People of faith oppose Florida Amendment 2

A Statement of Opposition to Amendment 2

As clergy members from a broad spectrum of religious traditions we hold diverse views regarding marriage. However, we are united in our opposition to amending the Florida Constitution to define marriage.

We share a serious concern that proposed Amendment 2, which will appear on the November 4 ballot would infringe on religious liberty. We believe that marriage decisions should be left to couples, their clergy, and their religious beliefs — not the State of Florida.

[ . . . . ]

Amendment 2 would undermine religious liberty. Florida’s religious communities do not support this amendment. As leaders of these communities, we pledge to vote no on Amendment 2 and urge you to join us.

More . . .

Florida Clergy for Fairness

SayNo2.com

Vote No on 2

Southern Baptists: 'Our hands are tied'

Nashville, TN - Church leaders concede there have been some incidents of sex abuse in Southern Baptist congregations, but say their hands are tied when it comes to investigating complaints across the denomination.

Southern Baptist Convention President Frank Page said the denomination plans to teach its churches how to conduct background checks, and to require letters of recommendation for job candidates.

But he said the Southern Baptist Convention, which has 16.3 million members, does not have the legal authority to create an independent board to investigate complaints.

"As much as possible within our structure, we're going to assist churches," Page said. "We're deeply concerned about this. We believe children are the most precious gifts from God."

"They don't want to see this problem," said Christa Brown, a SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) member from Austin, Texas, who says she was sexually abused as a child by a Southern Baptist minister. "That's tragic because they're imitating the same mistakes made by Catholic bishops."

She says the Southern Baptists need an independent review board precisely because there's no clear chain of command among Baptist churches. The SBC also does not keep a list of ministers who have been accused of abuse. Advocates say this means molesters could move from church to church.

• Denomination faces claims of sex abuse

Question: How quickly would the Southern Baptists untie their hands to expel a gay pastor, or to defrock a minister conducting same-sex commitment ceremonies?

* * *

Update - Feb. 23, 2007: "City of Angels Lady" blogs on civil cases against pedophiles in the church. See LA clergy cases 2007 and click on her profile for links to other blogs.

Congressman's solution to Iraq quagmire: 'Onward Christian soldiers!'

BlueNC reports that Congressman Robin Hayes has the solution to the Iraq war -- have our soldiers convert all Muslims to Christianity.

Our local weekly newspaper the “Concord Standard and Mount Pleasant Times” reported on Mr. Hayes speech in his hometown:

First there’s the usual talk of how we’re “winning” over there: “The war in Iraq has got to be won; it’s being won.” (A couple of months ago Hayes said that the rise in violence in Iraq was an indication that we’re winning.)

Then comes the real kicker: “Stability in Iraq ultimately depends on spreading the message of Jesus Christ, the message of peace on earth, good will towards men. Everything depends on everyone learning about the birth of the Savior.”

Praise the lord and pass the ignorance.

On second thought, perhaps the congressman has hit on something -- just not exactly in the way he thought. With one important change, the congressman's suggestion could become the Iraq solution the Bush administration has ignored, the plan that all our military strategists and Iraq commissions somehow failed to recognize:

Bring our troops home from Iraq and send evangelical volunteers to replace them.

That's right. Let the religious leaders who campaigned for George's little war put their own butts on the line and then see how many followers they have. I'm already visualizing religious brigades conquering Baghdad, a Bible in one hand and W's picture in the other.

Iraq problem solved -- in fact, lots of problems solved. Hallelujah!

New Life overseers dredge for dirt

Have you had sexually-oriented contacts or conversations with a New Life minister or staff member?

If so, the Overseers of the New Life Church of Colorado Springs want to hear from you, post-chaste:

To assist in both the process of Rev. Haggard's restoration and the protection of the Church itself, the Overseers are open to receiving current information relevant to either Rev. Haggard's recovery process or any concerns about New Life Church staff or its leaders. While they cannot promise confidentiality, the Overseers will handle any such information discretely.

The information you share must be first-hand, factual, and detailed with as many dates and specifics as possible for your communication to be considered credible (no rumors, please).

• Call for squealers: Overseer's of New Life Church

Merry Christmas from the Church of the Overseers.

They just want to know if you've been naughty or nice -- where, when, how and with whom -- but confidentiality flies out the closet door if your disclosure stirs their prurient interests.

They do make the bold promise, though, to go where no man... umm... to handle your personal testimony "discretely," purely for the edification of the fondled... I mean, the flock.

Not to split hairs, but apparently the "overseer's" who inserted the unnecessary apostrophe into their announcement's heading don't know plurals from possessives, discretely from discreetly -- or destructiveness from salvation.

