Religion
Related: About this forumAfter Hobby Lobby, Faith Groups Reject Push To Perpetuate Discrimination Against Gays
http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2014/07/03/3456438/religious-exemption-letter-pushback/BY JACK JENKINS JULY 3, 2014 AT 4:13 PM UPDATED: JULY 3, 2014 AT 11:38 PM
As President Barack Obama gets closer to issuing an executive order protecting the LGBT employees of federal contractors from discrimination, a growing number of progressive faith voices are working to counter conservatives who are pressuring the administration to include special exemptions for religious groups.
Conservative faith groups were quick to voice apprehension over the executive order when it was first announced in June, with several Catholic bishops expressing great concern over how it might affect partnerships between the government and faith-based nonprofits. Then on Tuesday, the day after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to exempt closely-held corporations from the Affordable Care Acts contraception mandate on religious grounds, a group of 14 prominent faith leaders sent a letter to the President arguing that faith-based nonprofits that use federal funds but who do not embrace homosexuality should be exempt from the order. The letter was somewhat unusual, because while it listed several traditionally conservative voices such as megapastor Rick Warren, it also included the signatures of faith leaders who are fairly close to the administration, such as Michael Wear, former faith outreach director of Obamas 2012 campaign for president.
It still may not be possible for all sides to reach a consensus on every issue, the letter read. That is why we are asking that an extension of protection for one group not come at the expense of faith communities whose religious identity and beliefs motivate them to serve those in need.
But while the letter claimed to represent religious groups who seek to serve in accordance with their faith and values, it has triggered outrage among progressive religious groups who feel the signers dont adequately represent Americas broader religious landscape. Faithful America, a progressive Christian organization, launched an online petition today decrying the letter and asking supporters to sign their name to a statement that read, Theres nothing Christian about firing someone just because theyre gay or lesbian. Taxpayer dollars shouldnt fund discrimination. The petition, which posted late Thursday morning, has already garnered over 11,000 signatures.
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longship
(40,416 posts)Discrimination is inexcusable. Period.
I will be watching this. I am awfully glad that progressive churches are chiming in.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)about what is happening here. I think he will do whatever he can to stop this.
I would like to see the progressive community, both religious and secular, really get motivated and active here. It's a great opportunity to join forces and take a stand.
skepticscott
(13,029 posts)By "progressive" believers who are certain they have a better handle on what their "god" thinks and wants than the fundies. Here's a news flash for them: They don't. They really, really don't.
They are fundamentally flawed by trying to inject religion into it in the first place. They need no such to derive sound moral principles. They don't need to depend on dictates from their "faith", their "god" or their sacred coffee table book to know and do what's right. They could do it all without that, leaving the poisonous effects of religion where they belong.
rug
(82,333 posts)One could almost conclude you're rooting for them to fail.
stone space
(6,498 posts)...Christianity any more than I have difficulty in choosing between Progressive Atheism and Fundamentalist Atheism.
You make it sound like a difficult or impossible decision when it is in reality the easiest thing in the world to decide.
Seriously, it's not that hard. If you are a Progressive, you'll side with the Progressives. If you are a Fundamentalist, you'll side with the Fundamentalists.
What's the difficulty here?
I don't understand.
skepticscott
(13,029 posts)You didn't understand my post at all.
All of that atheist-butting must make comprehension difficult.
stone space
(6,498 posts)skepticscott
(13,029 posts)fails the test. And having seen the kind of shit-stirring behavior that got you banned from A&A within a few days, I have no reason to think you'll be any less Nixonish here.
stone space
(6,498 posts)I don't understand.
This isn't A&A.
Atheists are allowed to post here without toeing any sort of Fundamentalist Party Line, unlike the A&A forum.
Act_of_Reparation
(9,116 posts)Is there some ancient tome of atheist dogma of which I am unaware? Or are you channeling Luke Russert?