Pastors: No Marriage for Straight People

Two California pastors have found a perfect way to rally against the state supreme court's decision to uphold Prop. 8 -- they won't be officiating any heterosexual marriages at their churches.

The Reverend Art Cribbs of San Marino Congregation Church and the Reverend Anne Cohen of the First Congregational Church in Glendale have both said they will not be performing wedding ceremonies of any kind until the ban on same-sex marriage is lifted.

The two are expected to hold a press conference Friday afternoon to discuss their decision.

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Name: rcjoy7
Date posted: 7/3/2009 4:01:00 AM
Hometown: London

Comment:
Jesse in response to your comment: 'There is no procreation, there is only an empty relationship, a shell of a what a natural relationship (that is a relationship between a male and a female) should be.'.. ... ...Do you therefore think that straight couples who cannot procreate are in an empty relationship? How ignorant of you. A relationship of love, commitment and fidelity is a relationship that includes the presense of God and all fullness! Where there is love, God is. Being gay is not a choice in exactly the same way that being straight is not a choice! If you study the Bible correctly you will see that the Bible does not condemn loving commited gay relationships.
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Name: akconstant
Date posted: 6/13/2009 2:42:00 PM
Hometown: Anchorage

Comment:
Jess, I would NEVER sleep with a man in the way I would sleep with a woman. That is your greatest fallacy as a religious nutter. When women sleep in my bed, it is chaste. Period. When a man sleeps in my bed, it is fun. You might sleep with women in a different way than I do, thus for you, perhaps your god would find it an abomination. Not me though. No conflict here.
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Name: Krystal
Date posted: 6/10/2009 1:22:00 PM
Hometown: Media, PA

Comment:
Jess - you are a fool, and you really don't belong on this website. I'm sorry that your upbringing has been so full of hatred and lies. I had a more real relationship with another woman than I have had with most men. It makes me sad for you that you would close yourself off from potential happiness because of your "morals".
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Name: Ed
Date posted: 6/3/2009 6:31:00 PM
Hometown: New York City

Comment:
Liz - OF COURSE!! Thanks for caring and for ALL your support! Ed
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Name: Liz
Date posted: 6/3/2009 5:40:00 PM
Hometown: Denver

Comment:
I'm kind of offended to read Elizabeth's comment that says "What are straight people doing reading this website?," even if it was intended to be a joke. There are MANY straight people that have gay rights issues in their foregrounds, and are working daily towards justice and equality for all people--often without thanks. Not because they are looking for thanks, but thats because that is what their religious upbringing has taught them: that their God teaches a faith that calls all people to a life of equality, freedom, and peace. If you really don't want solidarity with some straight people, please let us know.
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Name: Tim O
Date posted: 6/3/2009 3:36:00 PM
Hometown: Dallas, TX

Comment:
My first inclination is to say that this is awesome, but wouldn't this create a sort of backlash? Isn't the Heterosexual Marriage-only lobby saying that we're trying to change the Institution of marriage? I don't want anything to prevent my straight friends from getting married because I value them and I wouldn't want them to have to go through the same social torture that I have. I may be the outsider on this, but I don't think "Eye for an Eye" is the best way to go.
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Name: Adrianus
Date posted: 6/2/2009 4:37:00 AM
Hometown: Northridge, CA

Comment:
Thank you pastors. You are ones of a kind. Not many christians realize how theologians and religious extremists distort the Christ' teachings. It's like blinds lead the blinds.
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Name: Wendy
Date posted: 6/1/2009 9:47:00 PM
Hometown: Albany NY

Comment:
Amanda I am very confused by your comments, why do you think religious marriage and civil marriage are different? Marriages do not have to be religious to be a Marriage. The marriage license is not a religious item. Does California require its citizens to only be married by clergy? I support the right of every person to marry who they wish regardless of gender. Clergy should not be forced to perform weddings for anyone they choose not to perform a ceremony for. I don't know why any atheist would choose a religious ceremony
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Name: Amanda
Date posted: 6/1/2009 8:18:00 PM
Hometown: Napa

Comment:
I'm starting to think that it would be more efficient to work on making civil partnerships equivalent to a marriage in California, and in all of the United States. Being straight and Atheist, if civil partnerships were equivalent to marriage under the law I would never get married in the first place, strictly because the only reason to go through such a ridiculous religious ceremony is to get the rights and recognition that comes with being married. I've heard that some people are working on that. I hope that its true.
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Name: Stanley R. Dixon
Date posted: 6/1/2009 4:31:00 PM
Hometown: Beavercreek, Ohio

Comment:
Elizabeth, you made my day, that was hilarious. While I guess I'm not surprised that straight people would be reading this, I am surprised that so many unenlightened ones are. While I applaud these pastor's gestures, I'm afraid it would be about as helpful as having a solar powered flashlight. The pastors who whipped their congregations into a frenzy to go out and vote for Proposition 8 aren't likely to follow suit on this gesture, and the congregations of pastors who would make this gesture probably didn't vote for Prop 8 anyway.

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