So, sing out loud, sing out strong, if the spirit moves you to expose yourself to the Board of the Inquisition. But don't expect amazing grace to spring from religious intolerance. That's not the vision nor the promise.

Unfortunately, the true Christmas spirit will languish outside the walls of New Life Church -- and countless other churches across the land -- until "all ye faithful" come to rely less on the "overseers" of the faith, and more on the teachings of Christ.

For gays and lesbians, the only War on Christmas is the one conducted by the church itself, which is focused more on judgment than on "tidings of comfort and joy."

• Bottom line: 'War on Christmas' has a new jingle
• Previous posts: Letter to a fallen man
• Hat tips: Evangelical Right and Dan Savage

Another pastor resigns over homosexuality

DENVER - In a tearful videotaped message Sunday to his congregation, the senior pastor of a thriving evangelical megachurch in south metro Denver confessed to sexual relations with other men and announced he had voluntarily resigned his pulpit.

A month ago, the Rev. Paul Barnes of Grace Chapel in Douglas County preached to his 2,100-member congregation about integrity and grace in the aftermath of the Ted Haggard drugs-and-gay-sex scandal.

Now, the 54-year-old Barnes joins Haggard as a fallen evangelical minister who preached that homosexuality was a sin but grappled with a hidden life.

• Denver Post report
• Dec. 18 update: Another New Life leader resigns over 'sexual immorality'
• Home values of evangelical leaders of Colorado Springs
• Letter to a fallen man

For a different perspective on Christian ministry, see . . .

• Jay Bakker: 'One Punk Under God'
• What the hell happened to Christianity?
• One Punk Updates: WOW Report

Letter to a fallen man

Deep tissue and Swedish style massage:

$70.00 per hour

Massage with the pleasure of the man in mind:

$200.00-up per session

Exposing a big ole flaming hypocrite:

Priceless

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Members of the New Life Church were stunned and brought to tears by the Rev. Ted Haggard’s confessions of “sexual immorality,” then accepted his plea for forgiveness with open arms.

Haggard, who had been a leading evangelist and vocal opponent of gay marriage, apologized Sunday in a letter read from the pulpit of the 14,000-member church he founded.

“The fact is I am guilty of sexual immorality. And I take responsibility for the entire problem,” Haggard wrote. “I am a deceiver and a liar. There’s a part of my life that is so repulsive and dark that I have been warring against it for all of my adult life.” - Rev. Haggard says: ‘I am a deceiver and a liar’

More . . .

• Confessions of an angry hustler
• Evangelist's gay escort signs for explicit tell-all
• Scripture little help for Haggard's sex addiction
• Ted Haggard's crystal cathedral: Gayest place on earth
• Another pastor resigns over homosexuality
• Dec. 18 update: New Life minister resigns over 'sexual immorality'
• Home values of evangelical leaders of Colorado Springs

Update - Feb. 20, 2007: Haggard had other 'improper relationships'

Open letter to Rev. Ted Haggard


Dear Ted,

If you were my friend, this is what I would say to you:

Should you ever choose a time to be honest with yourself, now is that time. Do not minimize the damage you have done both to yourself and to others. Your behavior has brought tragedy into your life and the lives of your loved ones. The greater tragedy, however, did not begin with your outing, and it may or may not end with your penitence.

As you confessed in the letter to your church, you are "a deceiver and a liar." Yes, there has been a hidden part to your life, but the "repulsive and dark" side to which you admitted was not your attraction to men: It was the breaking of your marital vows, the denial of your sexuality, and your ongoing efforts to dash the hopes and dreams of people you will never know.

That is the picture of a tragic life. Your "warring" was not only against your inner being, it was a battle turned on men and women whose lives are more authentic than your own.

Asking God, your family, and your church for forgiveness was the easy first step, since being exposed as a hypocrite left you little choice. But asking forgiveness from those you reviled will be the real test of your sincerity and humility, your humanity and spirituality.

Gays and lesbians and their families have done nothing to hurt you and your family. Until you acknowledge the pain that you personally and willfully inflicted upon them, how can you forgive yourself? How can anyone, including your wife and children, trust and respect you again?

Leaders and members of your church supposedly accepted your plea for forgiveness. That may be, but you and I know they will return you to the fold on their terms only -- that you yield to their demands and live the lie that failed you before. In contrast, many of the group you have targeted for discrimination would, given the opportunity, offer more spontaneous forgiveness than you will find within the walls of the church you have built.

My friend, life is too short for you to continue the destructive, and losing, battle against yourself -- the internal battle that occurs when one attempts to "choose" a sexual orientation forced upon him by religious or social pressures.

