Are religious freedom and Judeo-Christian morality on the decline in America?

Growing up, I was taught that religious freedom and morality are on the decline.  Until recently, I never questioned it.  I’m beginning to wonder it this really is the case.  Regarding morality, it was once moral to treat people with disabilities in ways that are now considered inhumane.  Although I’m not appreciative of the paperwork I’ve had to complete to study the behavior of people with disabilities for my master’s thesis, I do appreciate the fact that Institutional Review Boards exist.  Their existence communicates to me that morality is on an incline: people with disabilities enjoy more rights than they previously enjoyed.  Steven Pinker goes into more depth:

Elder Quentin L. Cook of the LDS Church offers a potential rebuttal.  I sense a conflict here.  If the Bible teaches what Pink says it teaches (e.g., raid villages, kill the men and rape the women), then I’m not certain returning to Judeo-Christian moral principles is going to make the world more moral.  But I may be wrong.

Regarding a history of declining religious freedoms, Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the LDS Church quoted Cardinal Francis George saying “threats to religious freedom in America…[are abortion and] the development of gay rights and the call for same-sex ‘marriage'”.  He then cites cases that have nothing to do with freedom of speech and have everything to do with anti discrimination laws.  In other words, no religion is being stopped from preaching that homosexuality is a sin but members of churches are being told that, when in public, you cannot discriminate against someone based on sexual orientation.  Here are the cases he cites:

• Photographer in New Mexico declined to photograph a same-sex commitment ceremony due to religious reasons.
• United Methodist Church denied a lesbian couple access to their pavilion which was made available to the public (the church had been receiving tax breaks for making its property available to the public.
• Candidate for master’s degree in counseling was dismissed from her program for failing to adhere to the field’s code of ethics regarding treatment of gays and lesbians.  Specifically, she disagreed with the American Counseling Association’s prohibition against sexual orientation change efforts

Keith Olberman awarded Elder Oaks the “worst person award” for a similar talk given at BYU-I (link).  Oaks had the opportunity to clarify points about comparing Mormons during Prop 8 to blacks during the civil rights movement with Fox13 Utah:

The question I raise is whether the LDS Church has a civil right to determine for everyone which relationships government should or should not recognize.  In other words, is it really freedom of speech and freedom of religion to legislate (and therefore promote) their version of morality?  In sum, I question the claims of Quentin L. Cook and Dallin H. Oaks that religious freedom and morality are on the decline.

Excellent rebuttals (video) to common arguments against gay marriage

I don’t always feel qualified to answer questions on marriage equality and other gay issues, especially when it comes to adoption by gay and lesbians couples: My personal experiences and knowledge are limited.  I’ve compiled a series of videos that offer rebuttals to common arguments against gay marriage and other gay issues either through someone telling their story or a representation of true-to-life scenarios and facts.  Share these videos on social media to answer questions you don’t feel qualified to answer; it makes a difference.

Zach Wahls of Iowa talks about being raised by two moms.  He asks legislators in Iowa:

“You are voting for the first time in the history of our state to codify discrimination into our constitution…  Will this vote affect my family?  Will it affect yours?”

He further asserts “The sexual orientation of my parents has had zero affect on my character.”

This video from Australia reminds me of significant life events I’ve shared with Dan including our engagement.

This video is touching to me.  People briefly mention aspects of the Constitution that uphold gay marriage and then say (something along the lines):

“We are the people of the United States of America.  I’m your doctor.  I’m your lawyer.  I’m your pastor.  I’m your neighbor.  I’m your kids best friend.”

This video touches me because I don’t always feel supported by pastors, lawyers, neighbors, etc.

This video is also touching to me as I’ve felt numerous times that I need permission from all the people fighting against my marriage to be with Dan.

And here’s a clip from the most progressive show ever: The Golden Girls.  If you want to know why men have nipples, this clip has an answer.

Wanda Sykes on gay marriage:

“If you don’t believe in same-sex marriage then don’t marry someone of the same sex… I think the biggest threat to marriage is divorce… Make marriage like the mafia: once you’re in, you’re in.”

Vulgarity warning: Wanda has been known to curse.

These videos are a little longer and more in depth.  The man in the video talks about aspects of religious freedom that aren’t threatened by gay marriage.  It is basically a rebuttal to Dallin H. Oaks: Oaks cites many of the same cases this guy discusses (e.g., the United Methodist Church case).  These are the same cases and arguments distributed in LDS congregations during the time of Prop 8.  LDS lawyer Morris Thurston offered his own rebuttal to these same arguments.

Here’s a final video from the CATO Institute which describes how marriage is a fundamental right.