Hawaii, the state that set off the whole Defense of Marriage Act movement in the mid-1990s, this week is expected to see state legislators approve a bill granting civil union rights to gay couples. Remember, that’s civil unions, not marriage, which Hawaii’s voters banned in 1998 via constitutional amendment, although they’d be just like marriages, just without the name. And, like clockwork, the Catholic Church got involved: “Honolulu Catholic Bishop Larry Silva in a letter last week urged some 220,000 parishioners to lobby lawmakers. He called civil unions ‘simply a euphemism’ for gay marriage and claimed it is justifiable to discriminate against gay couples who want to marry.”
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Peter
Maybe CB Silva does not know that Hawaii is part of the US and that the US Constitution has a separation of church and state. Guess he wants this country to be like Iran where whatever religion is the majority can rule the country. If that’s the case, then they should NEVER try to change anyone who is a Muslim or any other religion. (unless they are planning more Crusades.)
Wade MacMorrighan
On the up-side, at least the Bishop is further evidence that we are continually being openly discriminated against; and that it’s being blared by overtly religious individuals to countless other sheeple! OTOH, despite the claims, Civil Unions have NEVER been–nor will they EVER be–equal, legally, to civil marriage!
But, what distresses me is that so many people can’t seem to understand the difference between a civil marriage and a religious marriage.
dontblamemeivotedforhillary
Hawaii is dangerous because of anti-gay bias perpetrated by minority communities and we have to recognize that the pro-gay message is not getting past the educated Ivy League cities.
Aaron in Honolulu
All the local television news stations here in Hawaii (KHON2, KGMB, KHNL, and KITV) that covered the anti-HB444 rally at the state capitol (where over 4,000 mostly religious individuals attended) covered mainly the stupid people who made their side look bad while covering well reasoned people who support civil unions HB444.
I wish there were this much religious individuals giving attention to stimulating Hawaii’s economy, debating budget cuts on human services, ending Hawaii school furloughs, and giving attention and support to those in Haiti. This rally just shows where the religious community’s priorities are in Hawaii.
WildCat
Hawaii’s constitutional amendment does not ban same-sex marriage per se. It gave the legislature the power to ban it, which they did. Passing a statute can repeal Hawaii’s ban, unlike in California where a new constitutional amendment would be required to repeal the ban.
Hope this helps.
Sam
@ No. 3: That’s the biggest load of crap I’ve read today. Thanks!
Jim Stone
PLEASE..do not give them one dime!! Some people are suggesting to give to Catholic Charities for the disaster in Haiti-DON’T!! Give to the American Red Cross or some other organization. The Catholic church “found” over $150,000 dollars to defeat gay marriage in Maine. I wonder where they “found” that money??
I am a “recovering” Catholic here..