More than 250 religious leaders are coming out in support of a gay marriage bill that could come up for vote in Springfield in a few weeks.
“There can be no justification for the law treating people differently on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity,” the faith leaders said in an open letter. “It’s not only a matter of equality – it’s a matter of conscience and justice.”
State Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) sponsored house bill 5170, The Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act. He is pushing for a vote on the measure before new lawmakers are sworn in on January 9th.
“I’m so glad there are hundreds of pastors and rabbis who’ve said they want to consecrate same-sex marriage. On the other hand, I know many churches that will not. We respect both points of view,” said Harris.
There is intense opposition to the bill.
“‘If you put that in context to the great number of churches in Illinois, it really is a small number of those who are siding against God’s definition of marriage,” said David E. Smith, Executive Director of the Illinois Family Institute.
Nine states and the District of Columbia have legalized gay marriage. A law allowing same-sex couples to enter into civil unions in Illinois went into effect, last year.
4 Comments to “Clergy, faith leaders endorse gay marriage bill”
December 23, 2012 at 9:53 PM
I am sorry that we must resort to lies to try to persuade our judicial system to do what is biblicvl. That young woman who stood on camera to say God approved of Gay marriage has evidently never read the Bible. God does not approve of sin and homosexuality is a sin. God does not hate the sinner only the sin but he will not approve of same sex marriage when he himself created eve from adam and has repeatedly said over and over in his book (the Bible) it was a sin not to be tolerated. I feel sorry for the Supreme Court that must rule on such a matter that is boldly and repeatedly condemned by God. For God says obey my commandments and my ordinances. It is time the Gays started facing the truth, you cannot have it both ways. It is a a sin. God died for the sins of the world but he said turn from your wicked ways. The woman on WGN is a liar. It is time to stop the lies, read the Bible. Any clergiman that says otherwise will answer to God as well as the woman who lied on television to try to coerce the viewers.
December 23, 2012 at 10:32 PM
Apparently you didn't read it either. It was Jesus that died for our sins, not God.
December 24, 2012 at 4:11 AM
Jesus is God! Isaiah 9:6 : )