As you already must know better than anyone else, you cannot change your innate sexual orientation, and God has not and will not change it because he does not condemn it. What he does condemn is the unnecessary pain you have inflicted upon others, and your hypocrisy in doing so. In the words of Jesus:

"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." - Matthew 25:40, KJV

Rather than looking to others for your soul salvation, why not find peace within yourself and with your creator? Heed the words of Paul the Apostle:

“Wherefore, my beloved, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” - Philippians 2:12-13, KJV

No doubt you have led a life of fear and trembling, whether of God or of being caught in your deceptions. My sincere hope is that you are, at your core, a man who wants to do -- and will find the courage to do -- the right thing.

Will you submit to the judgment of those who have no understanding of your inner struggle and spiritual journey, or will you trust your heart and the lessons you have learned? Will you condemn a group that is denied the acceptance and opportunities you take for granted, or will you extend a genuine apology and a loving hand to your brothers and sisters?

"Jesus said ... , Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." - Matthew 22:37-40, KJV

Finally, my friend, I say to you because I love you: Grow up already! Your children need a father who is a real man. If you're gay, act like it. If you're not, stop playing. Either way, end the bashing. You're better than that.

'Woman, submit': thus saith God's messenger

Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr to women: 'God wants you barefoot and pregnant, sweetcheeks'

LOUISVILLE, KY—Does God care whether couples have kids?

R. Albert Mohler Jr., ever-controversial president of Kentucky's Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, has stirred debate by asserting that it's "an absolute revolt against God's design'' if husbands and wives purposely avoid bearing children.

To him, raising children is both a God-given duty and "one of the most crucial opportunities for the making of saints.''

Following Southern Baptist style, Mohler based his case on the Bible, saying it teaches that "marriage, sex and children are part of one package. To deny any part of this wholeness is to reject God's intention in creation — and his mandate revealed in the Bible.''

"Couples are not given the option of chosen childlessness in the biblical revelation,'' he contended. "To the contrary, we are commanded to receive children with joy as God's gifts.''

Mohler also said he wasn't talking about couples who desire children but are unable to have them, only those who are capable of bearing children but "reject this intrusion in their lifestyle.'' The Bible "points to barrenness as a great curse,'' he noted, alongside its depictions of children as divine gifts." (Southern Baptist seminary president: Bible opposes intentional childnessness)

Really, Rev. "Ear-to-God, Lips-to-Republicans" Mohler, you certainly provided answers to questions I never thought to ask of you. Based on your telephone to glory, though, you must already be anticipating the next package of "marriage, sex and children" questions, so here's a start:

• What are the guidelines on preferable negligee colors, or is sexy attire optional?
• Would anything discouraging reproductive acts -- flannel nightgowns and headaches, for example -- be sinful?
• Is dancing OK only when it leads to the bedroom?
• Does one pretend to have fun, but pray throughout the act as a matter of Christian duty?
• How much foreplay, if any, is appropriate?
• Which positions, if more than one is ever acceptable, are suggested for increasing the probability of fertilization?
• In fulfilling one's reproductive duties, are clocks and calendars forbidden -- or mandatory?
• Does the church have a position on breastfeeding, too?
• Exactly how many children are enough?
• How many children can a male head of household, earning minimum wage, support?
• Who pays the medical bills for the family you envisage -- or will God reward big families with perfect health?
• Are sabbaticals from childbearing permitted, or must the submissive wife, like Proud Mary on a river, just keep on a-rollin'?

Hard questions, but I'm sure you're up for these and more. Speaking for God is hard work, so let's get'er done, preacher man.

Here's a more important question for the rest of us, however; one that each of us must answer for ourselves: When is enough enough? After all, the holy Mohler's opinions are well-rooted in his church's doctrine -- a doctrine that many believe is "right" for America. (Baptist Faith and Message, XVIII. The Family)

Is this the voice of a future theocracy? Will Americans harken to the rantings of a man who claims to speak for God; a man whose religious and political goals are inseparable; a man whose influence already extends to the top levels of government -- a man who, ultimately, would remove every vestige of freedom and personal decision making we hold dear?

* * *

Rev. Mohler probably solved another scientific puzzle as well: "Italy's frozen mummy may have been sterile" -- or perhaps ye ole mummy suffered "a great curse" for an "absolute revolt against God's plan."

The 'sanctity' of the egg

Gay families roil conservatives

Which came first, the egg or the sanctimony?

NEW YORK -- Three months before the annual Easter egg roll at the White House, the usually festive event is already taking on a divisive edge because of plans by gay- and lesbian-led families to turn out en masse in hopes of raising their public profile.

[....]

