Exodus chairman and ex-gay activist Mike Haley runs the antigay politics division of Focus on the Family.
Today, Focus reminded its CitizenLink newsletter readers that Focus and its Christian Right allies are the sole defenders of marriage.
Focus notes that an antigay coalition presumes to “educate the public about the societal benefits of marriage and the liberal-led attacks to redefine it” during Marriage Protection Week, Oct. 12-19.
But the public already appreciates the societal benefits of marriage, perhaps more so than Focus on the Family. And it is not “liberals,” “conservatives” or homosexuals who have undermined or redefined marriage, either now or numerous other times in the past several centuries.
The coalition misstates both the goal and the effect of the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment, which would permit conservative judges to undemocratically abolish domestic partnerships in every state and make it difficult for private companies to provide any benefits to the unmarried partners or extended family members of employees.
Dr. Richard Land, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission within the Southern Baptist Convention, is quoted mocking the Christian marriages of gays performed in tolerant churches and in Canada. He also ridicules the “activist judges” who uphold freedom of religion for all (not merely for the Christian Right).
“I really believe this is the poster-child issue for whether or not we can turn back the tide of neo-paganism
in this country,” Land said. “The only way that we’re going to be able to stop that is through a Federal
Marriage Amendment.”
Land once again falsely equates expressions of marriage, other than Christian Rightist ones, with an undefined and undocumented “neo-paganism.” Even if such a thing existed, it is apparent Land does not respect the faith’s Constitutional right to co-exist with all of America’s other faiths.
One wonders why Exodus chairman Mike Haley participates in such mockery of Americans, their faiths, and their families. Whatever the reason, it is not merely a desire to lovingly and truthfully encourage homosexuals to become heterosexual.
Usually the term ‘neo-pagan’ is applied to a number of religions that draw upon and are inspired by the heritage of European native religion. In the US, the foremost of these is Wicca. How Wiccans have managed to do all this to marriage is not at all clear. Nor do I see why Exodus does not extend the respect to Wicca that is demanded for Exodus by its officers. This is really an insulting and demeaning attack on religion.
Well, Mr. Dale, gays are wrecking marriage and American society even though they only constitute one percent of the population, according to these groups. Maybe they just have a lot of respect for what certain individuals can accomplish in small, fragmented groups!
Seriously, the NeoPagan reference caught me short, because it reminded me that not even my right to my own religion is tolerated by some Christian cultural conservatives. (CCCs).
We are strong, we are invincible, we are queerfolk…
Homophobia strikes again.
Golly, but the whole “When LGBTs win, straight Christians lose” thang gets old after a while.
Focus is running pep rallies and preparing defensive strategies for a football game despite the fact that gays are mounting no offense: Some of us just want to play the same game, by the same rulebook, using the same name, in our own park.
Not surprising, considering they would rather tell us what we can’t watch on TV rather than just changing the damn channel.
Steve B. – you should turn off the TV – there is a whole world out there that looks absolutely nothing like the fake TV world. When did TV become the sole definer culture? TV panders to a doom and gloom society that refuses to open up the shudders and let the sun shine.
I shudder openly, freely, and often. And generally it happens when hearing something from the Christian Wrong.
Natalie, perhaps you should have a doctor look at that shuddering.
lol
Homosexuality is a moral issue-period.Its not hate,its common sense.
democratic are for immorality and republicans are for morality.
I can’t believe this country has fallen so far. I just can’t
believe christains have let this movement get such a stront hold.
Well, the christains have failed,but regular secular Americans still
believe in common sense morality.
Joe, you seem to define morality based on the secular Republican Party platform instead of the Bible, church tradition, philosophy, or common sense.
The major denominations’ traditional Christian ethical teachings — those of Roman Catholicism, for example — hold parts of the Republican Party platform to be highly immoral. Unfettered capitalism is condemned by traditional Christianity, and many Christians view it as a false religion — a form of idolatry. Capital punishment also is condemned, as are certain conservative U.S. foreign policies that cause thousands of Christians (and non-Christians) abroad to be slaughtered every year by U.S. “allies.”
To be sure, one can subjectively identify immorality among non-Republicans. Nobody’s perfect.
A key difficulty with your message is that YOUR morality is secular, and subjective, and selective. Instead of defending Christian morality, you have issued a blanket statement against Christian morality when it conflicts with the values of your specific branch of the Republican Party.
Joe,
Do you believe it is appropriate to pass laws denying other people their constitutional rights, and other churches their right to practice their religion, based on your own denomination’s beliefs?
You are right Joe, homosexuality is a moral issue. And the issue boils down to a very simple question – are gays and lesbians human beings with the same right to live as we see fit, according to our moral values and beliefs, or are we some form of second-class sub-humans, whose lives must be controlled by the state and religions to which we do not subscribe? As Mr. Bush said post-9/11, ” you are either with us or against us.” Every Christian, in fact, every adult must make a decision on where they stand; so Joe what is it – are we human or not?