Personally,
I find that image to be appalling – bordering on sacrilegious! But some of the
nonsense-talk I hear on many issues makes me wonder.
WE
DEFINITELY HAVE a difference of perspective amongst us when it comes to the
concept of God and organized religion and its role on so many issues.
For
when it comes to anything related to gay people, we often hear how religion is
the reason why we should be opposed. Their behavior is an abomination, we’re
told. It is the factor that will bring down the very fabric of our society.
Because,
as we always hear from the Rev. Fred Phelps at his group’s outrageous protests
and pickets outside of funerals, “God hates fags!”
Which
is why I was pleased to learn of a group of clergy members – including many
from Chicago – of many denominations who on Sunday came out in support of
having the Illinois General Assembly pass changes in the law to allow gay
couples to marry just like straight ones have been able to for generations.
THEIR
LETTER, AS reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, said, “We dedicate our lives to
fostering faith and compassion, and we work daily to promote justice and fairness
for all. Standing on these beliefs, we think that it is morally just to grant
equal opportunities and responsibilities to loving, committed same-sex couples.
“There
can be no justification for the law treating people differently on the basis of
sexual orientation or gender identity,” the letter read.
Yet
I notice that some of the responses I’m reading on the Internet to this action
implies that these religious leaders are not being legitimate. If they were,
they’d be opposes – is what the ideologues seem to want to believe.
It
actually reminds me of an old Doonesbury comic strip in which the “B.D.”
character is arguing with the “Rev. Scot Sloan” character about whether a “God
of Compassion” or a “God of retribution” is more legitimate.
I’M
NOT ABOUT to get into a theological dispute over whether God exists to punish
the wicked. Although a part of me thinks that such a god is not one really
worthy of our respect or worship. Maybe our fear and/or contempt, but little
else.
But
it has me wondering how the role of the clergy will play in the upcoming
political debate concerning gay marriage – which in Illinois is likely to be a
hot-button issue at some point during 2013.
I’m
not about to say that only the absurd people who have managed to get themselves
ordained as ministers are going around speaking out against homosexuality. We’re
far from that point.
I
don’t doubt that many of my fellow Catholics will come up with their own
arguments – although it should be noted that there are many Catholics who
disagree with the church’s official teachings on the issue.
BUT
THE IDEA that the masses among the clergy are a little more concerned with
equality, rather than punishment, is a sign that we really are changing as a
society.
And
maybe the Illinois legislators who are preparing to bring up gay marriage as an
issue will actually have a chance in the near future of getting a favorable
vote on the cause – which many people really view as being solely the business of
the individuals involved; and no one else!
It
may also be the reason why the ideologues who also are concerned about firearms
and their all-consuming “right” to possession may be taking to that issue so
much in recent days.
Why
else would we have National Rifle Association officials going around talking
about the need to have armed guards in the public schools, if not arming the educators
themselves?
THEY
REALLY DO think it would be an “ideal” if a teacher could pull out her pistol
and shoot dead the mentally ill individual such as the man who walked into a
Connecticut school building earlier this month and caused the deaths of 26 individuals.
Somehow,
I’d like to believe that God almighty (in whatever form you conceive of him to
be) finds that image to be as horrific as I do.
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