So now a church can’t determine the use of it’s own private property, according to a NJ judge. How absurd:

CBN NEWS – A New Jersey judge says the Methodist Church violated a state law in refusing to allow a same-sex ceremony on its property in 2007.

On Thursday, Administrative Law Judge Solomon Metzger said the decision made by the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association violated New Jersey’s discrimination laws.

Metzger ruled the pavilion area where the couple wanted to hold the ceremony is a public space and is advertised as a wedding venue without any religious pre-conditions.

The church argued that the pavilion was an extension of its wedding ministry, an argument that the judge rejected.

Jim Campbell, the attorney representing the church, says they may appeal the decision.

“The government should not be able to force a private Christian organization to use its property in a way that would violate its own religious beliefs,” he said in a statement.

The plaintiffs in the case are not seeking monetary damages, and the judge did not impose any penalties when he made his ruling.




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38 comments
TIMERUNNER
TIMERUNNER

The American people have the right to file for the removal of Activist judges. We should be moving to have this jude impeached. He is violating the law of the land and the law of God. Remove him from office. He has violated his oath of office not to meention the laws of human decency. Perverted in other words, indecent behavor by the judge.

Don't bother the US Congress they are just to busy helping obama with his FAT@sstWA.

American Patriot

PS: Vote 2012 Kick the bums out!!!!

PS:inpeach obama!!!

bobemakk
bobemakk

A man and a woman is marriage, not same sex. It disgusts me and I have gays in my family that really disturbs me.

Robert D.
Robert D.

Apparently when the church opened up its property to public use, it lost the right to religious preconditions for weddings. They should have kept their property to themselves instead of letting the local government defile it.

mike payton
mike payton

When the government tries to take my guns, I will gladly turn them over. One round at a time. And I will aim for their faces. They want to burn the constitution, then I will at least die knowing that I deprived their mothers of burying their stormtrooper sons with an open coffin.

mike payton
mike payton

I'm tired of these heathens and whores mocking our faith and denying OUR rights. Not just a mockery of faith, but of private property. If this judge wants to force his way onto private church property then he can perform this desecration himself.

Travis Pierson
Travis Pierson

The left likes to claim that, if gay marriage is allowed, the only thing that will happen is that gays will marry. It's obvious that this is not their only objective. If they manage to redefine marriage, every church will be in violation of their civil rights if they refuse to perform marriages for all comers. It is an assault on our religious liberties as guaranteed in the first amendment and cannot be allowed to occur.

Dan
Dan

your so mean (B-{......telling the truth is not recommended in this world...better watch your self.....

Dan
Dan

they are the Apostate church.."2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. "

they are pleasers of man and not God

Is_Sense_Common
Is_Sense_Common

I have decided to go back & read that book again, as well as 1984. When I was in 7th grade & read those books, it seemed implausible. I'm curious to see exactly how today's govt culture compares. I have a feeling my head will be exploding. If you hear shrieks or earthquakes coming from the Midwest, you'll know my progress.

B-Funk
B-Funk

I agree. Even so, it may be time for a little (peaceful) civil disobedience from the church and continue to deny same sex marriages despite the rule. I don't think many of us are against gay people doing whatever they do, but I'll never understand why they have this need to get validation out of people who will always disagree with their lifestyle.

Dan
Dan

because they know in there heart what they are doing is sin and they think if they can force Christians to have to except them it will make them feel better about there sin....WRONG!!!! regardless of what a reprobate judge says the Judge of the Universe still has the last word.And it is an abomination and all the acceptance of the fallen world will not change that...

Mike Leavitt
Mike Leavitt

Who are you leaning towards? Ron Paul is not an option for me. Newt, Huntsman, and Perry have shown their true colors as anti-capitalists, and while I think Romney is more conservative that what most people think, I understand people's concerns about him and I am uncomfortable with those same issues. That leaves one guy for me with Romney as a second.

AmericanborninCanada
AmericanborninCanada

I agree freedomswatch, except if they agreed to become Methodist (or Episcopalian, UCC or any denomination really) they would, and would find themselves in one of the liberal branches which accept gays, or those who appoint gay ministers...

AmericanborninCanada
AmericanborninCanada

We're supposed to anyway, but unfortunately there are many who don't :-( Then there's the other side who believe they are loving, to the point of not offending, but that's like loving someone straight to hell.

On The Mark
On The Mark

He'd have to come across two suicidal women in order for us to find out.

Mike Leavitt
Mike Leavitt

If you believe that then you need to vote for Santorum - he's the only other choice. Perry and Gingrich are the worst stereotypical government workers. They take, take, take, and are never grateful for the real workers who make their cushy government jobs possible.

Chris Dias
Chris Dias

Here's my new math and people think I'm crazy for saying it, but prove me wrong.

Progressivism=wanna be socialism=wanna be communism. Progressivism=communism in progress=evil.

On The Mark
On The Mark

The two women are not merely trying to get married. They could do that at a great number of other places. The obvious goal here is religious persecution.

Persephone
Persephone

Oh yeah, I agree, 3seven.

They already have the 'right to marry'...the same as the rest of us...just marry someone of the opposite sex.

The accommodation that they are demanding requires that they be afforded a new 'special' right, thereby changing the institution of marriage for our society as a whole.

