In gay marriage debate, minority clergy enlisted in battle(arrogant dem alert)

Daily Press(VA), AP ^ | September 2, 2006 | Dionne Walker

[Dane]

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Proponents of a constitutional ban on gay marriage in Virginia are tapping black churches, hosting luncheons for clergy, speaking before ministerial conventions and adding staffers with connections among black ministers.

They're targeting the pastors--all-trusted and consulted on everything from marriage to job decisions--as a bridge to black voters who traditionally vote Democrat but often hold conservative social positions.

"African-American churches and social conservatives have more in common in our belief system than anyone could imagine," Chris Freund, of the Family Foundation, told a group of mostly black and Latino ministers last month at Pat Robertson's Regent University.

"We need you to be the voice of marriage in Virginia."

The foundation, a major force behind the proposed constitutional amendment, has targeted some 3,000 churches, about 20 percent of them headed by black or Latino pastors, Freund said.

They've held a dozen breakfasts and luncheons including minority pastors; at least four more events are planned through the fall, Freund said.

SNIP

Organizers are depending on shared religious beliefs--that gay marriage counters man and woman's biblical roles,

SNIP

"There are things that my wife can do for (my daughter) that I can't--we're different," Freund said as the pastors nodded emphatically. "Children fare better with a mom and a dad."

SNIP

For instance, a rising tide of black activists and social commentators has taken an anti-abortion stance, citing fears that abortion disproportionately impacts the black population.

Tracy Brown, a Tidewater area coordinator with Va4Marriage, translates faith-based initiatives for 1,000 black pastors across the country through his nonprofit Urban Awareness USA. On the whole, he said blacks aren't knowledgeable about the gay marriage issue.

One reason, he said, is blacks often are too preoccupied with finding jobs and feeding families to pay much attention to debates on social issues.

[Dane]

Tracy Brown, a Tidewater area coordinator with Va4Marriage, translates faith-based initiatives for 1,000 black pastors across the country through his nonprofit Urban Awareness USA.On the whole, he said blacks aren't knowledgeable about the gay marriage issue.

The arrogant, know better than all of us, Deaniacs(such as Tracy Brown) have taken over the democrat party. What a slap in a face to voters, especially those that the modern democrat party, think are "inferior" in thinking, African-Americans.

[Dane]

Holy crap did I mess that up, the whole article read like a usual AP hit piece aginst the usual AP "suspects"(i.e Christians).

I apologize to Mr. Tracy Brown. These days, especially with Donna Brazile being the democrat mouthpiece for the pro-homosexual causes, it was my fault that I shouldn't sterotype people or news sources, although this is one of the rare AP articles that is actually pro-marriage.

Again sorry getting this article so misconstrued.

[RichInOC]

In gay marriage debate, minority clergy enlisted in battle

...spelling?

[therut]

I thought the ACLU frowned on mixing politics with church and religion. I'm confused. Dear Auntie Pinko can you explain this??????????????

[riverdog]

I know one thing for sure that homosexuals comparing their crusade for legitimization thru so called gay "marriage" comparing their "struggle" to the Black civil rights movement is REALLY pissing off a lot of the Black community.