It's all about justice

The special session of the Illinois General Assembly resumes Monday in the House and Tuesday in the Senate, and will run until December 2.  Back in February, 2009, Rep. Greg Harris introduced the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act, which was successfully voted out of committee, and advanced to its third and final reading on March 19, 2009.  The bill was then converted to Senate Bill 1716, which is its current form. The bill awaits a final vote in the Illinois General Assembly, and the hope is that it will come up this week.  

If passed, SB1716 would establish civil unions in Illinois which would offer the same benefits, obligations and responsibilities of marriage. The major benefits include hospital visitation, healthcare decision making, disposition of a deceased loved one’s remains, and probate rights. It would allow LGBT persons equal access to government under the law, while protecting the rights of religious institutions to define marriage as they choose, meaning that the law explicitly protects the rights of all religious institutions to either officiate civil unions or NOT facilitate civil unions based on their faith and traditions. You can find out more about it here.

While civil union is not the same as marriage, many supporters believe this is a positive step forward for Illinois and are hoping it becomes law this week. Bob and I are among them.  This is a matter of justice and equality, pure and simple, and we are confident it’s not a matter of IF it will pass, it is merely a matter of WHEN – of course the sooner justice is served, the better for all of us, gay and straight, single and coupled.

Like Prop Hate in California, the bill is facing opposition both from within Illinois and from the outside.  One example from within was reported in the Chicago Sun Times on Monday when the head of Chicago's Roman Catholic archdiocese portrayed legislation authorizing civil unions between gay and lesbian couples as an initiative that would ''change the nature of marriage'' and urged state lawmakers to reject it.  And from outside the state, the anti-gay National Organization for Marriage (NOM) is targeting Illinois by urging its self-proclaimed "Marriage Protectors" to:  "…stop the civil unions bill (SB1716).  This dangerous bill would create same-sex marriage by another name – extending to same-sex couples all 'the same legal obligations, responsibilities, protections, and benefits of marriage.”

So we've signed on online clergy petition/letter, adding our names to a long list of supporters who love Jesus AND love LGBT's.  And we emailed our state rep and senator, for whatever that will be worth.  And I'm preaching about it tomorrow because it's Advent, and Advent is all about justice and hope.  

Here's hoping!