Posted on 03/28/2006 9:15:39 AM PST by Reagan Man
(CNSNews.com) - Religious conservatives meeting in Washington, D.C., lashed out at homosexual advocacy groups and organizations catering to the political Left on Monday.
One participant criticized the "gay agenda," which he said calls for not only acceptance, but also "affirmation and celebration of this behavior as normal and even desirable."
The two-day conference, entitled "The War on Christians and the Values Voters in 2006," is sponsored by Vision America, an organization that describes its mission as "restoring Judeo-Christian values in America." Conference participants produced a "Values Voters' Contract with Congress," which includes key elements of the conservative, religious agenda.
Based on the Republican Party's 1994 "Contract with America," the "Values Voters' Contract" lists 10 aims, ranging from legislation to keep the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance to laws guaranteeing greater religious freedoms in the workplace, prohibiting human cloning and embryo research, and guaranteeing a "right to life" to all children before birth.
Defending the family is a key goal of the so-called "values voters." The traditional or natural family is one of the targets of the political Left, said Peter LaBarbera, executive director of the Illinois Family Institute. He said he was proud to share the stage with "heroes in the fight for normalcy."
Peter Sprigg, the Family Research Council's vice president for policy, noted that the family "is not merely a social construct subject to infinite redefinition.
"We believe what makes a family is one man and one woman uniting in marriage for a lifetime and bearing children from that union," Sprigg stated. "We are against anything that threatens the traditional family or undermines that idea," including pre-marital sex, pornography, adultery and prostitution.
"And yes, we are also against the practice of homosexuality," he added.
Sprigg said Christians do not hate homosexuals. "On the contrary, we desire the best for them. However, we believe engaging in behavior that is unnatural, immoral and dangerous to the public health and their own health is not the best thing for people with same-sex attractions."
He noted that the FRC and similar organizations also oppose the "gay agenda," which "demands full acceptance of the practice of homosexuality -- morally, socially, legally, religiously, politically and financially.
"Indeed, it calls for not only acceptance, but affirmation and celebration of this behavior as normal and even desirable," Sprigg said.
The Rev. Lou Sheldon, chairman and founder of Traditional Values Coalition, stated that the "gay agenda" would come to a quick end if Americans rose up in numbers against it.
However, "Christians are nice guys, and nice guys finish last," he added.
LaBarbera agreed with Sheldon's analysis. "By simply saying we oppose the sin and not the sinner, we leave the playing field to homosexual activists and their euphemistic talking points, which are 'discrimination,' 'equality' and that poor euphemism, 'sexual orientation,'" he said.
Regina Griggs, executive director of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays, said that while everyone is a sinner, homosexual behavior can have especially dangerous results. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that in 2002, 49 percent of AIDS cases resulted from sexual relations between two males 13 to 24 years of age.
While most speakers said they prefer using the word "homosexual" instead of "gay," Sheldon said he usually sticks with the term's original meaning: "sodomite."
A number of organizations were criticized for supporting the "gay agenda," though one group in particular -- the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) -- was the subject of another panel decrying its "radical secularization" efforts.
Mike Johnson, senior legal counsel of the Alliance Defense Fund, noted that the ACLU has always had a subversive agenda and is the "number one religious censor in America" due to its skillful use of fear, intimidation and misinformation.
One method the ACLU uses to "chip away at the moral and religious foundation of America" is to silence the gospel by removing any references to God in the public square, he said.
However, Mat Staver, founder, president and general counsel of the Liberty Counsel, noted that since Samuel Alito replaced Sandra Day O'Connor on the U.S. Supreme Court, he's noticed a growing reluctance on the ACLU's part to attempt appeals to the highest court in the land.
"Maybe they realize the Supreme Court isn't their social engineering friend anymore," Staver said.
William Donohue, president of the Catholic League, said he has been battling the ACLU for decades, and is encouraged by the "great work" being done by such groups as the Alliance Defense Fund and Liberty Counsel.
Donohue said he has discovered why the ACLU files so many lawsuits to try and force communities to take down nativity scenes. "It's because there aren't three wise men and a virgin in the entire ACLU."
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), which describes itself as the nation's "largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender advocacy organization," says its goal is to ensure that "all GLBT people are ensured of their basic equal rights, and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.
"By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all," the group's website states.
The ACLU's Lesbian & Gay Rights Project brings "impact lawsuits" in state and federal courts throughout the country, according to the group's website.
"Our legal strategies are built on the idea that fighting for civil rights means not just persuading judges but ultimately changing the way people think," the group states.
"Moral issues aside, I cannot see how you can make an argument that private, consensual relations between adults (even if homosexual) are in any way legally analogous to rape and pedophilia (both of which involve non-consenting victims and/or children) or incestuos marriage (which would require legal recongition)."
What about consensual sexual relationship between a father and his adult daughter? Is that ok? Bring it
"We believe what makes a family is one man and one woman uniting in marriage for a lifetime and bearing children from that union," Sprigg stated. "We are against anything that threatens the traditional family or undermines that idea," including pre-marital sex, pornography, adultery and prostitution."
Hmmm, does this mean they're against any form of contraception?
First of all, why should homosexuals have "domestic partnerships" and not three men? Three women? Two women and a man? etcetc. Or a brother and sister? Aunt and nephew? Why should same sex sexual practices be rewarded and other sexual affinities (such as a threesome) not be? Why should platonic relationships not be so rewarded?
There are NO RIGHTS that everyone else has that homosexuals do not already have.
