Looks like the Catholic diocese of Washington DC will be denied at least one opportunity to foster discrimination. The DC Board of Elections and Ethics has issued an opinion which states that referenda which “authorize discrimination” run counter to DC’s laws.
So? No public vote on our civil rights this time around.
Joe Sudbay points out that the Church may yet decide to lobby Congress to intervene and stop marriage equality in the District, but we’ll see.
If the church does pressure Congress, the Democrats will have to prove whether they represent true change, or backward special interests.
Well, and Stupak showed that there is a certain segment of the Democratic party which is more than willing to bend over backward/lay down in front of a steamroller, in order to appease powerful religious interests.
This is one of the problems with the role religion plays in our public discourse. Politicians aren’t known for caving to the demands of progressive/moderate religious interests. Why? Because there is a perception that moderate/liberal religious believers are simply more wishy-washy versions of their fundamentalist counterparts, and the Right paints them as such. Just another example: The other day, there was a protest in front of Joe Lieberman’s house, led by progressive clergy of many faiths, to let Lieberman know how they feel about his actions/statements on healthcare reform. It was a prayer vigil, with candles. How was this reported on the Right? Look for yourself: http://gatewaypundit.firstthings.com/2009/11/far-left-radicals-hold-threatening-rally-outside-sen-liebermans-home/
It was treated like it was a “radical leftist” protest, implied that it was dangerous, and even bizarrely suggested that though this time they were only armed with candles and prayer, NEXT TIME…
Next time WHAT?
This is why I would argue (and people can feel free to disagree) that progressive religious efforts to organize politically on the basis of religion (a la Jim Wallis, Frank Schaeffer, whoever else, etc.), though they may be well-meaning, are misguided, because the fundamentalists will ALWAYS win that game. The message from moderate people of faith, progressive people of faith, AND those of us without religious belief, needs to be simply that yes, we have a separation of church and state in this country, and therefore religious organizations shouldn’t be granted the right to steamroll the rest of the population with their personal beliefs.