It's rather selfish really.

Mike Leavitt
Mike Leavitt

You might be right. All I know is right now we have to be smart about who we vote for in the general.

AmericanborninCanada
AmericanborninCanada

One of the main arguments from homosexuals is that they want the "right" to marry, eventhough in reality, they already have that same right as we all do. What they want is a special right, which is not Constitutional, and which in this and many cases which have already been ruled against, go against our individual religious rights which ARE Constitutional.

This doesn't surprise me at all, as there have been many cases around the country where a judge rules against the Constitution or the will of the people, and rules for a politically correct social cause...

We can fight, we can make people aware and spread these stories far and wide, but we will be fighting an uphill battle- so I hope you're ready. The Word of Jesus tells us to expect persecution if you follow Him. This is only the begining. Soon, churches will lose their tax status, so pastors better get used to operations without tax breaks, people better get used to supporting those churches who will keep preaching the Word while being targeted for lawsuits. Bible believing Christians need to prepare themselves for a day where we may join other persecuted brothers and sisters behind bars, in prison or labor camps.... Unless Jesus comes first.

FishyGov
FishyGov

This is akin to forced conversion.

Imagine that a straight couple wanted to be married in a gay venue. If they were denied the accommodations how do you think the gay community would feel if the courts imposed the couple's wish on them?

wedding: the act or ceremony of marrying; marriage; nuptials.

marriage: the social institution under which a man and woman establish their decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies, etc.

husband: a married man, especially when considered in relation to his wife.

wife: a woman joined in marriage to a man; a woman considered in relation to her husband; spouse.

The preconditions for renting the venue lies in the definition of the words: wedding, marriage, husband and wife.

This ruling has got to be appealed.

Joe
Joe

LOOK at point # 3 below

THE FENCE

You can't get any more accurate than this!

Which side of the fence are you on?

If you ever wondered which side of the fence you sit on, this is a great test!

If a Republican doesn't like guns, he doesn't buy one.

If a Democrat doesn't like guns, he wants all guns outlawed.

If a Republican is a vegetarian, he doesn't eat meat.

If a Democrat is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for everyone.

If a Republican is homosexual, he quietly leads his life.

If a Democrat is homosexual, he demands legislated respect.

If a Republican is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation.

A Democrat wonders who is going to take care of him.

If a Republican doesn't like a talk show host, he switches channels.

Democrat's demand that those they don't like be shut down.

If a Republican is a non-believer, he doesn't go to church.

A Democrat non-believer wants any mention of God and religion silenced.

If a Republican decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it..

A Democrat demands that the rest of us pay for his.

If a Republican reads this, he'll forward it so his friends can have a good laugh.

A Democrat will delete it because he's "offended".

Ciao!

Kathy Herron
Kathy Herron

I am for sure passing this to all my friends ... thank you for posting it ...

Joe
Joe

The "judge" was not even a real Judge

He was an "administrative" judge - like a DMV judge

I blame the Church's attorney for this

Should have insisted on a jury trial

Easily turned over in appeal

Persephone
Persephone

They prolly had their fingers crossed when they were swearing their oaths, 4Hoppes.

VirusX
VirusX

This should be a clarion call to make a massive, massive, MASSIVE pushback against both this judge, Obama, and all levels of state and federal government that infringe upon the civil and Constitutional liberties of Christendom. The Southern Baptists Convention, COGIC, AOG and others need to form massive lawsuits, citing the government attempting to force them to abandon their faiths, in favor of government diktats, activist judges, and threats from the taxman to ruin their churches, if they dare speak against the government in their churches. Hell, while I'm not a supporter of the catholic church, I certainly wouldn't oppose an outright lawsuit from the Holy See against the Obama regime and individual states through the US Supreme Court.

Persephone
Persephone

*grabs a pillow*

*begins screaming into it*

Mike Leavitt
Mike Leavitt

This is why we need to support whoever is the nominee. The Supreme Court will have several vacancies in the next term. Santorum, Romney, even the ungrateful government worker, Newt, will choose better justices than Obama.

Private property rights are about to die an ignominious death.

Is_Sense_Common
Is_Sense_Common

Ok folks - help me out again here. It is my understanding the marriage is a Biblical concept. A promise to God and to one another that you will remain true and work to further His Kingdom. The Bible clearly states that marriage is reserved for a man and a woman and specifically speaks out against same-sex unity. How about a division of church & state in this context? Why is that division only used to further the government cause, but never the church's?

Persephone
Persephone

I think it's because of the material benefits...the insurance, pensions, etc...that are afforded to a spouse, that made marriage attractive to gay people.

And being able to adopt.

Gays started out rejecting the 'straight lifestyle'.

Then, they demanded tolerance of their 'alternate' lifestyle.

One obtained...they now demand that we alter our social institutions to accomodate them.

Seems kinda hypocritical to me.

But maybe that's just me.

Is_Sense_Common
Is_Sense_Common

Once again, since our liberal schools have attempted to rewrite history, there seems to be no understanding or acknowledgement of the fact that our nation's laws and culture are based on Judeo-Christian principles. Therefore, marriage, to them, is simply a contract that seeks to exclude a certain population. Nope - not just you Persephone. It's completely hypocritical and soulless.