NYT- Religious Leaders Assail Amendment on Gay Marriage

[maddezmom]

By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK

Published: June 4, 2004


Officials of several religious organizations, including the Presbyterian, Lutheran and Episcopal churches, sent an open letter to Congress yesterday opposing the proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

"Although we have differing opinions on rights for same-sex couples, we believe the Federal Marriage Amendment reflects a fundamental disregard for individual civil rights and ignores differences among our nation's many religious traditions," the letter said<.b>. The United Church of Christ and the Unitarian Universalist Association, which recognize same-sex marriages, also signed the letter. So did representatives of the Anti-Defamation League, the Union for Reform Judaism, the liberal Alliance of Baptists and the Quakers.

The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, helped orchestrate the letter. As United Church of Christ minister, he said, "I am disturbed that even though I can perform a religious ritual to unite a same-gender couple, the state won't recognize it because some different religious group thinks I am theologically wrong."
~snip~
a tad more: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/04/politics/04gay.html?th

[orthogonal]

1. Who would Jesus stone?

Just when I was beginning to despair of all Christians.

This is beautiful.

[DaveSZ]

2. Not all Christians are Fundie nutjobs

:)

[orthogonal]

4. True enough

And I appreciate the occasional reminder of that. ;)

Actually, I rather like the UUs, even if texas doesn't think that's a religion.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

3. Hmm....

This reminds me... I need to get my signs finished:

"GOD HATES FRED PHEPLS (But He still forgives him. Dumbass.)"

[GOPBasher]

5. That's awesome! I didn't realize the UCOC is that liberal.

I knew that some of these branches are liberal, for example the Unitarian church, but I didn't realize the United Church of Christ is that liberal as well.

[drfemoe]

6. same here ..

maybe they need a new movement. The "born agains" took over for awhile. Now it may be the "Dark Age" xtians vs the "Enlightenment" xtians. Let those who have the Light shine IT!!

[dusty64]

7. There they go again

headlong into politics and public policy and working their asses off to deny people their Constitutional rights. TAX EM!

[maddezmom]

8. another link: Groups: Gay Marriage Issue Not Congress's

By JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - A grouping of Christian, Jewish and Sikh organizations is urging Congress to reject a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage.

~snip~
Karen Vagley of the Lutheran Office of Governmental Affairs of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America said her group signed the letter because "we see this as a civil rights matter. Our social statements are clear: we do not discriminate."


Stan Hastey, executive director of the Alliance of Baptists, said the amendment would deny same-sex couples the legal framework with which to provide for one another. "We oppose any effort either by the church or state to use the other for its own purposes," he said.


Signing the letter were seven Jewish groups, led by the Union for Reform Judaism, two Quaker groups and three Sikh groups. Also included were the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Washington office of the Presbyterian Church, USA, and the Unitarian Universalist Association. All are considered generally liberal.


Americans United For Separation of Church and State helped coordinate the project.

~snip~

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=718&e=7&u=/ap/20040604/ap_on_re_us/religion_gay_marriage

:)

[struggle4progress]

9. kick

:kick: