So after all the whispers (and a random Twitter campaign) to get Jacob Rees-Mogg installed as the new Tory leader, what does he go and do? State he is opposed to both gay marriage and abortion under any circumstances. ...however, I genuinely don't believe this is him killing off any chance of replacing the Dire Leader - instead I see it as him securing the support of the core Tory support, those who start foaming at the mouth and gnashing their teeth at the thought that we're no longer allowed to send have children clean chimneys and be paid as close to nothing as you can get to do so.
The first is consistent with practising Christian belief, and the second AFAIK is consistent with current Catholic doctrine. So knowing he is a practising Catholic, he is sticking to his beliefs regardless of the political capital that may be there to say otherwise.
Farron was leader of the Lib Dems, not a back-bench MP. And so as an alleged practising Christian, faced a political/ religion dichotomy that was always going to make for a good media spectacle.
Christianity doesn't say anything about gay marriage, though. He can believe whatever he wants, but I really don't see that his religion should give him an out on this issue. When's he going to be asked if he thinks that gay sex is a sin? Should be an easy answer.
Pretty much, although it's not explicitly stated in the Bible, as far as I know. As Rees-Mogg's not opposed to non-Christian marriage though, I don't see how that applies to gays. Does he want to ban atheists from getting married or non-religious marriages in general? If not, then why not?
He probably thinks that marriage has "a union between man and woman" as its core tenet. So "non-Christian" marriage removes the "in the sight of God" component (and all the consequences implied therein) . Which would by definition not be applicable to homosexuals. IMHO in the UK the "civil partnership" should be the basis of a union between people, irrespective of sexual orientation or religious belief. Thus setting the social/legal obligations/rights for those who undertake the union. Then, religious marriages (Christian etc) in the UK are by default assumed to imply the terms of the civil partnership. All the religion- specific stuff is then added on top.
I think that I largely agree with you. Marriage in the UK should be a legal issue, essentially. Anything that those getting married want to add on top of that is up to them, but shouldn't concern the state. Rees-Mogg appears to be being rather selective about the whole thing though, to me. Why gay marriage and not non-Christian marriage? Why marriage at all? It's not something that actually affects him, I'd assume. Is he planning on trying to legally enforce the first commandment? Doesn't look like it. Why is this less important to him than something that's not even explicitly mentioned in the Bible?
Regarding what his priorities on paper should probably be, not just him, most Christians (and other religious faiths) involved in politics. I guess their get-out on their day of judgement is that they themselves were devout, and in life (in person and profession) they toiled to make society a much better place, resulting in the general population obeying as many of the edicts of God as possible.
The Jehovahs Witness crowd at least do a lot of pavement-pounding (which could sway things in their favour when all things are considered on that day) .
Again, the press were only too happy to devote several days to hounding Tim Farron for his beliefs, so if there's any consistency they'll target Rees-Mogg with the exact same zeal. The last part is the key point here.
As long as they don't wake him up on a Sunday when he's got a hangover. I hear that can be quite annoying...
I always thought that backsides are for crapping purposes....not for the likes of Elton John to name just one! .....and two men with adopted kids......what will this do to the kids with no mother? I know.I'm old and still can't get used to it!!!!!
I usually respond Iä! Iä! Cthulhu fhtagn! Ph'nglui mglw'nfah Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn! ...then see if they managed to beat Usain Bolt's average time to pass 100m.
