I agree. The Church keeps jumping into issues like this and health care reform and they always seem to be on the side that does not benefit people. The government is and should promote freedom and equality for all. The church, within its own jurisdiction, has absolute power over their own faithful. This bill will not force churches to perform same sex marriage ceremonies and this is fair. The Church has the right to deny personal freedoms to its flock and excommunicate those that do not follow their teachings. The state is not getting involved in the church on this issue but the church and Cardinal are trying to impose their views on all other people in the state, including atheists.

Shouldn't the same be the case with all organizations that get exemption because of their charitable work or because they get funding from the Government?

Jerry, maybe the Church believes that opposition to same sex marriage is for the benefit of people. Remember that they are looking at this from God's perspective. I think the more permissive society becomes based on what can be scientifically possible the more we denigrate our society. Over the past 30-40 years we have developed an anything goes attitude. Along that same timeframe, we have seen tremendous declines in the sanctity of the family unit, respect for life, and common decency to each other in general. Perhaps the Church is trying to protect us from ourselves.

This is not forcing anything on the church. If they don't want to perform same sex marriages, they don't have to.

I could not agree more.

I could not have said it better. We need a Savior and also a savior for our country. Is it 2016 yet?

Actually all faiths don't agree. Here, why don't I name just a few of many Christian denominations that support monogamous same sex relationships: United Church of Christ, Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church, Unitarian Church, Unity Church, etc.

But all of that doesn't really matter anyway since we have separation of church and state in this country, so whether or not churches support or disapprove of something is not supposed to play a role in law making.

I'm not even going to get into your "minor" and "non-important" comments...

A government that can or should focus on only one item is recipe for failure. The gay marriage recognition stuff is more for the benefits derived from marriage, like health benefits, inheritance etc. Stuff that is squarely in the government's purview.
To Catherine's point : Those who are looking at others for saving themselves, will keep on looking.

Very well said. I wish our legislators would spend some time dealing with the issues that will have a negative affect on ALL OF US in the very near future-our financial mess and the pension crisis.

Special priveleges and rights? They are American citizens. Are not all Americans equal or are you one of those that believe some are more equal than others?

I think you mean to ask "Why is it that such a small percentage of the population is being discriminated against and denied the privileges and rights of everyone else?"