"Religious and political extremists who oppose our equality have targeted our planned participation in this event, saying we have no right to 'crash' the White House Egg Roll," [Family Pride executive director] Chrisler wrote to supporters Thursday.

More . . . .

• Gay families to join White House 'egg roll' festivities
  
• Family Pride announcement

Protesting soon near you: The Church of the Pathetic

Steve Otto, Tampa Tribune, writes:

Coming to a church near you this weekend will be enough venom and hatred to test your "turn the other cheek" beliefs.

They bill themselves as members of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan. In truth they are at the farthest end of the lunatic fringe.

These people hate everything from gay people to Jews to Catholics to the United States of America.

[....]

This weekend they plan to come to Tampa. They have announced plans to picket Christ the King Catholic Church, Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church, Without Walls International Church and St. John's Episcopal Church.

On their Web site, they say they also will be at Newsome High School and the downtown school district building Monday.

[....]

You wonder that there are groups with the all-consuming hatred this one has, and even more that anyone, even sons and daughters, would take up this man's disgusting crusade.

Aren't there already enough organizations dedicated to hatred and bigotry on this planet to satisfy anyone?

In the universe of bigotry and meanness, they are only a little sideshow in a grimy tent at the edge of society. If you happen to be at one of the houses of worship and come outside and see the posters and hear the chants, leave them to the cops.

Like I said, turn the other cheek. If that includes mooning, then so be it.

More . . . .

• Steve Otto column, Tampa Tribune
• Equality Florida Action Alert
• God Hates Fags (website of evil)

Lakeland college marries religion to politics

Wingnut speaker featured at 'scholarship gala'

Southeastern University, an Assemblies of God instution of higher learning, featured right wing ding-a-ling Sean Hannity at the college's annual scholarship fundraiser Friday night. Although college officials declined to discuss Hannity's fee, they said it was lower than his normal fee.

"I don't speak as often as I used to," he said. "I did give the commencement speech at Jerry Falwell's school (Liberty University), and I am speaking tonight, so that should give you an idea about where my interests are." (Lakeland Ledger)

As if anyone wondered.

In a brief Ledger interview preceding his daily radio show Friday, Hannity stated, "I am an intellectually honest Reagan conservative."

Honestly, Sean. How many honest people feel obliged to couch their opinions with iterations of their own "intellectual honesty." Honesty requires more than off-air coaching of guests who share your views, or on-air insults of those with contrary opinions. And no amount of jabbing your stubby little pinky in the air can raise your credibility quotient.

Hannity continued, "I believe in very simple principles -- limited government, less government spending, a strong national defense and standing up to evil wherever it exists."

OK, Sean, try explaining your concept of limited government to Michael Schiavo, gays and lesbians, or a rape victim who chooses abortion. Tell us how your party is reducing the national debt. Tell us how the Bush administration's secret program of spying on Americans, or the Iraq debacle that you refuse even to acknowledge, has made us safer and strengthened our military. And, please, tell us how your spumy praise of the man responsible for tens of thousands of deaths of innocent men, women and children squares with "standing up to evil."


A marriage made in heaven?

Southeastern University claims to offer "a vital, Christ-centered education" that prepares students for "a life of world-changing ministry -- both in church-related positions and other professional fields."

Yet college officials continue to schedule the likes of ex-Senator Zell Miller, Alabama Justice Drayton Nabers, and bloviating partisan Sean Hannity -- not for balanced discussion and debate of religious doctrine or political theory -- but as a stamp of philosophical approbation for the world these men envision.

Apparently they spend more time reading the Republican playbook than observing the teachings of Christ. Gleefully and hypocritically, they have turned the promise of a "Christ-centered education" into a doctrinaire marriage of religion to politics.


More . . . .

• Fox pundit pontificates at university's fundraiser
• News coverage of Hannity speech to be limited
• Alabama justice to address graduates
• Southeastern University
• Southeastern commencement

Lust for filthy lucre leads Ford to blow off gay customers

AFA's Wildmon gobbles up the affection; will Ford wake up with regrets?

Gay and lesbian advocacy groups sharply criticized Ford Motor Co. for agreeing to stop advertising in gay-themed publications in the face of a boycott by the conservative American Family Association.

Jerry Reynolds, an influential Ford dealer in Garland, Texas, who joined company executives in the meeting with AFA officials last week, said many dealers were concerned about the boycott. In the end, he said Ford made the changes because of financial concerns.

We know how much the gay bashers love to bring 'round their brand-spanking-new Jags and Land Rovers, and spin off to join the congregation in praying for the (gay) sinners they love (to hate) so much.

