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Clergy Group Supports Proposed Colorado Civil Unions Bill

By Howard M. Friedman

With the first hearings set for Monday in the Colorado Senate on Senate Bill 172 that would permit same-sex civil unions, a group of 130 clergy have announced their support for the bill. A KWGN News report yesterday quotes Rabbi Joe Black, one of three leaders from different faiths representing the bill's supporters, who said:

You're going to be hearing opposition to this bill from faith communities. And we just wanted you to know that that's not the only voice that is out there.... For too long the loudest voice from the religious community in regard to GLBT community has been that of condemenation and denunciation -- and that needs to change.

United Methodist Rev. Kerry Greenhill echoed those sentiments, saying: "God loves all people equally as children of God. It is not a sin to be GLBT." The bill, while permitting civil unions, provides that no member of the clergy is required to certify a civil union in violation of their free exercise of religion and no child placement agency is required to place a child for adoption with a couple that has entered a civil union.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on March 04, 2011 (boomark / email).