People of faith getting engaged!
We’re honored and excited to have many people of faith active in the campaign for the freedom to marry. Despite the perception that people of faith oppose marriage equality, there are actually many denominations that are vocal in their support for the freedom to marry the person you love.
This week, the Community of Welcoming Congregations held a spectacular prayer breakfast on National Coming Out Day to launch a statement of faith support for the freedom to marry, signed by over 150 congregations and leaders of faith.
And in the past few weeks, we’ve had two great nights of “faithful phoning,” where people of faith volunteered to call undecided Oregonians to talk about the freedom to marry.
In the statement of support, faith leaders state:
We recognize that there are principled differences on this issue within the religious community. We affirm that the state should not require any religious group to officiate at, or bless, same-gender marriages. However, the state also should not favor the convictions of one religious group over another by denying individuals their fundamental civil right to marry whom they love. Civil marriage is a civil right. Whether a religious authority chooses to bless the marriage is a separate matter and not required by law.
Thank you to all of the members of the faith community who have joined us in supporting the freedom to marry, many of whom have stood beside us for many years and through many battles. It is a wonderful example of people living by the Golden Rule.
I can’t sign as of yet for my congregation, Atonement Lutheran, Newport, but we are a RIC congregation. I, however, as one add my support the freedom to marry.
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