Good luck, Ford. You're on the path to certain success. Yep. And don't forget to send a few of your "On Fire for Hypocrites" discount vouchers to Reverends Dobson, Falwell, Robertson, Shelton, et al. They're probably in the market to add another luxury liner to their fleet -- and you'll need to make a lot of sales to your chosen friends. Advertising, ya know.

Now that you've caved to the AFA on this one, get ready for the next series of demands from the antigay crusaders. It's all about free (religious) enterprise, ain't it?

So pass the collection plate again and give thanks you have the AFA to guide you down the 'straight and narrow' superhighway to bigotry.

• Ford ad decision temporarily satiates antigay extremists
• Ford embraces homophobia
• Troubled days for Ford
• Wells Fargo teaches Ford a lesson

Update, 14 Dec 2005....

• Ford to advertise Jaguar, Land Rover in gay publications

Time will tell.

Feel the love yet?

Dobson's religious facade fails to mask the hate

Denver--Focus on the Family, the conservative Christian group based in Colorado Springs, is withdrawing funds from Wells Fargo because of its alleged involvement in "pro-gay" causes.

"Focus on the Family has elected to end its banking relationship with Wells Fargo, motivated primarily by the bank's ongoing efforts to advance the radical homosexual agenda. These efforts are in direct opposition to the underlying principles and purpose of Focus, and thus a decision of conscience had to be made, and a stand taken," said a statement on the Focus Web site.

More ....

• Focus on the Family dropping Wells Fargo over gay issues
• Holy War: The religious right's hate campaign against gays

Texas fundies find gay undies irresistible

AUSTIN, TX -- Every soul who testified at the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee hearing on May 19 on the topic of a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage and civil unions had more to say than they could cram into the three minutes made available to each speaker. There were so many people who wanted to testify that the hearing was held in a packed Senate Chamber instead of a committee room. For upwards of 10 hours, they took their turns, the on-deck speaker sitting beside the one who was already testifying.

After meeting a few of the Texans who are bringing Christian Fundamentalism into state politics, you may never see them in the same light again. Their glowing descriptions of gay behavior and god's blessings make "turning gay" sound more heavenly than anything this side of the pearly gates. What heterosexual could resist such temptation?

Take these amazing inducements offered up by Sister Mary Ann Markarian:

- Ninety-two percent of all gay males engage in rimming...
- Forty-seven percent of all males engage in fisting...
- Twenty-nine percent of all homosexual males engage in golden showers...
- The median age of homosexual men dying with AIDS is thirty-nine years old...
- The median age of all other homosexual men dying from other causes is forty-two...
- The median age of death for lesbians is forty-five...
- Only one percent of homosexuals die of old age...
- Only three percent ever live to age fifty-five....

Markarian concludes:

Now I know this is not real pleasant, but the truth needs to come out. When we say the word "gay," we're really just hiding because we're really not understanding what that word really entails, what it means, what people are doing, and why this can hurt society as a whole. It's never been an accepted lifestyle. If we allow this to become accepted, then the numbers will grow astronomically. Now they want to take it into the classroom, to teach our children that this is okay. Our society is two to three percent gay, but if you teach children that homosexuality is okay, then we're going to have a lot of problems.

Think about it, and then tell me that God doesn't have some problem with this whole thing, that God isn't speaking. It's unnecessary to put my name in the paper; you can just say that "God said," and here's the statistics.

Lordy! Lock up the children -- they'll never resist! And self-proclaimed spokespersons for God would never lie... would they?

• Meet some more of the fundies at your own risk: Meet the fundies
• Also, Albert Mohler, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary: Homosexuality in theological perspective

Church youth swallow live goldfish for Jesus

Can snake-handling be far behind? Now the kids can hardly wait for Halloween Hell House.

FLORENCE, Ala. -- The First Assembly of God Church has a Fear Factor ministry that had youths swallowing live goldfish _ if they were up to it. The church's youth minister says it teaches children about fear, but a grandparent questioned it and a pet shop owner called it animal cruelty.

Since churches have become political centers for Republican politics, "there is power, power, wonder-working power" in the message and the training:

"Today we l'arn the chillun to swaller live goldfish; by the time they's old enough to vote they'll swaller 'most anything."

Praise Cheezits... uh, pass the goldfish. Gulp!

'Her holiness' Harriet Miers is not a friend of gays

At age 60, Harriet Miers, if seated on the Supreme Court, is unlikely to flip a switch on decades of her religious and political beliefs -- even if she's a closet lesbian.

Miers is a successful career woman who, if she had so chosen, could have been exposed decades ago to gays and lesbians and their dreams for equality. She chose another route -- active and faithful participation in an evangelical, fundamentalist church in Dallas, Valley View Christian Church, a church unfriendly to the rights of gays.

