Quote Originally Posted by GiGi View Post
The government does not dictate anything to the church. It allows organizations to apply for subsidy. Applicants agree to terms and conditions.
The church can define marriage any way it wants to, but it can not discriminate at tax payer expense.
The church knows this from the start. It agrees. It recieves money.
Why is this so hard to understand?
As a republic, our elected officials do not always speak on all issues equally.
The will of the government is not always consistent with the will of the people. It is not a perfect system, but the Catholic Church is a system which is well defined on doctrine and morals. What I think you have to understand is that "government" money is money that is taken from all taxpayers regardless of their religious affiliations or worldview. Hence, when it is making policy, it needs to exempt religious affiliations from redefining their stance on doctrine and morality. When government starts to enforce their idea of morality and belief (particularly secular humanism), they have crossed the boundaries into the Church. If you want full seperation of Church and State, then the State needs to know where to get off the bus.