Repainting the Lane Lines

We need to repaint the lane lines on Church and on State.  The boundaries are getting dangerously blurred. When is it simply exercising one's personal religious beliefs, and when is it a violation of someone's civil rights?

Sarah Palin recently ranted about how the founding fathers did not believe in the separation of church and state; the first amendment notwithstanding.  She objected to President Obama making a comment that "America is not a Christian Nation." (It is not.  Neither is it a Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Pagan, etc. Nation)

In the early 80's and 90's, the "Religious Right" made a concerted effort to get "good, Christian" men and women involved in various governmental bodies--school boards, city councils, state and federal legislatures, etc.  They felt that these "good Christians" would then make laws and decisions based on their conservative values, and reverse changes they felt were against God, like the right to an abortion or invalidating sodomy laws.

That is all fine and good.  While I may not agree with their ideals  they are perfectly within their rights (or lane, if you will) as American Citizens.  However, these people are starting to become road hogs.

The religious conservatives in their various offices of power now exercise their power at the expense of many groups, especially LGBTs.  Take the case of Clay Greene and Harold Scull in Sonoma County, CA.  Harold and Clay were together for 25 years when Harold fell and broke his hip.  Preparing for the future, the men had drawn up wills, healthcare proxies, advanced directives and whatnot that each designated the other as the person to make health decisions if he was incapacitated.  County officials ignored this paperwork, misrepresented the relationship to the court and took control of all that the men had amassed in their time together, without trying to determine who owned what.  They then terminated the lease, auctioned off all of the men's posessions and put them in two separate nursing homes.  Harold later died in the home he was housed in, and Clay was not allowed to see his partner to comfort him or say goodbye.  The National Center for Lesbian Rights has joined with Clay to sue the county and its officials who made these decisions.  While this story is horrific enough, Joe.My.God has evidence that one of the county officials named in the complaint has links to evangelical Christianity, which is notoriously anti-gay. (Ok, the evidence might not stand up in court, but it is suggestive.)

There is also a case making its way to the Supreme Court about whether a school-based Christian law group has to admit gays.  The school says that any officially school-recognized groups have to allow any student who wishes to join.  The Christian Legal Society at Hastings College says that forcing them to take gays and non-believers violates their first amendment rights.  This case could have a large impact on how non-discrimination policies across the board are enforced, not just the educational policies, but also in various federal funding and public policies as well.

Where is the line that separates the Church from the state?  Is it in a state official acting according to his own personal interpretation of the laws based on his beliefs?  Is it in federal laws that force private organizations using public funds to abide by nondiscrimination laws?  The right to swing your fist ends at my nose.  Where does my nose end and your fist begin?
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Monday News Roundup: Rick Warren, Minnesota’s “Crazy Lady” and more

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  Rick Warren, the anti-gay pastor of Saddleback Church (who, incidentally gave the invocation at President Obama's inauguration) tries to spin Prop 8 support and stay neutral on Uganda. Rick may also have "Family" ties
  
  • Via Towleroad: On Death Penalty for Gays: Uganda, Rick Warren, and 'The Family'
    
  • 
    
    Does Rick Warren support Uganda's kill the Gays bill?
    
    • 
      Queerty
      
    • Americablog Gay
      
    
    
  
  
• The GayTM is closed, unless you are provably on the side of equal rights for gays.
  
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  Catholic Abuse Scandal:
  
  • It takes an abused village, via Enlightened Catholicism
    
  • Joe My God
    
  
  
• Response to Washington Post article from Sunday's roundup: Voices of LGBTs of Color must be heard, Via Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters
  
• More thoughts on "What is a Gay Cathoic to do?" Via Queering the Church
  
• G.A.Y.: The Bulletin Campaign begins in New Jersey Parishes.
  
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  ENDA delay, HRC claims Wockner is out of touch:
  
  • Via Towleroad
    
  • 
    Rex Wockner
    
  
  
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  Michelle Bachmann, Minnesota's Crazy Lady
  
  • Beverly LaHaye: "Religion and politics do mix." Michelle Bachmann says "thanks"
    
  • Apparently Ed Schultz doesn't know anything about "the Crazy Lady" either
    
  
  
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  Healthcare
  
  • Fact Checking the Republicans on: Healthcare Reform costs Most insured people would see rates fall or stay the same.
    
