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* Personal stories can move legislators more than you might sometimes imagine…

To address another concern, the [gay marriage] bill was amended to reiterate that churches and affiliated groups wouldn’t be forced to host or perform gay marriage ceremonies.

“Once the amendment was filed, I was ready to move forward,” said Rep. Andre Thapedi, who represents the Englewood neighborhood. “If not, I may have gone a different way.”

The change was pushed by Democratic Rep. Anthony DeLuca of Chicago Heights, who said he struggled to reconcile his Italian-Catholic upbringing and the desire to protect religious rights with his oath to represent the people of his district and correct what he believes is a “legal inequity.”

“I was shocked through this process how many close family friends would contact me that live in the district who are closely affiliated with the Catholic Church who have a gay child or gay relative and asked me to support it,” DeLuca said. “It was surprising to me, I learned a lot.”

* As implied above, the amendment really didn’t do anything new. It was more for show than go because the very same protections were already in the original bill. But if a couple of fence-sitters want something that doesn’t change the underlying legislation, then by all means give it to them.

The above passage is from a much longer, quite well written story about the behind the scenes efforts to pass the bill. Go read the whole thing.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Nov 12, 13 @ 12:39 pm

Comments

LOL, no comments. Gay marriage is already old news.

Because it really has no impact on anyone else’s life, marriage, family, faith, community or anything.

Ain’t nobody’s business but their own.

Ten years from now, you won’t be able to find anyone to admit they were ever against it. Book it.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 12, 13 @ 1:58 pm
@Wordslinger is 100% correct. Reps. Morrison and Ives will regret those YouTube clips…

Comment by Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner Tuesday, Nov 12, 13 @ 2:00 pm
I was going to comment, but really, good has won the day. The Post itself says more than I ever could now.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 12, 13 @ 2:09 pm
The wife and I went to mass in my hometown over the weekend. The priest turned the scripture about the sadducees confronting Jesus over the seven brothers marrying the same woman as they died as a chance to condemn all lawmakers with Catholic backgrounds that support SB10. According to him, one cannot vote for same sex marriage and be Catholic and so those legislators should renounce their faith.

My wife has been a devout Catholic her entire life, but had her mind changed a few years ago on same sex marriage.

“You know, I’m really tired of my church being so hateful.”

Comment by Dirty Red Tuesday, Nov 12, 13 @ 4:35 pm
=Reps. Morrison and Ives will regret those YouTube clips…= Rep. Ives is a Tea Party Republican who will consider it a badge of honor. She had one video that suggested a way to stop all these companies from asking for special tax breaks, simply change the law to grant the tax breaks automatically. Sort of extreme.

Comment by DuPage Tuesday, Nov 12, 13 @ 4:53 pm
–“You know, I’m really tired of my church being so hateful.” –

So is Pope Francis, as he demonstrates in word and deed. A great light for all to see.

There are those who see a schism between Francis and JPII. There are none so blind as those who will not see.

Francis embraced and blessed a renowned atheist. JPII embraced and blessed his attempted assassin.

Both rejected the totalitarians who would tell us men of power can keep you from God’s grace, as if it was possible to divide God from his children.

JPII defeated the totalitarians of his day. God willing, Francis will defeat the totalitarians of his.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 12, 13 @ 5:01 pm