I think in the final analysis --whether the issue is abortion, homosexuality, masturbation, polygamy or how to cook a dog--the bottom line is this: a religious organization may have whatever rules of inclusion and e3xclusion it wants to have based on belief and interpretation but nmay only do so under the civic contract that gives them a place to operate from in the first place.

In earlier periods of history, those civic contract items were often handled by the churches because few of the civilians could read or write, and records had to be kept.

But with a literate civilian population, the tent of civic law has to have primacy. And the primacy of the commons should be proofed up against intrusion on religious grouonds from religious groups.


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