Posted by Simcha on August 28, 2001, at 7:53:19
In reply to WHAT ABOUT??? » SalArmy4me, posted by mair on August 27, 2001, at 15:05:22
Mair,
This is a good point. Yet in my religion we marry gay and lesbian couples, provided that both parties are Jewish, of course.
Reform Judaism, the largest Jewish movement in this country, came out with a statement sometime a couple years ago. Reform Rabbis have been performing gay weddings for years, because Rabbis traditionally have such freedom to follow their conscience. The Reform Jewish organization as a whole decided to come out for gay weddings.
The Reconstructionist Jewish movement and the Traditional Renewal movement also perform gay weddings. These movements are much smaller though. Conservative synagogues usually do not perform gay weddings, yet they will support couples in other ways. It is not unheard of to have a Conservative Rabbi perform a gay wedding in his own office behind closed doors. The Orthodox movement does not support gay people at all. Of course they are the smallest Jewish movement in this country comprising only 5% of the Jews in this country.
Most Jews read Leviticus in Hebrew. In the Hebrew it is clear that the whole phrase "Man shall not lie with man as with a woman" refers to temple prostitution in pagan rituals and not homosexuality. It is also interesting to note that the Torah (Hebrew Bible) does not say anything about lesbians. Since the Torah does not expressly forbid homosexuality it is permitted. This goes along with Talmudic teachings by the great Rabbis who said, "That which is not forbidden in the Torah is permitted."
> "They can live as "gay" and still keep their homosexual subculture, but they cannot perform acts of sex with members of the same sex and still remain officers, soldiers, or employees of the Salvation Army. Likewise, men and women cannot perform acts of sex unless married by God."
> >
> > Is an exception made in Vermont which recognizes (and provides for) a form of marriage?
>
> Mair
poster:Simcha
thread:10346
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20010825/msgs/10388.html