Nothing in her known record indicates that Miers would, as a Supreme Court justice, rule contrary to her deeply held religious beliefs. In fact, unhappy with a "more contemporary style" in her church of 25 years, she is joining a small breakaway group opposing change -- not the sign of an open mind:

Valley View is changing its governance and worship to a more contemporary style under McCarty, who was hired in March 2004 and wants to attract young families. The breakaway group favors a more traditional approach...."

Miers has been a Bush loyalist and FOG, or "friend of George," for several years. And, like Laura Bush and Karen Hughes, she is a Southern Methodist alumna. Because of Bush's reliance on his religious fundy base, Miers must have been a member of the small inner circle who, like Hughes, played a significant role in shaping the Stupe's public stands on gay marriage, stem cell research, abortion, Terri Schiavo and other hot button issues. The secret tapes recorded by Doug Wead reveal the political "brilliance" (or is it religious spin?) that Miers finds irrestible in her idol.

In his support of Miers for the court, Bush adamantly insists that he knows her heart and that she will not change once on the bench. He should know: in the prevailing environment of "that ole time religion," she's the frigid north wind -- he's just a weathervane.

But why so many "conservatives" raising such a fuss on the Miers nomination? Despite all their pandering to the religious right, they apparently fear that Miers is the real thing. Could they fear that, once on the court, her religious faith -- or the Constitution -- could replace her loyalty to the man who put her there, the Republican Party, or even her church? What if she skips the latest James Dobson bulletin and reads the Sermon on the Mount instead? What if she takes her job seriously enough to ignore Falwell and Robertson, and finds a right to privacy in the US Constitution? What if she wakes up one morning and realizes that her freedom of worship depends on a strong wall of separation between church and state?

Without a clear record of loyalty to the cause -- a repressive Supreme Court being the cause of the day -- Republican extremists find Miers unacceptable. They may be wrong, but they demand certainty, not only of a nominee's adherence to a dogma but a knowledge of how one reaches her political positions: i.e., the order of ethical reasoning is critical. They are at war with Constitutionally-guaranteed rights. In their war, they demand proven generals, not foot soldiers who may one day refuse an order.

Why, though, are some liberals, like their conservative counterparts, prepared to believe that Miers may one day change her core beliefs? The Human Rights Campaign, for example, seems to have wished themselves into accepting the likelihood of Miers' future fair-mindedness based on a single question in an old 1989 questionnaire, nothing more. I ain't buying it. Neither is Marla, a blogger on Julien's List:

If you're queer or queer-supportive, Miers isn't your good buddy. Everything that matters in her history says she is antagonistic to your right to marry, that she lamely equivocates when your parental rights are at stake, and that she isn't going to be there for you when hate comes to shove any more than she was there for the Texas version of you when her hero, Shrub, made the highly unusual power move of walking onto the legislative floor to personally buttonhole lobby Texas legislators out of voting for a gay-inclusive hate crimes bill.

Read Marla's excellent essay here:

• HRC's Rose Colored Glasses

Read more on Bush, his religion and his women, here:

• Maureen Dowd, Breaking down Bush's women
• Ron Suskind, Without a doubt
• Albert Mohler, What should we think of Harriet Miers?
• James Dobson, Same-sex marriage would lead to 'marriage between daddies and little girls ... between a man and his donkey'

Crusaders to ban gay marriage give false testimony

AP Florida News: A group petitioning to add a ban on gay marriage to the Florida Constitution argued Thursday, in papers filed with the Florida Supreme Court, that it would not affect other rights of unmarried and same-sex couples.

Oh, really? The proposed Marriage Protection Amendment reads:

"Inasmuch as marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife, no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized."

Let the reader decide. Seems clear to me that "marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof" means what it says and says what it means. To argue otherwise is deceitful -- but then bigotry has never been constrained by truth.

And why was the proposal called the "marriage protection amendment" -- in itself deceitful -- since Florida already has a law against same sex marriage? Florida also has laws denying gays and lesbians the right to adopt children, and you can bet your grandma's hope chest that the inclusion of "substantial equivalent" was meant to exclude forever the right to adopt, along with anything else resembling legal safeguards for same-sex couples and their families.


Some Democrats join Republicans against gays

Republicans are obviously using the proposed amendment as ballot bait to bring out their religious base on election day. But not to be outdone, many Democrats in Florida are rushing to join the front lines of the battle against the "homosexual lifestyle."

Here's an opinion offered by a Jacksonville Democrat, Right Democrat, posted on the discussion board of Florida Politics:

Yes, Florida does already have a law banning same sex marriage. We also have a constitutional amendment which guarantees the right to privacy and might make the law vulnerable to a legal challenge.