What do you mean, "hide who they are"? Are you talking about gay bath houses and gay pride parades here, or are you talking about "out" homosexuals being teachers and joining the military? Write in clear English, please, not slogans that are designed to heighten emotion but have no meaning.
Additionally, your comment "hide who they are" is a talking point of gay rights activists. It means that their sex acts ARE their identity. Sex acts are chosen and voluntary. If you mean their feelings, we all have zillions of feelings. Are people supposed to be grouped in identity brackets because of their "feelings"? Or because of their chosen sex acts? What about bestialophiles not hiding who they are? What about incestophiles not hiding who they are? What about pedophiles not hiding who they are? What about polyamoryphiles not hiding who they are?
you are only advocating a prior stage of the homosexual agenda.
The point where the only wanted domestic partnerships.
Your statements go with the "orientation" propaganda vs the science of the choice of homosexual behavior.
Homosexuality is a PREFERENCE not an orientation. Treating it like any other sexual fetish is entirly appropriate and equal. Homoseuxals should be viewed in the same light as those who have sex with animals.
I do not think consensual sexual relationships between a father and his adult daughter should be illegal. Mostly, such behavior is de facto legal- adult incestuous relationships are almost never prosecuted, even in places where such laws exist. .
"Also you didnt answer my question again, re. an incestuous marriage - this is betweeen two consenting adults and father and her 18 year old daughter."
I've answered you three times. No.
Marriage between people who are too closely related is not legal and that is a good thing. The reasoning, again, is that is not the environment we want to encourage for raising kids.
"impact lawsuits"
B---S---!
The ACLU files so many law suits because under the current way the laws are written, EVEN A LOOSING PLAINTIFF IS ABLE TO CLAIM ATTORNEY FEES AGAINST A VICTORIOUS DEFENDANT!!
IOW: it is all about the money for the lawyers.
It's a little early to be making that claim.
Donohue said he has discovered why the ACLU files so many lawsuits to try and force communities to take down nativity scenes. "It's because there aren't three wise men and a virgin in the entire ACLU."
Now that is funny.
Overall I am encouraged to see that these groups are pausing to consider the weakness of some of their arguments. You don't hear the other side starting off with "I just want to say how much I love and care for Christians and other morality oriented people..." If you start off professing your great love for homosexuals you have lost the argument before you even make it. Besides, if you love the sinner but not the sin then you do not profess love while defining the person by their sinful deed. You love people, not homosexuals, murderers, adulters, child rapists, liars, cheaters, etc... It's just out of step to profess love for a group based on their behavior and then think you are going to be able to win an argument against their behavior. "I love liars but I think lying is wrong" is just weird and contradictory. That's essentially what our side has been saying for a long time. Imagine, "I love rapists but I think rape is wrong."
The "you hate us" argument from the other side is a brilliant ploy to distract us from the issue at hand. Thus far it has worked like a charm. But true love means, as wonderfully stated in the article, that you have the persons best interests at heart, and that you speak the truth to them. Indifference to the fate of the sinner is not love. And love without truth is not real love. But bottom line, this is not an issue of love and hate -- nice try. Nor is it a civil rights issue. It's not even solely a religious issue. It's an issue about truth, nature, and morality. Refusing to pretend things are equal that are fundamentally and obviously not equal is not discrimination; it's critical thinking skills.
"First of all, why should homosexuals have "domestic partnerships" and not three men? Three women? Two women and a man? etcetc. Or a brother and sister? Aunt and nephew? Why should same sex sexual practices be rewarded and other sexual affinities (such as a threesome) not be? Why should platonic relationships not be so rewarded?"
Are you talking about governmnet rewards? Why would we reward those -there is no reason to. I have brown hair and live with a red head - there is no reason for the goverment to reward us. But if we choose to form a household we have that right. Now as it happens we are male/female married couple so that was just an example.
Yeah, I DESTEST the "gay agenda" even MORE than they DETEST MORAL VALUES. Since I'm not a leftist, according to the left, I SHOULD NOT VOICE this. LOL!!!
" I do not think consensual sexual relationships between a father and his adult daughter should be illegal. "
Well then you are either a member of the United Church of Christ or you could become one. Satanism would also be a very good choice as well. This is how they think you will be welcomed with open arms.
Side note it is obvious that you are also an anarchist. Apparantly all behavior among consenting adults is ok with you. The hidden little secret that you dont get (you probably dont have kids or were absent in their rearing) is that all this behavior affects them. If it affects them then it will affect our society. No rules, no constraints no limits. Everything is ok as long as it makes you feel good. Dont expect a functioning society for very long - radical islam looks for societies like this that have instituted PC intolerant tolerance - because they know that you would never restrict their ability to persecute you.
It's also the primary target of Satan. The family, which is formed in the image of the Trinity, also represents the heart of society. As the family goes, so goes society.
"The sale of heroin between two consenting individuals in private currently constitutes a felony. Is it your point that government has no authority (power) to dictate that this behavior is illegal?
Bigamy, polygamy, polyandry, incest, prostitution, etc., can also take place in private among consenting adults. Is it your point that government has no authority (power) to dictate that this behavior is illegal"
I think the government has over stepped on drug laws but not where heroin is involved. Heroin use causes so much other crime that it constitutes a clear and present danger and is correctly regulated under the power granted by the general welfare clause.
Relationships between adults are legal as long as they don't involve marrying more than one person of the opposite sex.
I do not think prostitution should be illegal. much of the driving force for anti-prostituion laws these days is from feminists who equate it with men subjugating women.
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