Polygamists see open door for acceptance

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Friday, July 4, 2003 | Ron Strom

[JohnHuang2]

"Polygamy is the next civil-rights battle."

That's the new battle cry of proponents of "Christian polygamy" who say their lifestyle is one step closer to being accepted after the Supreme Court's controversial decision last week invalidating state sodomy laws.

A website set up for media to get information about the pro-polygamy movement enthusiastically hails the Lawrence v. Texas decision, quoting from the majority opinion that Americans now have "... the full right to engage in private conduct without government intervention."

As WorldNetDaily reported, critics of the decision believe the court has usurped the role of lawmakers, establishing a far-reaching precedent that threatens any law based on moral choices, including incest and polygamy.

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia includes examples of non-traditional marriages in his dissenting opinion, saying laws against the practice are now open to review.

Scalia talks of "state laws against bigamy, same-sex marriage, adult incest, prostitution, masturbation, adultery, fornication, bestiality and obscenity," saying "every single one of these laws is called into question by [the Lawrence] decision."

Said the polygamy website: "Obviously, this [decision] means enormous ramifications for the civil rights of adult, freely-consenting, marriage-committed polygamists."

The site links to a much more extensive site called TruthBearer.org, a page dedicated to promoting "Christian polygamy."

It's introductory page states, "As preached here at this ministry, Christian polygamy is only about life-long-committed (hence, NONpromiscuous), consensual, NONabusive, loving Christian marriage. The only educational matter here is that this is about men ever-growing in other-centered, ministerial, giving, selfless love in marriage to more than one woman (as Christ so selflessly and givingly loves the Churches)."

The organizers say their aim is not to legalize polygamy, but merely to decriminalize it. They don't believe government has any role whatsoever in regulating marriage.

A link to biblicalpolygamy.com presents what its creators claim are reasons that "polygamy really is biblical."

Another site on "Christian polygamy" (which appears to have been created by those who established TruthBearer.org) states:

"Only a few short years ago, the mere suggestion of putting the words 'Christian' and 'polygamy' beside each other as one term would have been laughed at. It would have been called a 'contradiction in terms' and an 'oxymoron.'

"But no one is laughing anymore.

"After much patient prayer, love, and work by committed Christ-centered, Spirit-led, Scripture-believing evangelical conservative Christians, from all kinds of different denominational backgrounds, the Truth is being believed and spread to others! Christian polygamy has become a reality and is now being taken very seriously in a number of spheres of influence."

The Rev. Jerry Falwell, WorldNetDaily columnist and nationally known Christian minister, spoke strongly against the practice of having multiple wives, telling WND: "Christian polygamy is an oxymoron." Falwell condemned the Lawrence ruling, saying it opened the door to "bestiality, pedophilia, even drug use" in the privacy of one's home.

TruthBearer.org, based in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, was founded by Mark Henkel in 1994.

"You are speaking to a diehard constitutional conservative," Henkel told WorldNetDaily, saying his support for the Lawrence v. Texas decision and polygamy is in line with the framers of the Constitution.

"My fellow conservatives are making a terrible mistake" by condemning the ruling, he said. "They are reacting like knee-jerk liberals."

Henkel compared marriage to Social Security, citing some conservatives' desire to privatize the government retirement program.

"Why not privatize marriage?" he asked rhetorically. "Why is big government a part of marriage?"

Henkel says marriage in the Bible is never linked to government and that today, the feds should not be able to dictate to Americans: "You're only allowed one wife."

Christians who believe the state should regulate marriage, he says, "are trusting in the false god of socialist government."

Referring to the sodomy case, Henkel told WND: "Lawrence v. Texas has kicked open a whole new door for us."

He says the ruling effectively voided every anti-polygamy law on the books, assuring that "whatever consenting adults choose to do" is permissible.

TruthBearer.org's strategy, says Henkel, is to persuade "conservative, Bible-believing Christians" of the appropriateness and superiority of polygamy. When they are won over, Henkel says the liberal "tolerance-oriented" people will then come into line.

While Henkel uses the polygamy of biblical patriarchs as part of his defense of the practice, Falwell says those Old Testament men were sinning by taking multiple wives.

"The Bible very clearly condemns Christian polygamy," he said. "[The Old Testament patriarchs] all did it in defiance of the Word of God. … God's plan was Adam and Eve – not Adam and Steve, and not Adam and several Eves."

Henkel's movement is clear to point out that its philosophy is not based on historic Mormon polygamy: "Christian polygamy is not Mormon polygamy. The two have two distinctly separate foundational reasons and two distinctly separate histories. They draw no basis from each other."

[restornu]

Everyone knows the LDS will go back to polygamy as soon as it's legal.

Everyone knows thinks/believes the LDS will go back to polygamy as soon as it's legal.

Everyone don't thinks/believes the LDS and they are not telling us the truth about polygamy.

Everyone thinks/believes the LDS will don't really receives revelations.

Everyone thinks/believes that America religious freedom is reserved for those who fit the mainline.

Don't mean to seem discourteous to clarify what many thinks/believe!

BTW have a HAPPY 4th

[patton]

Pardon me, but what language are you speaking?

[weegee]

Polygamists see open door for acceptance

As they should based on the precedant set by the activist Supreme Court.

