Posted on 05/23/2006 1:58:25 PM PDT by NYer
CHICAGO, May 22 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement was released today by the Rainbow Sash Movement (RSM). The RSM will respond to the fear and intolerance of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Transgender (GLBT) persons, by many of our Catholic Bishops on Pentecost Sunday, June 4, 2006. We will be entering, with our straight allies, Catholic Cathedrals across the nation on Pentecost wearing Rainbow Sashes as a sign of identification. Some Bishops have welcomed us in the past, and we are thankful for their welcome.
Nationally our Bishops have lobbied against our human rights. Our grief is intensified because many in the GLBT Catholic Community feel alienated from the Church because of this assault on our human rights. We believe the Bishops have a serious obligation to root out structures and attitudes that discriminate against the homosexual as a person. A small number of courageous Bishops are exerting their leadership in behalf of this effort, and these Bishops will have our full support and prayers.
The Gospels reveal that, while Jesus did not hesitate to proclaim radical ethic of life grounded in the promise of God's kingdom, he never ceased to reach out to the lowly, to the outcasts of his time even if they did not live up to the full demands of his teaching. Jesus offered forgiveness and healing to all who sought it. And when some objected to this compassion, he responded: "Let the one among you who is guiltless be the first to throw the stone,"(John 8:7)
We are followers of Jesus Christ, and Catholic. This is why members of the Rainbow Sash Movement will wear Rainbow Sashes on Pentecost Sunday. We see homophobia within the Church as both an opportunity for education, and a way to promote the idea of love of neighbor. We are calling for dialogue.
To find out more, and get involved with Rainbow Sash Movement please visit our Web site at http://www.rainbowsashmovement.com, or email: Sashmovement@AOL.Com
This is a smokescreen. It is also false.
The same rights and liberties are available to everybody. The idea that married people get some sort of special break is not true. Nor is the idea that homosexuals, being unable (or unwilling) to marry a person of the opposite sex, somehow have some financial disadvantage. Rights of inheritance, the ability to visit somebody in the hospital, and familial relationships can be established without marriage by the use of legal methods already in existence, such as adult or virtual adoption, trusts, corporations, partnerships, etc.
Unfortunately the real goal is to destroy marriage as an institution. Sort of like the naughty child breaking things that other people have, because they don't have one.
Even more unfortunately, these petulant children are grown up and can do some real damage by co-opting sleazy politicians and lazy or sympathetic clerics.
Come on in! Everyone is welcome.
The confession booths are usually near the back.
Actually those things were ceremonially unclean rather than an abomination.
After 30 years, I'm finally getting Confirmed on Pentecost Sunday! Hope they don't try to interrupt mass....
Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. I also understand what it does not mean. For example "not to condemn" does not mean "to condone"; it also does not mean "to advocate"; it also does not mean "to make excuses for"; it also does not mean "to pretend that wrong is right".
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That's reason enough for me.
1. Depends on how you define demand. A call to repentance, which is the God given role of the church, would be a demand, in your view?
2. What about public nudity? Sex in public restrooms? For that matter, sex in public? Is anyone hurt by that? How? How about polygamy? Prostitution? Bestiality? Etc.
I would argue that the whole of society is harmed by homosexuality. And when you place homosexuality into a protected class status such as race, you are using the power of government to force immoral attitudes on everyone. It is oppressive to the mission of the church.
LOL - I didn't realize it.
Then, it seems to me, since you see yourself as a "real big sinner" that you are not in a position to throw stones. Wouldn't you be more effective if you dealt with your own sins first, sort of got the beam out of your own eye, before attacking and condeming others?
They need to change their behavior, not the church!
I ask again, since eating shrimp is considered an abomination in the Old Testament - do you also work to stop the practice of eating shrimp? Do you work to stop people from touching pig skin? Do you work hard to expose and shame those who are prideful? I am asking if you are consistent or if it is just this one particular "abomination" that you focus on?
Someone has done some research on some of the other "abominations" listed:
Sexual sins of any kind are considered "abominations" to the Lord. See Leviticus 18: 18 - 30, paying particular attention to verses 27 - 30, which refer to "all these abominations" -- after various kinds of sexual activities apart from marriage have been mentioned. A similar list is repeated in Leviticus 20, concluding that God's people ought not to do these things "after the manner of the nations which I cast out before you." We find that the levitical laws also forbade remarriages of divorced couples, calling such an act an "abomination." Leviticus 24: 1 - 4. When we consider that Christ amplified these laws to include the lustful thought, who is without sin to cast the first stone?
Dishonest business practices are named as an "abomination" in Deuteronomy 25: 13 - 16, Proverbs 11: 1 and Proverbs 20: 10. It seems that scrupulously honest business practices are required of any professing to be the Lord's people. Do our practices pass the careful scrutiny of the Omniscient One?
Oppressive treatment of others and a haughty attitude are considered as "abomination" in Proverbs 2: 31 - 32, and a "froward heart" is again mentioned in Proverbs 11:20. I wonder if some of the actions of conservative Christians towards gay people might not fall into these categories of "abominations."
A list of six "abominations" are also given in Proverbs 6: 16 - 19:
These six things doth the LORD hate:
yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
A proud look, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations,
feet that be swift in running to mischief,
A false witness that speaketh lies,
and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Who can claim innocence from all these "abominations"? Are all the sure dispensers of judgments on gay people free from a "proud look" or "false witness"? (Who can be sure that words repeated are absolutely true?) Or sowing discord in God's congregation?...
I see you are once again grasping at straws to justify same sex behavior. On many of your post you do this just as you accuse others of hate who simply have their opinion of same sex and disagree with you.
That is what is in dispute, isn't it. They say they want the same liberties as everyone else. You say they want to destroy marriage as an institution. My understanding is that they do not believe that the legal options already in existence are fair. Trying to prove that their real agenda is to destroy the institution of marriage will take more than hatred - it will take real evidence.
Actually no, they are listed as abominations:
Why do you insist all disagreement with you is "hatred"?
The Overhauling of Straight America: this information, written by 2 gays, explains the gay agenda
http://www.leavethekidsalone.com/ltka_html/overhaul_2.htm
I am sure you are not condoning, advocating or making excuses for homosexual behavior. It is condeming that I am questioning.
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