Lähdekoodi sivulle Käyttäjä:InProgress/Same-sex attraction/The Church and gay rights

For the most part, the Church does not involve itself in politics.  It makes a few exceptions when it comes to moral issues.  The Church officially opposes same-sex marriage, but has made clear that the official opposition is limited to marriage, and does not extend to other gay rights.  The statement reads as follows:

The focus of the Church’s involvement is specifically same-sex marriage and its consequences. The Church does not object to rights (already established in California) regarding hospitalization and medical care, fair housing and employment rights, or probate rights, so long as these do not infringe on the integrity of the family or the constitutional rights of churches and their adherents to administer and practice their religion free from government interference." {{ref|DivineMarriage}}

Larry King asked President Hinckley whether or not the Church was in favor of civil unions.  President Hinckley responded "Well, we want to be very careful about that, because that - whatever may lead to gay marriage, we're not in favor of."{{ref|larryking}}  Here, the emphasis again was on marriage, not on any other rights.

===Doesn't the church's teachings on same-sex relationships interfere with its teachings on agency?===

One of the fundamental doctrines of the Church is that men are free to chose good and evil.  The role of the Church is not to force people to obey the commandments of God.  The Church invites all to come to Christ, but it is up to the individual to come unto Christ.  We teach that sexual relationships are only allowed between a husband and a wife, but allow individuals to make their own choices.  The eleventh article of faith states: "We claim the privilege of worshiping the Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscious, and allow all men the same privilege.  Let them worship how, where or what they may."  We believe that all people have the ability to chose their own sexual conduct.

Legislation that is herald as gay rights legislation actually puts limitations on the ability of gay and lesbian people to chose their own sexual conduct.  For example, the recent decision by the Iowa Supreme Court stated that "you're marriage isn't fulfilling."  While we respect the rights of gay and lesbian people who 

this really is my own beef.  I will get back to it, just not right now.

==Endnotes==
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