Posted on 05/02/2007 10:27:48 AM PDT by Uncledave
WHEN THE BBC invited me onto one of its talk shows recently to talk about the day's hot topic -- legalizing adult incest -- I thought of Rick Santorum.
Back in 2003, as the Supreme Court was preparing to rule in Lawrence v. Texas, a case challenging the constitutionality of laws criminalizing homosexual sodomy, then-Senator Santorum caught holy hell for warning out that if the law were struck down, there would be no avoiding the slippery slope.
"If the Supreme Court says you have the right to consensual sex within your home," he told a reporter, "then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery. You have the right to anything."
It was a common-sensical observation, though you wouldn't have known it from the nail-spitting it triggered in some quarters. When the justices, voting 6-3, did in fact declare it unconstitutional for any state to punish consensual gay sex, the dissenters echoed Santorum's point. "State laws against bigamy, same-sex marriage, adult incest, prostitution, masturbation, adultery, fornication, bestiality, and obscenity are . . . called into question by today's decision," Justice Antonin Scalia wrote for the minority. Now, Time magazine acknowledges: "It turns out the critics were right."
Time's attention, like the BBC's, has been caught by the legal battles underway to decriminalize incest between consenting adults. An article last month by Time reporter Michael Lindenberger titled "Should Incest Be Legal?" highlights the case of Paul Lowe, an Ohio man convicted of incest for having sex with his 22-year-old stepdaughter.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
Stealing and murder aren’t consensual.
Rudy’s first marriage (14 years) was to his 2nd cousin, Regina Peruggi.
The only religions that support sex with stepchildren are Islam and Woody Allen. (Is step the same as adopted?)
In many states, incest encompasses sex with step children. Not sure the drafters of those statutes intended for them to cover consensual sex with a 22 year-old. If the step relationship was established when the children were young, I think it is a good law. If the child was at least 18 when that relationship was first established, I would be a bit hesitant before enforcing such a law.
I think there is an emotional aspect that makes sex with a stepchild wrong in MOST instances.
I don’t think 2nd cousins are barred from marriage in any state..........
“(Is step the same as adopted?)”
Sorry, I meant to say adopted. But yes, sex with stepchildren also falls under the incest taboo.
More than a bit. It's like a teacher-student or boss-subordinate relationship, only far worse -- it blurs lines that shouldn't be blurred. But as long as they're consenting adults, there's no coercion and the sex didn't begin when se was a minor, I don't see the government's interest here.
Abraham had many more than just 2..........
Sons of Abraham by wife:
Hagar: Ishmael
Sarah: Isaac
Keturah: Zimran Jokshan Medan Midian Ishbak Shuah Plus many others by concubines........
Right: the forgotten son!
“Rick Santorum was definitely right about this slippery slope.”
Slopes slip both ways.
What one generation merely tolerates, the next embraces.
I think they did, and their children had sex, and ultimately they formed a political party.
“cousin/cousin?......1st,2nd,3rd?......”
Depends on the state. As far as I know - and someone please correct me if I am mistaken - there is no federal law on the books regulating sexual relations between cousins.
“What if the stepdaughter was 12 yrs. old when it started? What if this guy had been at the girl for years before she decided that was what she wanted at the time of this guy’s arrest? There must be some morality in the laws if society wants to protect the innocents.”
There are already laws against statutory rape / child abuse / molestation, etc. The innocent, in this case, would be protected as a child.
That being said, I am creeped out by this story but I have to say I don’t really care if a 22-yr-old woman wants to sleep with the man who is married to her mother. I don’t think the government should care very much either. Actual blood incest / adoptive incest, however, is over the line and should remain illegal.
I don't think there is any Federal law regulating sexual relations between anyone or anything..........nor should there be............That's up to the states.........
Creepy to the last degree.
...
Lev 18:15 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter-in-law: she is thy son’s wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
...
Lev 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
Lev 18:23 And thou shalt not lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith; neither shall any woman stand before a beast, to lie down thereto: it is confusion.
Lev 18:24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out from before you;
Lev 18:25 and the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land vomiteth out her inhabitants.
To your point about Muhammad: God says in verse 24 that he cast out the nations in the Promised Land to make room for Israel because they are “defiled” in the context of sexual sins. Let that be a serious reminder to our nation. God does not change his standards for righteousness, nor for those who deserve His protection and those who no longer do.
This is irresponsabile. A father should not let his daughter run his sexuality. It’s retarded and asking for retarded kids. There is a reason why it were banned years ago in the Bible.
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