"God's Law" cited as a reason to stop a Pennsylvania Representative from speaking

State Representative Brian Sims (D-Philadelphia) was blocked from speaking on the floor of the Pennsylvania House about the Supreme Court's recent DOMA ruling.  The reason for silencing Representative Sims?  According to Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) it was as follows:

"I did not believe that as a member of that body that I should allow someone to make comments such as he was preparing to make that ultimately were just open rebellion against what the word of God has said, what God has said, and just open rebellion against God's law," 

You can read an article about this HERE.

Open rebellion against God's law?  I wasn't aware that the Pennsylvania Legislature was governed by "God's Law".  Which "God's Law" would that be, by the way? The Law of God as dictated by the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church?  Maybe the Southern Baptist Convention?  Perhaps the Episcopal Church of the United States?  Maybe the 7th Day Adventists?  Or maybe the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?  United Methodist Church perhaps?

Anyway, I wasn't aware that, in addition to his ability to interpret God's Law, Representative Metcalfe had the ability to look into the immediate future and "see" what Representative Sims was going to actually say before it was actually said (that which would be so offensive to "God's Law").  Heck, maybe he can use this power to help me pick lottery numbers next week.

People of good conscience, regardless of political affiliation, (and including my own State Representative) should be disgusted by Representative Metcalfe's actions.  Period.

Maybe, just maybe, the Pennsylvania Legislature is governed by the Laws of Pennsylvania.

Maybe, just maybe, ideas need to be debated, not silenced.



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Update, 06.28.2013

The following is a statement from my representative, Kevin Haggerty, related to this issue:

"Meet Brian Sims. My fellow Democratic Representative whose life I support and always have whether Brian knew it or not. Now it's a national story and it should be. People like Brian Sims are why we have our own country in the first place. There is no second place."

You can find it on Representative Haggerty's Facebook page; link HERE.

Good job Kevin!