As a conservative on most social issues (I am a Democrat primarily because of my philosophy about the role of goverment and economic matters), I am in favor of a federal constitutional amendment which is a long shot. A federal amendment is probably the only way to assure that we don't end up with gay marriage in all 50 states. A federal court recently struck down Nebraska's gay marriage amendment. The Defense of Marriage Act signed into law by Bill Clinton might be invalidated by the courts as unconstitutional.

While my opposition to gay marriage is rooted in personal conviction, I also think there is the potential for Democrats to be hurt by this issue. A large segment of the public does not grasp the nuance when a candidate says he opposes a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage for reasons other than support of gay marriage. In socially conservative areas like North Florida, a candidate who opposes a consitutional amendment will be seen as a shill for the gay rights movement. If it makes the ballot, the amendment will pass by something like a 65 to 35 margin winning probably every county except for possibly Monroe (even liberal counties like Broward are likely to narrowly favor the amendment). Democrats running for statewide office will hand their GOP opponents the perfect wedge issue if they oppose a state constitutional amendment.

We might have a Senator named Castor if she had supported the parental consent on abortion amendment. Castor may have been taking a principled stand, but voters in North Florida saw her as a puppet of Emily's List.

Okie dokie, then. That's the logic coming from a Democrat who's concerned that Democratic candidates are prone to take "principled stands" that may cost them election wins. So, Betty Castor could have won her election by playing the same low-life politics as Republicans like Mel Martinez? For taking a principled stand, she gets slammed by members of her own party? With friends like that....


A few questions for 'Right Democrat' and others who share his mindset

Those opposing legal recognition of same-sex marriage or its substantial equivalent have never been able to explain how giving equal rights to gays and lesbians -- whatever those rights are called -- deprives anyone else of his or her own "personal conviction." Where, for instance, are the proposals to deny straights their choice of marriage partners or to force anyone, gay or straight, into a same-sex marriage?

Perhaps I've missed a big story out of Massachusetts, but indications are that legalized gay marriage has not caused the cancellation of traditional wedding ceremonies, the closing of churches, the breakup of heterosexual families or the abuse of a single child. In fact, Massachusetts has the lowest divorce rate in the nation -- half the rate of Florida and other states in which legal rights for gays are most vehemently opposed. (Divorce Rates by State)

To people who support anti-gay amendments to the Florida and US constitutions, please try for a few minutes to put yourself into the shoes of your gay brothers and sisters:

What if you knew that you could never, for your entire lifetime, legally marry the person you love, nor could you experience rights granting the substantial equivalent to marriage? You could never have the family security that even a convicted criminal takes for granted? You could never adopt children, even the biological children of your life partner?

What would you do?

Would you live your entire life in shame or denial, with no hope of real happiness or its "substantial equivalent?" Would you accept the "morality" espoused by Jerry Falwell, James Dobson, Pat Robertson and George W. Bush over your own humanity, spirituality and life experience? Or would you demand your birthright as an American citizen and human being?

If your answer implies that legal rights and responsibilities should be defined by religious doctrine and personal conviction, are you prepared to see state and national laws enacted to reflect my religious beliefs and personal convictions? Are we ever safe in basing laws for everyone on religious views of some, whether those beliefs are yours or mine? Are we not better served -- even in the practice of religion itself -- by laws derived not from religion or personal prejudice, but from an acceptance of equality and a respect for our differences?

Update from Equality Florida:

"This Sunday, September 25, Florida churches of all denominations will be participating in Marriage Protection Sunday, collecting signatures of people wishing to sign the marriage petition. I am urging everyone reading this column to forward it to friends or loved ones (registered voters) in Florida who will sign their name on this petition."

- Jerry Falwell, September 22, 2005

A priest Mel Gibson could love

The Catholic Diocese of Austin is investigating after a priest called about 15 children to come forward during evening Mass so he could prick them with an unsterilized pin to demonstrate the pain Jesus suffered during crucifixion.

"What I was trying to teach them is that suffering is a part of life," said the Rev. Arthur Michalka, 78, on Friday.

Priest pricks children

Operation Blessing a Pat Robertson "Charity"

Thanks to BlondeSense for helping to expose "Operation Blessing" as a Pat Robertson "charity."

We reported that Operation Blessing is a Pat Robertson charity. We reported that FEMA and many other websites, organizations and media outlets were listing Operation Blessing as a worthy charity right up there with the American Red Cross. Furthermore, Operation Blessing is not rated or even recognized by the BBB's Give.org nor the American Institute of Philanthropy (charitywatch.org).