  • Why is healthcare reform controversial again? Via MNPublius
    
  
  
• Queerty: Uganda still gets PEPFAR funds even though it is trying to criminalize the people PEPFAR could help
  
• Queerty: What does World Aids Day mean in an era when so many are living with it?
  
• Queerty: Homosexuality is like alcoholism, and Lesbianism is a choice, says Jamaican psychiatrist
  
• AmericaBlog: Hillary Clinton speaks out about Uganda
  
• Box Turtle Bulletin: Southern Baptists oppose domestic partnership benefits for gays
  
• Prop. #8 campaign leader: "Traditional Marriage" really only means "No Gays" , via Box Turtle Bulletin
  
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  Daily Kos: Drooping Dem Enthusiasm
  
  • Change these Numbers
    
  • 2010 Elections Hinge on Reinviogoration of Dem base
    
  
  
• Susan Russell: Episcopal House of Deputies speaks out re: Uganda's anti-gay legislation
  
• Lou Sheldon's group, the Traditional Values Coalition, has signed on to the Manhattan Declaration , via G.A.Y.
  
• Pam's House Blend: White House defies court order to provide equal benefits

Intersections of Church and State: Healthcare, Outing Priests, Marriage Equality, Parenting and more!

All over the web there are Church-State intersections. Here's a roundup:

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  Healthcare:
  
• Daily Kos: I Will Pray For You -- Send Money --Christian Scientists want provision for "Spiritual Healthcare" in Healthcare reform Bill
• Abortion:
• Enlightened Catholic: Back and forth between Bishop Tobin of RI and Patrick Kennedy over Kennedy's stance on abortion rights, and Tobin's refusal to serve Kennedy communion
• G.A.Y.: Was she arrested for "simply praying near an abortion clinic"?
• Bearing False Witness: FCR Mischaracterizes Congresswoman Diana DeGette's remarks about the separation of church and state, via Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters
• Outing Priests:
• Fr. Geoff Arrow: Would Outing gay priests do more harm than good?
• OTOH, can we afford to remain silent? A Pro-Outing argument from Enlightened Catholic
• Marriage Equality:
• PinkNews: Straight couple applying for a UK civil partnership have their application rejected based on their sexuality
•  G.A.Y.:NOM is gearing up in New Jersey
•  Parenting:
• Holy Bullies: Lesbian mother wins custody case against 'ex-gay' partner
•  Ideological Purity
• Joe.My.God: Republican 'Purity' test Problem is, according to Keith Olbermann on his Countdown yesterday, President Reagan would have failed! (Ok, this one is more solely on the state side, but the case can be argued that Homophobic attitudes from the Church
•  Social Justice
• Joe.My.God: DC Catholic Charities whines about bad press due to the US Council of Bishops declaration.
•  Crooks & Liars: AZ woman forced to give birth in shackles due to undocumented immigrant status and racial profiling. Sentenced inmates are treated better!
•  Towelroad: City of Atlanta, Police Chief and 48 Officers Sued for Raid on Atlanta Eagle

When does Church turn into State?

UPDATED 11/20/2009: Jeremy's got the text of this "manifesto" up at Good As You.

 As a Christian, a political liberal, and a gay man, I often find myself dismayed and torn when leaders claiming to speak for one group I am part of say something negative about another group that I am part of. That is part of why the Manhattan Declaration is so disturbing. The full document is set to be released at noon today, but excerpts and commentary have been popping up around the blogosphere ahead of the release.

AP: Christian Leaders issue Call of Conscience
NY Times: Religious Leaders unite on Political Issues

The document is signed by multiple Catholic bishops; James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Anus Family; the president of the National Assoc. of Evangelicals; and various seminary leaders, pastors and professors. In it, the signers are stating their continued opposition to abortion, stem-cell research, same-sex marriage, and anti-discrimination statutes, among other issues. 

My take after the jump