Charles Boustany Opposes Religious Freedom On Marriage
U.S. Representative Charles Boustany may believe that he is successfully playing to his base on the issue of marriage, but a second look on the subject suggests that he might want to watch his step. The Republican Congressman supports an amendment to the Constitution that would forbid courts from protecting the constitutional rights of same sex couples. Essentially, the amendment would create a gaping hole in the Constitution that would specifically erase the rights of homosexual Americans to equality under the law.
Justifying this establishment of discrimination within the highest law of the land, Representative Boustany says, “I believe marriage is the most fundamental institution of our society, and it should not be redefined by activist judges.”
The problem with Boustany’s refusal to accept equal marriage rights to all Americans is that it ignores the substantial religious traditions accepting same-sex marriage in America. Religious organizations like the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ perform same sex marriages as what they consider a sacred ritual. Many religious groups, such as the California Council of Churches and the Progressive Jewish Alliance, are actively campaigning in favor of legalization same sex marriage.
So, when Boustany says that marriage is a fundamental aspect of our society, that may be true, but the institution of marriage in America includes marriage between men and marriage between women. By attempting to use the power of law to stop these marriages, Representative Boustany is fighting against the religious freedom of American churches that believe in the sanctity of same sex marriage. He’s seeking to use the power of government to discriminate on the basis of religion, destroying the first amendment’s protection of freedom of religion.
Will working against religious freedom be so popular with the political base Charles Boustany seeks to exploit?
