Comments on: “Natural law ” ? or the law of the land ?

By: vijay pillai

vijay pillai — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 03:58:37 +0000

natural laws are not about people it is about nature and man made laws are about people made by people who govern the land. so racial and religious harmony is more important than strictly following ancient religious practices specially in a multi-racial ,multi faith and multi cultural society.

By: Josiah Soap

Josiah Soap — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:14:47 +0000

Banning gays from serving in the Catholic church doesn’t harm them (except maybe their feelings) stoning adulterers kills them. Not a very good comparison for religious freedom! Maybe a better comparison would not allowing Buddhist monks to require followers to adopt a vegetarian diet and requiring that meat eaters and sport hunters be ordained into their ranks. There would probably be an outcry if this happened, but there is no outcry that Catholics are being forced to do something against their religious beliefs.

By: Josiah Soap

Josiah Soap — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:41:26 +0000

The Pope is not really interfering in our laws. He didn’t say that you shouldn’t employ gays, or that they were evil, what he did say was that he didn’t want them in his “club” the Catholic church. I think this is fine. I am not allowed to be a girl guide leader because I am male, I am not allowed in womens gyms because I am male. I am not allowed to join in Muslim only days at the swimming pool because I am not Muslim, I am not allowed in the black policemans club because I am not black and the list goes on and on. Catholics don’t believe gays should serve in the priesthood, but the Government wants to force its views on the Catholic church. There are countless examples of “discrimination” where only certain types of people are allowed into certain areas. This one about gays in the church is getting so much air time because gays are a “victim group.” I have nothing against gays, but I say good for the Pope, if his religion doesn’t want to include a certain group for any reason then its up to them. I am tired of the Government trying to force its politically correct views on everyone.

By: patti in cape coral

patti in cape coral — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:24:42 +0000

Hi Saut- Sorry my response is not under yours, but there is no reply button on your comment. My original message appears to have been moderated, so I will try again. According to the definition of aiding and abetting, that is exactly what the catholic church is doing with the sexual deviants in its employ. What I’m saying is, considering the church’s history with sexual deviants, you wouldn’t think they would be so homophobic. I don’t equate homosexuals with sexual deviants, but the catholic church doesn’t appear to make that distinction.

By: Michael Chisnall, Christchurch, NZ

Michael Chisnall, Christchurch, NZ — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 07:06:27 +0000

But is it really religious Law. Jesus himself noted – but not in these words – that people were born gay. The only anti-gay stuff in the bible comes from misinterpreted OT passages and from Paul who never met Jesus and whose authority is solely an invention of the church. The pope’s beliefs about homosexuality are a tradition that has no scriptural support and it would be nice if journalists and presenters would take the religous nutters to task over this.

As to the broader question, surely the law of the land is paramount. Suppose that some little known religious group thought that child-sacrifice was essential to their religious practices. Should we let their religious ‘freedom’ come before the law? If not in this hypothetical case then why in any other?

By: nora

nora — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:39:08 +0000

Perhaps the Pope is afraid that the homosexuals who already have positions of power in the Church will come out of the closet and file lawsuits over promotion policy. I think the Pope is still more afraid of ordaining nuns and letting them at that sacramental wine.

By: Kindi Jallow

Kindi Jallow — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:21:42 +0000

The law of the land is about politics of the land and religion is about the spiritual being. The two should be treated seperately or as seperate entity to avoid contridictions. Politicies is about the food we eat, cloths we wear, things we do, life stile etc so its up everyone to say what he/she feels and not sideline some or disallow others. Its about democracy and the world have become a global village. I think the pope is right in reminding us our rights and obligations.

By: Jaime Saldarriaga

Jaime Saldarriaga — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:21:26 +0000

I agree with your statement.

By: Linda from Italy

Linda from Italy — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:11:37 +0000

Have to admit I fell about laughing at the interview with the mad, bad but definitely not dangerous to know Rocco Buttiglione on Europe Today. When he was bounced off the EU Commission as a “Justice Commissioner” (LOL) in 2004, having made some outrageous religious fundamentalist comments about non-straight people, he went to ground, at least as far as the global stage is concerned, but he will insist on pooping up, like that poor little ground hog whose day we celebrate today, just to repeat his idiocies ad infinitum.
Rather an easy target, and maybe preaching to the converted, but it was fun!

By: ayoola

ayoola — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:09:47 +0000

the law of the land would have to respect the church’s views .personally,i dont support gays adopting children cos I believe its not a healthy situation for a child to grow up in.For reproduction to take place a male and female are required.As long as people decide to be gays they choose indirectly not to have children.Hence y d need to adopt.