The viewpoint that dare not speak its name

The viewpoint that dare not speak its name June 26, 2015

Someone mentioned this bit of news to me tonight. I didn’t believe it. But it’s true

The editorial board of PennLive/The Patriot-News in Harrisburg, Pa. is taking a hardcore stance against those who disagree with the Supreme Court ruling to legalize gay marriage.

“As a result of Friday’s ruling, PennLive/The Patriot-News will no longer accept, nor will it print, op-Eds and letters to the editor in opposition to same-sex marriage,” they declared. 

After receiving strong pushback, the newspaper’s editorial board, which is overseen by Editorial Page Editor John Micek, quickly revised its policy. Freedom of speech will be allowed — but only for a “limited” period of time.

Micek explained on Twitter: “Clarification: We will not foreclose discussion of the high court’s decision, but arguments that gay marriage is wrong/unnatural are out.”

Read more. 

Meanwhile, Msgr. Charles Pope writes: 

I am not optimistic that within short order, large numbers of legal challenges to the Church’s right to refuse recognition and celebration of such unions will be eroded steadily, and at some point made illegal altogether. If you think I am alarmist, I ask only that you consider how many businesses and “wedding chapels” have already been fined for rejecting on religious grounds the demand to cooperate with the celebration of same-sex unions.

The fundamental trajectory is clear: Anyone who opposes the celebration of same-sex unions and lifestyle are going to be increasingly entangled in the courts and face more and more charges.

Less than ten years ago, predictions of today’s legal landscape would have been laughed at as dubious. Those who envisioned it were called fearmongers and worse. But here we are. And pardon me for being more than a little concerned that the slope is going downhill faster and steeper than any of us care to imagine. Things are going to get very tough very quickly — not just for “the Church”, but for traditional believers and anyone who dares stand against what has become a juggernaut of judicial activism and rule from the bench.

Every American should be concerned by this. This is a sword that swings both ways.


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