April 5, 2016
By Jonathan M. Katz
Durham, N.C. — Mississippi’s governor (click here) signed far-reaching legislation on Tuesday that critics say restricts gay rights and the online-payment company PayPal pulled back on an investment in North Carolina as gay rights issues roiled Southern states.
Both actions reflected escalating tension in Southern legislatures between conservative lawmakers and business interest over gay rights.
That isn't stated well. Business interest over gay rights. It isn't a business interest, it is a matter of social values or social morality. There is no doubt adverse decisions regarding social values impacts a company. That speaks eons of the values most Americans keep as their own. Americans don't want basic civil rights recalled that will result in a difficult and stressful life for any citizen regardless of their CHOICE in faith.
Faith in the USA is a choice. A citizen might have been raised within a religious faith, but, that doesn't mean it is a lifelong characteristic. People choose their faith. There is no law enforcing religious participation, except, for the freedom to choose and practice. I think that form of government is best for all faith leaders.
The separation of church and state is written into the US Constitution. That separation is vital to a healthy soul, I think. If religious performance were a law who is to say an individual is acting according to their beliefs. Separation of church and state definitely puts the individual on a platform where they have made decisions in complete safety and without harassment. An intact soul and smile of God in their life is the best outcome to any religious life. It is best to have religion and state completely separated to achieve that best outcome.
The separation of church and state is written into the US Constitution. That separation is vital to a healthy soul, I think. If religious performance were a law who is to say an individual is acting according to their beliefs. Separation of church and state definitely puts the individual on a platform where they have made decisions in complete safety and without harassment. An intact soul and smile of God in their life is the best outcome to any religious life. It is best to have religion and state completely separated to achieve that best outcome.
This should be interesting to the Southern legislators that insist on the interference of religion. A friend of the family is gay. He is also celibate and was once studying in seminary to become a Roman Catholic priest. No, he is not a pedophile. He left the seminary because he felt it was not the place for him at that time.
The point is, the Roman Catholic Church has identified 'the person' not the social label. Celibacy is the preferred status to Catholics that are outside of marriage.
The idea a legislature could victimize men and women in far worse methods than the Roman Catholic Church is to realize the self-righteous and political undertones to power in the southern USA.
A person, an individual, answers to God; not the States of Mississippi or North Carolina. How is it the USA tolerates this demoralizing activity of a state's government only to effect our citizens. Haven't we had enough of this religious bigotry? I know I have.
A person, an individual, answers to God; not the States of Mississippi or North Carolina. How is it the USA tolerates this demoralizing activity of a state's government only to effect our citizens. Haven't we had enough of this religious bigotry? I know I have.
In Mississippi, Gov. Philryant signed into law a measure that would allow business and government workers to deny services based on religious beliefs. The law protects churches, religious charities and privately held businesses that decline services to people if doing so would violate their beliefs. Individual government employees are also protected, although the measure says governments must still provide the services.
In North Carolina, PayPal said it had dropped plans to put in global operations center in Charlotte because of that state’s recent passage of a law banning anti-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. PayPal had pledged to bring 400 jobs and invest $3.6 million in the area by the end of 2017....
