How does this happen? Chick-fil-A branded as anti-gay?

[Kidlicious]

No, I think he's pointing out that a church can tell people to leave the building if they are causing a disturbance. I don't know what relevance that had to any prior discussion in this thread.

No, he's suggesting that they should shoot them.

[giblets]

No, he's suggesting that they should shoot them.

That would be a really retarded response if someone came into your church and started calling everyone pedophiles since shooting people is typically considered murder.

[Ben Kenobi]

And you moved to Texas why?

Because I like it here?

he's suggesting that they would shoot them

FTFY.

[Kidlicious]

Well, going through the Texas Penal code - you'd be guilty of Harrassment (Class B misdemenour), Disrupting a meeting, (Class B misdemenour), Disturbing the peace (Class B Misdemenour), Criminal Trespass (Class A misdemenour), Criminal Mischief (Class A misdemenour), Assault, (if you touched anyone on the premises), could be a felony depending on who you touched. Say they told you to leave and you grabbed them.

Texas just doesn't have much tolerance for this bull****.

Mr Fun told you that if you are going to shoot someone for insulting them you aren't a christian and this is your response. Do you think you're fooling anyone?

[MrFun]

I'm going to shoot the next person who looks at me funny when I'm grocery shopping.

Cause that's what Jesus would do.

[Asher]

Your right to freedom of speech doesn't permit you to trespass on private property and prevent others from exercising their rights to freedom of assembly and religion.

Two things:

One: Why is it private property? Do they pay taxes? It seems to me their existence is subsidized by my dollar. I don't think it should be private property - if it is, they should pay the same taxes as everyone else.
Two: What if I stood on the sidewalk and did the same?

Flip the circumstances: Can right wingers storm into an Episcopalian church during a gay marriage, and shout bible verses condemning homosexuality? It's freedom of speech, right?

Right. That's what freedom of speech is all about, innit?

You guys are the assclowns with ridiculous behaviour in the name of free speech. To me what you just described sounds completely acceptable in the USA.

[giblets]

Two things:

One: Why is it private property? Do they pay taxes? It seems to me their existence is subsidized by my dollar. I don't think it should be private property - if it is, they should pay the same taxes as everyone else.
Two: What if I stood on the sidewalk and did the same?


Right. That's what freedom of speech is all about, innit?

You guys are the assclowns with ridiculous behaviour in the name of free speech. To me what you just described sounds completely acceptable in the USA.

What is inconsistent about letting bigots protest outside a military funeral but not come inside and disrupt it?

[Uncle Sparky]

Houston has an openly gay mayor.

[Wezil]

Gay or not, people's sex acts should be kept private.

[Felch]

Two things:

One: Why is it private property? Do they pay taxes? It seems to me their existence is subsidized by my dollar. I don't think it should be private property - if it is, they should pay the same taxes as everyone else.
Two: What if I stood on the sidewalk and did the same?

One: Paying taxes isn't what makes property private. Property is private if it is owned by a person and not the government. How you could define it any other way baffles me.

Two: Of course you can stand on a public sidewalk and protest. It's a free country.

To me what you just described sounds completely acceptable in the USA.

I'm sorry that America isn't as cartoonish as you would like.

[kentonio]

Why don't churches have to pay tax btw?

[Jon Miller]

The main reason is that taxing something gives governmental control over it.

The Supreme Court also said that "the power to tax involves the power to destroy."

Also because they are charities, I think. I would favor removing the benefit for giving to charity when giving to a church before actually taxing churches.

:
To messers. Nehemiah Dodge, Ephraim Robbins, & Stephen S. Nelson, a committee of the Danbury Baptist association in the state of Connecticut.
Gentlemen
The affectionate sentiments of esteem and approbation which you are so good as to express towards me, on behalf of the Danbury Baptist association, give me the highest satisfaction. my duties dictate a faithful and zealous pursuit of the interests of my constituents, & in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity to those duties, the discharge of them becomes more and more pleasing.
Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.
I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection & blessing of the common father and creator of man, and tender you for yourselves & your religious association, assurances of my high respect & esteem.
Th Jefferson
Jan. 1. 1802.
:

JM

[Aeson]

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;" ...

(not saying I like it ... interpretation or intent in regards to taxes ... just that is the reason)

[rah]

Every time Ben posts, he shows how unchristian christians are. I'd be embarrassed if I was a christian.

[Jon Miller]

I am.

JM
(Not saying that I never give reason for Christians to be embarrassed, but yes, I get embarrassed for Ben being a vocal Christian more than any other Christian on this site.)