re: #73 researchok

Yes, I was careful to use the word ‘congregations’ as opposed to the more generic ‘churches’, etc.

It will be interesting to see if there will be legal challenges to those congregations who do choose to marry gays (as in the split of the Episcopalians, etc) or challenges from the gay community to congregations who choose not to marry gays.

The attempt to politicize religious marriage (for and against) will probably prove to be irresistible to many.

Legal challenges are part of the American fabric. I’m sure they will never end. There are already existing challenges as you point out with the Episcopalians.

As far as I can tell the ability to refuse gay marriages by a particular church is Constitutionally protected. Thus any challenge is stacked in their favor and much of the fear of “being forced to marry gays” is unfounded.