Posted on 09/10/2008 7:14:12 PM PDT by kaehurowing
Statement on Proposition Eight by the Episcopal Diocesan Bishops of California
As Episcopal Bishops of California, we are moved to urge voters to vote "No" on Proposition Eight. Jesus calls us to love rather than hate, to give rather than to receive, to live into hope rather than fear. On Tuesday, November 8th, voters in California will be given the opportunity to vote for or against Proposition Eight, which would amend the state's constitution to reserve marriage as only between a man and a woman. Since the California Supreme Court's ruling in May that civil marriage should be provided to all of the state's citizens whether the genders of the couple are different or the same, faithful gays and lesbians have entered into marriage as the principle way in which they show their love, devotion and life-long commitment to each other. Furthermore, marriage provides these couples the same legal rights and protections that heterosexual couples take for granted.
Proposition Eight would reverse the court's decision and withdraw a right given. Proponents of Proposition Eight have suggested that this amendment to the Constitution would protect marriage. We do not believe that marriage of heterosexuals is threatened by same-sex marriage. Rather, the Christian values of monogamy, commitment, love, mutual respect and witness of monogamy are enhanced for all by providing this right to gay and straight alike. Society is strengthened when two people who love each other choose to enter into marriage, engaged in a lifetime of disciplined relationship building that serves as a witness to the importance of love and commitment.
As bishops, we are not of one mind regarding how our Church's clergy should participate with the State in same-sex marriage. Some of us believe it is appropriate to permit our clergy to officiate at such marriages and pronounce blessings over the union; others of us believe that we should await consent of our General Convention before permitting such actions. Nevertheless, we are adamant that justice demands that same-sex civil marriage continue in our state and advocate voting "No" on Proposition Eight.
General Convention 2006 in Columbus passed Resolution A095 that said, "Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 75th General Convention reaffirm the Episcopal Church's historical support of gay and lesbian persons as children of God and entitled to full civil rights; and be it further Resolved, That the 75th General Convention reaffirm the 71st General Convention's action calling upon municipal council, state legislatures and the United States Congress to approve measures giving gay and lesbian couples protection[s] such as: bereavement and family leave policies; health benefits; pension benefits; real-estate transfer tax benefits; and commitments to mutual support enjoyed by non-gay married couples and be it further Resolved, That the 75th General Convention oppose any state or federal constitutional amendment that prohibits same-sex civil marriage or civil unions."
We believe that continued access to civil marriage for all, regardless of sexual orientation, is consistent with the best principles of our constitutional rights. We believe that this continued access promotes Jesus' ethic of love, giving, and hope.
The Rt. Rev. Marc Handley Andrus, Bishop of California The Rt. Rev. Barry L. Beisner, Bishop of Northern California The Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno, Bishop of Los Angeles The Rt. Rev. Mary Gray-Reeves, Bishop of El Camino Real The Rt. Rev. Jerry A. Lamb, Provisional Bishop of San Joaquin The Rt. Rev. James R. Mathes, Bishop of San Diego
I believe that Jesus also said something along the lines of, "Go, and sin no more."
So in that spirit of hope, giving, and love The Episcopal Church endorses and supports the choice mothers to kill their unborn children.
Why is this not persuasive?
I do hope they vote on November 8. Please don’t tell them that election day is on the 4th of November!
Ha ha.
“Proposition Eight would reverse the court’s decision and withdraw a right given.”
Hmmm. I am really struggling with prop 8. Marriage is for one man and one woman period.
However, our constitution is carefully designed to hold the government in check, not to regulate the behavior and practices of We the People.
I am against adding anything to the state or U.S. constitutions that regulates the behavior of the people so I probably will vote against prop 8.
why I should vote FOR prop 8 ?
Marriage should be regulated by government ? WHY ?
Maybe government should get out of the marriage business ?
I do see many many problems stemming from gay “marriage” but I am not sure if an amendment is the solution.
My main concern with this that I’m afraid we will see Church’s lose their tax exempt status when they refuse to perform such ceremonies. What the gay and lesbian communities would love to see is the notion that being gay or lesbian is deserving of “suspect class” status that would make it nearly impossible for Church’s to refuse to solemnize gay and lesbian marriages. If a Church refused, they could potentially lose their tax exempt status and it would put them out of business. If doctors can be forced to perform abortions against their conscience, you have to believe that then end result here is nothing short of a full frontal assault on the right of people of faith to oppose gay marriage.
As for the Bishops’ comments about JEsus;
yes Jesus commands us to love but love means standing for truth not appeasement.
I don't know which Bible these quasi-christians read - probably the New Rainbow Translation with offensive language removed. And the namby-pamby "Jesus" they espouse is nowhere to be found in the true Scripture I've always known.
Jesus mentions hate and and actually commands it occasionally. What about the part when he says to "hate mother and father" for the kingdom sake? Or hating your life in order to find it? "Let the dead bury their own dead" was the attitude we are told to adopt. And all this never negates LOVE.
Actually, the opposite of love is not hate, but fear.
The E.Church will likely next support marriages between women and their big dogs, men and their sheep, ducks, etc.
After all, ,its in the Bible, right? One of the 10 Commandmants for sure.
And the E.Church clearly know the Bible.
LOL! You Californians should start a slogan: "No on 8, no on hate, Vote November 8th." I'm sure the majority of the young skulls full of mush would internalize this.
Good point, and I agree. But then what’s the opposite of hate?
Ummm, Jesusdoes love sinners.
However, in every example Jesus reaches out and forgives sinners, He also says, “Go, and sin no more.”
The liberal “Christians” always want to forget that part.
Jesus did not celebrate any sinners’ lifestyle choices. He does not celebrate and accept and say “Good for You, that’s how I made you!” to thieves, to murderers, to rapists, to prostitutes, to homosexuals, to the prideful, to the liar.
But that is exactly what these false Christians would want you to believe. They are telling itching ears what they want to hear.
I would say the following:
The opposite of love is fear. The outgrowth of such fear is an unrighteous hate.
The opposite of righteous hate is callous indifference.
The bottom line is that there are two types of hate; righteous and unrighteous.
love yes, have sex with the same sex no
I love my family, my dog some of my friends but I am not going to have sex with them except my wife
the church wonders why they are losing people.
Also you do not have to religious to be against homo marriage as nearly everyone I know is against it yet no one goes to church.
maybe they don’t go as they are fed up with REV’s like these few
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