I wrote numerous letters and made phone calls to get that information off websites and off the TV. Perhaps some organizations need more encouragement.

CNN was the first to respond. Within minutes Operation Blessing was off their list of charities. Kudos to CNN.

Disaster used as political payoff

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has done it again

Back in 1994, during the infamous Rwandan genocide, Robertson used his 700 Club's daily cable operation to appeal to the American public for donations to fly humanitarian supplies into Zaire to save the Rwandan refugees.

The planes purchased by Operation Blessing did a lot more than ferry relief supplies.

An investigation conducted by the Virginia attorney general's office concluded in 1999 that the planes were mostly used to transport mining equipment for a diamond operation run by a for-profit company called African Development Corp.

And who do you think was the principal executive and sole shareholder of the mining company?

You guessed it, Pat Robertson himself.

Robertson had landed the mining concession from his longtime friend Mobutu Sese Seko, then the dictator of Zaire.

Investigators concluded that Operation Blessing "willfully induced contributions from the public through the use of misleading statements ..."

Please DO NOT support Pat Robertson -- and please spread the word.

Pat'sHits and Steps

"One may smile, and smile, and be a villain." (Shakespeare's Hamlet)

Smilin' Pat Robertson steps in it again reviews Pat's biggest hits, from 1981, when he called the U.S. Constitution �a marvelous document for the self-government by the Christian people,� to his recent call for the assassination of Hugo Chavez, the socialist President of Venezuela.

Along the way, Grinnin' Pat claimed credit for redirecting hurricanes and even pontificated that the 9/11 attacks were God�s punishment for the USA�s embrace of �pagans, abortionists, feminists, gays, lesbians, the ACLU, and the People for the American Way.�

As the Montgomery County, Texas Bulletin article reminds us in its recent Robertson profile, the net worth of this son of privilege is in excess of $100 million. Apparently the self-anointed prophet has forgotten the Good Book's admonition, �Ye cannot serve God and mammon.�

I would add that the santimonious Pat often ignores the Biblical commandment, "Thou shalt not kill." He overlooks the teachings of Jesus entirely, including the Sermon on the Mount and the commandment to "love thy neighbor as thyself." And let us not forget, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

But I digress. The article continues:

Many people initially followed Jesus when he was on Earth because they thought he would lead them in an armed revolt against the Roman empire and restore the Kingdom of Israel. Instead he declared, �My kingdom is not of this world.� But this has proved one of the most difficult of Christ�s teachings for his supposed followers to accept.

For 40 years the Democrats were the majority party in this country, partially because they had a lock on the lower-class, middle-class, and minority voters. The Republicans were stigmatized as chiefly a party of the wealthy and privileged.

But 25 years ago Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, and other leaders of the Religious Right pledged the armies of their faithful to the service of Ronald Reagan and the GOP. This infusion of new blood revitalized the Republican Party, and moved its center of power from the country clubs and into the evangelical Christian churches -- and it made Robertson a king-maker and an influencer of public opinion.

There was a time when ministers were just supposed to evangelize, to counsel the broken of spirit, and provide charity for the down-trodden. Now, sad to say, many ministers seem more interested in amassing wealth and political power, building monuments to themselves, and in making their congregations into their own cults of personality. And the carpenter from Nazareth gets lost in the mix somewhere.

But despite all the controversies he�s generated, like the indestructible cockroach, Pat Robertson keeps on keeping on, spewing hate while hiding behind that insipid grin and the God whose name he daily profanes.

Do I hear an Amen?

(Republican Jesus photo from Jesus General)

Religious Nuts Rejoice: 'Katrina Wiped Out Rampant Sin'

The only thing deeper than the water in New Orleans is the hypocrisy:

Rev. Bill Shanks, pastor of New Covenant Fellowship of New Orleans, also sees God's mercy in the aftermath of Katrina -- but in a different way. Shanks says the hurricane has wiped out much of the rampant sin common to the city.

The pastor explains that for years he has warned people that unless Christians in New Orleans took a strong stand against such things as local abortion clinics, the yearly Mardi Gras celebrations, and the annual event known as "Southern Decadence" -- an annual six-day "gay pride" event scheduled to be hosted by the city this week -- God's judgment would be felt.

"New Orleans now is abortion free. New Orleans now is Mardi Gras free. New Orleans now is free of Southern Decadence and the sodomites, the witchcraft workers, false religion -- it's free of all of those things now," Shanks says. "God simply, I believe, in His mercy purged all of that stuff out of there -- and now we're going to start over again." -- Agape Press

And others share his opinion...

• Hurricane Gets Religious Spin
• Blaming Katrina on Gays, Israel, and Man-on-Horse Sex