Never forget the value of freedom of religions

The nation is watching Hawaii as our Legislature engages in a special session that Gov. Neil Abercrombie called to debate his proposed law to enact same-sex marriage. The bill threatens to breach the sanctuary of sacred boundaries long protected in this country. Houses of worship and similar religious organizations will be subject to legal penalty for not hosting same-sex ceremonies. The only way to avoid this penalty is to close the doors to non-members hoping to be married on their grounds.

When compared with the other 10 or so states that have enacted same-sex marriage, Hawaii’s proposal takes one’s breath away. No other state forces churches, synagogues and mosques to host same-sex weddings against conscience and doctrine.

Many faith communities allow their members to marry a non-member in their church, synagogue, temple or mosque. It’s uniquely the business of religious organizations to open their doors to non-members. If the governor’s bill is enacted, every faith community acting in this spirit would be at risk of punishment sanctioned by the state.

This is no small contraction of religious freedom in Hawaii. Regardless of where one might stand on the issue of gay marriage, the protection of our First Amendment rights and values ought to be paramount. As it currently stands, the bill is sending a message that Hawaii is not a friendly place for people of faith.

Religious organizations contribute greatly to civil society, routinely opening their doors to non-members for various community events and offering charitable services for the greater public good. One shouldn’t have to jettison a people’s creed in order to let them serve the broader community.

As first lady Michelle Obama explained last year at the annual conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, a faith journey isn’t just about what you do on the day of worship, "it’s about what we do Monday through Saturday as well." Faith involves a comprehensive commitment, not to be threatened by factions picking and choosing how it can be fulfilled.

Do Hawaiians want the government inside our houses of worship, dictating how we exercise our faith? The peaceful diversity that has always defined Hawaii will be compromised if we codify a mentality that seeks to punish people of faith based on their deeply held beliefs. Hawaii’s history of protecting religious diversity and individual rights of conscience is not — and must never — be strong-armed by political headwinds.

Even advocates of same-sex marriage such as Brookings Institution senior fellow Jonathan Rauch have repeatedly called for mainstream members of the gay rights movement to remember and respect the fundamental religious freedom principles of fairness and liberty toward all members of all faiths.

Until the governor demonstrates that he understands this crucial principle, the Legislature should reject this bill.