Desertenews.com reprinted a press release from Bishop William Weigand of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento and former bishop of Salt Lake City. In his press release, he condemned protests of the passage of California’s Proposition 8, a Constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman.
In his press release, Wigand decried “bigoted attacks” against supporters as being “shameful and ignorant” and directed towards a “small part of the” population. He criticized the bigotry exhibited by opponents to Prop 8 in calling supporters of “traditional marriage intolerant.”
He called upon “supporters of same-sex marriage to live by their own words – and refrain from discrimination… and to exercise tolerance of those who differ from them.”
What?
I encourage the bishop to take a dose of his own medicine. Is he the pot or the kettle? Does the commandment to “love one another” only apply to those he agrees with? Christ was a masterful grass roots political activist who chose to spend time with the sinners rather than the pious because He understood that changing people came through love unfeigned and patience and kindness, not through bigoted, intolerant attacks.
I supported the ban on gay marriage in Oregon, but only out of a feeling of obligation to be obedient, however, I didn’t go out of my way to sway others to agree with me. The state has no business in marriage. Their presence in the institution is driven by revenue, control, and tracking financial agreements between two people. The church may now have a different role in the institution of marriage, but true religion has as its fundamental principle morale agency, and morale agency allows a person to make a decision based on their own value system as they understand the gospel they subscribe to, if any. Who are we to tell them they are wrong? Even when we believe we are right, we must appreciate that they feel as convicted in their beliefs as we do in ours. We may think we are right, but everybody can’t be right, and only God knows for sure who’s right. Religion is big enough to allow everyone to practice their religion how, when, and where they choose. Government should only intervene in matters of criminal matters and health and safety issues.
The church I attend attracts the likes of Orin Hatch as well as Harry Reid. Considering the spectrum, it’s clear that God has made room for each of us to follow the dictates of our understanding as directed by the Holy Spirit. Removing the freedom of another person to choose for themselves is bigoted, intolerant, and is closer to the plan of Devil than the plan of God. True Christianity loves the sinner and employs charity, love unfeigned, faith, patience, and long suffering to encourage them to align themselves with the desires of a loving God. God causes the sun and rain to fall on the sinner and saint alike. Using the political process to advance our values and morals may be the status quo, and our values and morals may be shaped by our religious views, but making the ban on same-sex marriage about religion is inappropriate.
Condemning the actions those we first condemned is hypocritical and we need to use this opportunity to examine our beliefs and morals and ask if our actions are consistent with the desires of a loving God and if it is appropriate to use religion to wage a crusade against difference.
I call upon supporters of traditional “marriage to live by their own words – and refrain from discrimination… and to exercise tolerance of those who differ from them.”
Burn Out
15 years ago
Posts
7 comments:
david i am just asking what you think...not trying to attach you at all so here it goes...what do you think about the churches stand? do you think that we (members) are trying to be discriminator? isn't this the time that we just believe and know that the prophets have some sort of insight. i totally agree that there is a place for the government and i don't want it in my religion but because the church which is ran by revelation has made a stand, we should follow and use our faith...i just keep thinking that this is part of the wheat and the tiers...what do you think...remember you know i think that you rock...
i meant attack you not attach you...ha ha...brain interruption!
Following with faith, and being blind followers are two different things. I love our prophet. I believe he is called by God. The members of our church largely subscribe to the idea that just because he is called of God, he is infallible. And yet, throughout scripture history, Prophets are cited as making enormous mistakes: take Jonah for instance.
I choose to use the gift of the Holy Spirit to discern right from wrong. That is why we have it. At no time has God asked us to blindly follow any man, prophet or not.
The first letter that the First Presidency put out to the members of the church was so blatently un-Christlike that I almost got up and walked out of sacrament. And they knew that they had made a mistake as evidenced by the fact that they sent out another letter to correct the first one.
Our own 11th article of faith says all that we need to know regarding respecting others right to their agency. Why our church was focused on this measure, trying to control the actions of consenting adults who are not, BTW, killing, raping, or brutalizing anyone is beyond me. The Churches efforts could have been better spent on things like proposition 4 in California. If we as a group had risen against that, we could have saved millions of babies from being murdered, and protected MINORS from harming themselves irreparably. Where were we for that????
Hey David... I don't know you personally, but I know your wife from a long time ago. I do agree with some of what you said. Not all of it though. First it is saddening that not as much money or passion is put into pro-life issues. Babies truly don't have a choice. But on the subject of Gay marriage I would vote against it and then would be able to invite them into my home just the same. Jesus, Paul & Peter(the apostles)told us to hate the sin and love the sinner. Paul also talks about the original fall of man, and how at the end even those who weren't performing in the acts were OK with what was going on. And that was not right. I guess it can depend on your heart. I have met some Christians who are more worried about being biblically right then about the state of a sinners soul. If that is the case than we have a long way to go. But in saying that, I know that without any guilt I can vote for one man and one women. Whatever the Governments goal is with the measure is always hard to stop. God knows where my heart is though. Great Blogs by the way. Do you write for a living? If not you should think about it.
In response to the evanties tribe
I think the Coalition on Marriage, including the Church, was grossly absent on parental notification. The Coalition started websites, held firesides and conferences, made videos, sent out a press release and the First Presidency had a statement read across the pulpit (which was later recanted). Members were encouraged to give of their time, efforts and money to pass a gay marriage ban. Where were we on protecting teenage girls? I think affirming a support of the sanctity of marriage is an understandable and acceptable thing for a private religion to do. But I think it became a crusade.
Where was the church on parental notification? Why no public statement from the First Presidency? Why were members of the church not asked to give of their time, talents, and money to support parent's roles in the health of their minor children?
A law that prohibits one group from having the same rights as another group is discriminatory. I do not believe the majority of members were malicious, however.
It is always been the time to follow the prophet, however, the church's overall policy statement on an issue does not translate to un-Christlike behavior exhibited by some opponents to gay marriage. Also, I am disappointed in the Prophet's absence on the abortion issue.
The Church is run by people who we have faith will follow the direction of the Spirit. It's our job to turn to God for confirmation and direction in our personal efforts. I wish I didn't have such a pessimistic view of it because I do sustain the First Presidency and Twelve, but I am very disappointed in the complete lack of support for parental notification.
Thanks for your comments, jesse brown. I hear a lot of people express similar sentiment as you did. Love the sinner, not the sin.
In the absence of an abortion conversation, which I believe is far more important, I have a hard time understanding the psychology behind homosexuality, especially with religious context. If it's a choice, what makes someone decide to be gay? Can they be "saved"? If it's genetics, what kind of god creates something one way and then gives it a law to act against its nature? That seems foreign to me.
The complexities of morality make it interesting and challenging to debate in any setting, especially in public policy.
Thanks for reading. Keep commenting and I hope you'll share this with others.
Thanks for the compliment. I do not write professionally, however, I do write as a side effect of my profession. Mostly I call this therapy. Sarah doesn't have to listen to me rant and rave if I let me fingers do the talking.
Ahhh, baby, I love your rants.... why do you think I read? XOXOXOXO
Post a Comment