Here is the letter I wrote to the Wall Street Journal concerning their stance on the Gay Marriage debate in California:
Vauhini Vara’s July 19th article (Moral Dilemma: When Weddings Are a Career Risk), which chronicles the challenges that several California clergy members face in following their personal convictions against the teaching of their denominations, is a compelling elucidation of the roadblocks facing liberal clergy. What’s lacking is equally insightful reporting on the real threat to religious expression for conservative clergy who stand steadfastly by Church teaching against the dictates of the State.
Liberal clergy may face a difficult choice – but clergy on the other side of the ideological aisle, whether Christian, Jewish, or Muslim, will soon face no choice at all. If the marriage amendment fails in California, those who uphold traditional marriage will be persecuted, as has happened in New Mexico, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and our sister country Canada—there are serious consequences for conservative denominations that follow their Biblical convictions. In 2006, Catholic Charities in Boston have stopped providing adoption services after they were compelled to grant adoptions to same-sex couples, even though they were willing to provide referral services. Also in 2006, the New Mexico Human Rights Commission found against the Evangelical owners of Elane Photography for refusing to photograph a gay commitment ceremony, infringing on both religious and artistic freedom of expression. In New Jersey, the Methodist church faces a loss of $20,000 in tax exemptions for refusing to let its worship space be used for a gay ceremony. In Canada, the Human Rights Commissions run slipshod over due process to convict conservatives of thought crimes. The list of Canadian thought criminals is too lengthy to be contained in this letter.
Ms. Vara is concerned that Rev. Linsday will be barred from preaching in United Methodist churches. I am concerned that many others will be barred from preaching at all.
