SAME-SEX MARRIAGE: A 'religious freedom' issue

During Barack Obama’s first campaign for president, he was asked his opinion on same-sex marriage and responded, “Marriage should be between a man and woman.” Three years after he became president of the United States, and after much pressure from Hollywood and LGBT PACs, he pushed their agenda and now literally anyone can get married. He would not have been elected had the electorate known of his lack of conviction on this one issue.

Locally, what was touted to be a civil rights issue has now become a religious rights issue. Case-in-point: Don and Lynn Knapp, owners of the Hitching Post, are faced with the decision of whether to follow their religious convictions or perform same-sex marriages.

During the time that Coeur d’Alene was considering the LGBT ordinance, I wrote an editorial to The Press predicting that there would be a religious freedom issue if the ordinance passed. The editorial was tabled. Comments made by members of the City Council caused me to believe that they were more concerned about the effect that not passing the ordinance would have on national public relations rather than their true concern for LGBT civil rights.

Seemingly no one on the City Council had read the Constitution of the state of Idaho, adapted by a Constitutional Convention held at Boise City, in the Territory of Idaho, Aug. 6, 1889.

Preamble: We the people of the state of Idaho, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure the blessings and promote our common welfare, do establish this constitution.

Article 1 Declaration of Rights, Section 4: The exercise and enjoyment of religious faith and worship shall forever be guaranteed; and no person shall be denied any civil or political right, privilege or capacity on account of his religious opinions.

I am not against the rights of the LGBT community; however, no minister should be required to perform same-sex marriages with the threat of litigation as an alternate option. I applaud Gov. Otter and State Attorney General Lawrence Wasden for their effort to uphold House Joint Resolution 2. Pray that at least two of the three judges on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will recognize the Knapps’ religious rights.

LEONARD BRANT

Post Falls