has nothing to do with teaching religion or being in anyway responsible for religious teaching beyond ones capacity as an employee.

In the Seattle Archdiocese employees are caged in the language of their contract and in the accompanying employee handbook that states they must walk the talk of the Catholic Church irrespective of whether or not they are a secretary or a math teacher. In the Archdioceses view all employees are an extension of the spreading of the faith and fall under Ministerial Exception.
That this concept is a stretch seems to have eluded the Supreme Court.

A recent Seattle case involved a teacher who blew the whistle on his principal for stealing. Here are excerpts from Sean Taeschner’s case, the teacher who was fired and won against the church claiming their exception.
“…Judge Michael Hayden stated that Mr. Taeschner was a state-certified teacher and mandated reporter and there to protect children first…” The judge said he was not going to rule against teachers that might fear turning in perceived illegal activities by church staff or other officials to authorities and lose their means of making a living…” The church appealed twice and lost. A financial settlement was awarded Mr. Taeschner at the cost of him never working for his beloved church again-

A computer employee in Yakima, Washington, was fired for reporting the contents of a priest’s computer to his boss, the bishop. The priest, who had asked this employee to look at his computer because he was having problems, swore the employee had put the questionable contents on his computer. The employee attempted to sue but lost his case, as he did teach a religion course making his claim invalid in the eyes of the court and their acceptance of the churches claim.

Another employee, a teacher, orchestrated outreach to people suffering from HIV/AIDS. When he bristled at the charge he was “promoting the gay agenda” to students he was ultimately fired for teaching contrary to the teachings of the church. He did not teach religion or take part in any religious observations, rituals or professions of the faith.

None of the above could receive unemployment as the church chooses to take their exemption from paying into unemployment.

Thanks to the Supreme Court religious organizations can pretty well do what they want towards their employees.

People who are considering working for any religious organization might want to spend a little time looking at their rights before they leap at the job offering…

Strong Women Scare Weak Men!

Hearing more statements from the Republican Presidential contenders today on their positions on women and sexuality I toss out the following.

1) Whats with calling for the curtailment of birth control country wide?
2) Why do these men think they have a say on what women can choose and not choose to do with their bodies?
3) Whats with curtailing the ability of the LBGT community to adopt children?
4) Whats with all the fuss over whether or not same sex people want to get married?
5) Why roll back Dont Ask Dont Tell?

An overwhemling number of people on a political forum responded that the current Republicans don't believe any of the above and are only saying it to flim flam the gullible "bible thumpers."


Do you think thats an accurate description of whats going on this primary season???

Still Dreaming!

I was talking with an old boy the other day that told me that even though he’s closer to 100 than he is to 75 he still dreams of a number of things possible and impossible.

He still watches the ladies go by with thoughts he acted on in his forties. He still hopes that there is a kiss, a hug, and more, before he calls it a day and bows out for good.
He knows the chances are slim but he has hope in the jaws of truth.

He still hopes there is more adventure ahead that doesn’t involve a doctor, nurses, more meds or an emergency ride to the hospital. He wants to walk through wild flowers way up in Alpine country. He knows he can do it if he can just get past his relatives who struggle to keep him caged.
He’s plotting an escape plan!
He is okay saying goodbye from a makeshift shelter under a grand Cedar tree tucked way up the back a beyond.

He would like to convert the volunteering he does into a paying job.
Money is part of his escape plan.
The mere pennies that flow in, after having exhausted his savings and retirement, for undisclosed reasons, inhibit him. He has an amazing history but knows it’s next to impossible to get a job at his age. He sends out letters, resumes and copies of kudos he’s received over the years without reply. He follows up sending emails to hiring authorities asking for a response. When he gets particularly irritated he calls the potential employer asking for a response. He refuses to obey the rules of the day, from employers, telling potential employees that they should not expect replies, as too many people are applying and they aren’t equipped to handle the applications.

He hopes to add another language to the collection he has mastered. He believes his mastery of language has unique value that may open some doors for him in some far away place where he can walk the beach and dream of snagging the wily Barramundi.

He recently got a small video camera that he is going to use to tell some tales for those who may follow him over the wall.

He has a spontaneous laugh echoing the joy he has spread to others his whole life.

I am taking donations for his breakout!!