An Early Christmas Gift: Illinois Clergy Support Marriage Equality

Now, to be fair, most of them are in Chicago, but, hey, support is support, and it's always welcome, especially from the religious community. It seems that more than 250 clergy in Illinois have come out, so to speak, to endorse a marriage equality bill that could come up for a vote in the first weeks of the New Year.

This past week, rabbis and pastors and ministers from denominations that are LGBT-inclusive, and support LGBT rights, issued a declaration--an early Christmas it seems--supporting equality for same-sex couples. They were doing so, they said, in order to foster faith, justice and compassion.

Huh, nice to hear that, eh?

The declaration also stated:

"Standing on these beliefs, we think that it is morally just to grant equal opportunities and responsibilities to loving, committed same-sex couples. There can be no justification for the law treating people differently on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

....

There are differences among our many religious traditions. Some recognize and bless same-sex unions, and some do not. The important thing is that the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act protects religious freedom and guarantees that all faiths will decide which marriages should be consecrated and solemnized within their tradition."

This all faiths declaration comes on the heels of Senator Heather Steans and Congressman Greg Harris announcing that they would take up the measure as the current General Assembly winds down in January and before the swearing in of a new set of lawmakers.

The legislation is quite simple: marriage equality is legal, and not one single church or religious institution would be forced to perform a same-sex marriage if they chose not to do so. Of course, the wrong side is still bleating that gay marriage violates Scripture, natural law and basic moral principles.

Get over it, people, it's gonna happen.

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