[weegee]

The real problem with the local brand of polygamists (by the way, they are not Mormons!), is that they are also cleverly raiding the treasuries of two states

The real solution would be to end government handouts rather than to prohibit polygamy.

An unmarried woman with kids will receive benefits too regardless of how many kids that man has fathered or to how many women he had done this.

[weegee]

Boy suspected of committing incest

The boy is charged with a felony count of incest. He is 17. His sister is 22 and has not yet been charged (the baby was miscarried and is not a factor).

If the boy were a couple of years older, he could still be charged for comitting the act of incest.

How much longer must he be harassed (with FELONY charges) for actions committed by consenting persons in private? < /sarcasm >

[Grig]

"How does this SCOTUS ruling effect the Mormons in Utah?"

Not one tiny bit.

"A guy got sent to jail last year (I think it was) because of polygamy laws in Utah. The guy wasn't hurting anyone, and the only mistake the guy made was marrying the women instead of shacking up with them. "

First, he wasn't Mormon. Mormons get kicked out for doing that even in nations that allow polygamy legaly. The divine approval Mormons belive is required for a plural marriage is not available in this day. Some people try to use the name and history of Mormons to cover over their own actions that are usually very different than what Mormons practiced in the past.

Second, I think that guy was also guilty of a lot of other things too.

[johnb838]

I know, I know, but don't those people claim to be an alternative CJCLDS that is hip to the real revelations while the official one is apostate? I thought I saw that on the toob.

[Grig]

"take one and leave the rest for somebody else."

Hey, I'm not advocating legalizing polygamy, I just wanted to correct some distortions about LDS history and doctrine about it.

[Grig]

"Everyone knows the LDS will go back to polygamy as soon as it's legal."

Newsflash: the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is a worldwide church and polygamy IS LEAGAL in some places where the church is already, yet a member in those places would still be excommunicated for polygamy if they did it.

The church was also very active in promoting a ballot initiative a couple years ago in Calif. defining marriage as between A man and A woman.

'Everyone' needs to stop clinging to 100+ year old steriotypes that were inaccurate even back then.

[Paulus Invictus]

I have no idea what they think nor do I care. I do not rely on the toob for correct info ever, particularly any source like the leftist CNNCBSNBC and especially ABC. It is of no consequence what the the polygs claim is fact. Their leadership, competing groups and various beliefs change so often and it is impossible to determine just what they do believe (except polygamy- they cling on to that one quite stubbornly).

[Paulus Invictus]

That sounds like a plan! I hope that ending all gummint welfare programs will be the chosen way, but I can't see it happening anytime soon--too many voters want and depend upon endless freebies and handouts.

[weegee]

--too many voters want and depend upon endless freebies and handouts.

Too many politicians derive their power from a voter base who appreciate endless freebies and handouts.

[weegee]

...take one and leave the rest for somebody else.

If Bubba can legally serve as co-president for another 8 years, I would expect to see Bill Clinton pushing for legal polygamy. Bill and Hill could be co-presidents for another term with President Shill in the Oval Office.

Think that Bill and Hill could see making an "honest woman" out of Janet Reno?

< /horrible nightmare >

[Noachian]

OK, I'll take your word for it since I know very little about Mormons, and you obviously are up on the subject.

BUT, I have questions:

1. Did Mormons, at one time, practice polygamy?

2. Was it part of their religious tenets that they do so?

3. Was one of the conditions of statehood a disavowal of polygamy by the CLDS?

[Grig]

"BUT, I have questions: 1. Did Mormons, at one time, practice polygamy?"

There was a time where about 5% of Mormons practiced polygamy.

"2. Was it part of their religious tenets that they do so? "

It was part of their religion that they do so ONLY if specificly and individually called to do so by officers of the Church with the authority to extend such a calling on God's behalf.

"3. Was one of the conditions of statehood a disavowal of polygamy by the CLDS? "

That makes no difference either way. It was the will of God that determined the course of the Church. The president of the Church clearly stated his intention to follow God's will even if it would bring far worse consquences than a mere witholding of statehood.

They stopped because that is what God asked them to do. Why God asked them to stop doesn't really matter to me. His purposes are wise even if they seem foolish to us at the time.

Anyone is free to attribute any motives they can invent of course, but that is just displaying bias. Personaly, if some christian belived polygamy was a sin, I would expect them to be happy Mormons stopped it rather they try and jump all over them about that.

[freedumb2003]

>>You know, one who can cook, one who can fix stuff, one who's a "hottie" and looks good in a speedo.......<<

You're looking for 2 gays and a cracker?

[ET(end tyranny)]

Ya had to know this was coming! Why should the muslims be the only ones with multiple wives??

[tiamat]

freedumb2003 wrote:

You're looking for 2 gays and a cracker?

****************************************

LOL!

I'm not all that picky.....

BUT!

You tell me .....

Which is which?

I've known some Good ol' Boys who can fill any ..... ( ahemm)

SLOT!

:-)

Tia

[freedumb2003]

;)

Just look for the ones whose outfits match color-wise.

I guess you will just have to hum "It's raining men" until the law changes.

[tiamat]

Hey, if it's the right kind of man, I'll go with it!

Course, for "personal intamacy" I tend to like the ones what like girls.....

go figure... :-)

tia