Friday, April 16, 2004
The Rapid City Journal
April 16, 2004
On Valentine's Day, Msgr. O'Connell, bemoaned the Orwellian redefinitions of terms like "marriage" and "abortion." The lexicon has evolved, but I’d argue we haven’t changed enough.
Those for whom seven Bible verses on homosexuality are more important than the other 31,000, let's re-label "Leviticians." Stop pretending to honor the man who rallied against the perversion of religion by an elite that created laws to the suppress those around them. Let the term "Christian" be used by those who do as he actually taught and tend not to the gilding temples with gold and stained glass, but to immigrants, widows and orphans, the downtrodden and oppressed.
Until all these religions (including those with the right not to believe) can align themselves in agreement, lets not use the "strong religious beliefs" when we really mean "bigotry."
For the positions in religious hierarchy who staged a multi-decade cover-up harming not just their own communities but others where sexual harassment of all orientations were allowed to continue: let’s call these Bishops and Cardinals "legal accessories."
And politicians refusing to stand up for the entirety of their community and only commit only to views allowed by their churches or opponents, let's rightfully call them "cowards."
April 16, 2004
On Valentine's Day, Msgr. O'Connell, bemoaned the Orwellian redefinitions of terms like "marriage" and "abortion." The lexicon has evolved, but I’d argue we haven’t changed enough.
Those for whom seven Bible verses on homosexuality are more important than the other 31,000, let's re-label "Leviticians." Stop pretending to honor the man who rallied against the perversion of religion by an elite that created laws to the suppress those around them. Let the term "Christian" be used by those who do as he actually taught and tend not to the gilding temples with gold and stained glass, but to immigrants, widows and orphans, the downtrodden and oppressed.
Until all these religions (including those with the right not to believe) can align themselves in agreement, lets not use the "strong religious beliefs" when we really mean "bigotry."
For the positions in religious hierarchy who staged a multi-decade cover-up harming not just their own communities but others where sexual harassment of all orientations were allowed to continue: let’s call these Bishops and Cardinals "legal accessories."
And politicians refusing to stand up for the entirety of their community and only commit only to views allowed by their churches or opponents, let's rightfully call them "cowards."
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
The Rapid City Journal
April 13, 2004
The biggest flaw of the anti-equality movement (among them the Family Research Council, SD Family Policy Council, American Family Association, and Focus on the Family) aside from their consistant misuse of 6-7 Bible quotes, is that their facts and figures, from alleged shorter lifespans, sexual activity to child abuse and murder rates, come almost exclusively from the research of Dr. Paul Cameron.
Cameron was expelled by the American Psychological Association over ethics violations and denounced by American Sociological Association having "consistently misinterpreted and misrepresented sociological research on sexuality, homosexuality, and lesbianism and ... repeatedly campaigned for the abrogation of the civil rights of lesbians and gay men, substantiating his call on the basis of his distorted interpretation of this research," and later for his "consistent misrepresentation of sociological research."
Proclaiming to "hate the sin, love the sinner" [found nowhere Biblicaly and actually a quote from St. Augustine (354-430 C.E.)], these groups follow the debunked, disproven opinions of a man who has argued to conservative groups for "the extermination of homosexuals."
Cameron's half-truths, misrepresentations and ghoulish caricatures are highly profitable, and have irreperably harmed more families and American Christianity more than the love they chose to misrepresent ever can or will.
April 13, 2004
The biggest flaw of the anti-equality movement (among them the Family Research Council, SD Family Policy Council, American Family Association, and Focus on the Family) aside from their consistant misuse of 6-7 Bible quotes, is that their facts and figures, from alleged shorter lifespans, sexual activity to child abuse and murder rates, come almost exclusively from the research of Dr. Paul Cameron.
Cameron was expelled by the American Psychological Association over ethics violations and denounced by American Sociological Association having "consistently misinterpreted and misrepresented sociological research on sexuality, homosexuality, and lesbianism and ... repeatedly campaigned for the abrogation of the civil rights of lesbians and gay men, substantiating his call on the basis of his distorted interpretation of this research," and later for his "consistent misrepresentation of sociological research."
Proclaiming to "hate the sin, love the sinner" [found nowhere Biblicaly and actually a quote from St. Augustine (354-430 C.E.)], these groups follow the debunked, disproven opinions of a man who has argued to conservative groups for "the extermination of homosexuals."
Cameron's half-truths, misrepresentations and ghoulish caricatures are highly profitable, and have irreperably harmed more families and American Christianity more than the love they chose to misrepresent ever can or will.
Saturday, April 10, 2004
The Sioux Falls Argus Leader
April 11, 2004
'Activist judges'
Blasting progressive rulings, the Christian right blames "activist judges." But of the seven Massachusetts justices who approved same-sex marriage, six were Republican appointees. Likewise, four of the six U.S. Supreme Court justices who overturned the Texas sodomy case were seated by Republican presidents.
The "activist judge" movement is more dangerous than an unnecessary constitutional amendment. The real goal is term-limiting judges - nullifying the power of the judicial branch and eliminating checks and balances. With equal branches of government, we allow courts to lead the way even when such leadership may overrule public opinion and special interests.
Politicians like former Rep. John Thune, R-S.D., disagree, and are determined to weaken church and state boundaries. In his final months in Congress, Thune sponsored "The House of Worship Political Speech Protection Act," to allow churches and groups like the South Dakota Family Policy Council to endorse candidates and contribute 20 percent of their collection plates.
April 11, 2004
'Activist judges'
Blasting progressive rulings, the Christian right blames "activist judges." But of the seven Massachusetts justices who approved same-sex marriage, six were Republican appointees. Likewise, four of the six U.S. Supreme Court justices who overturned the Texas sodomy case were seated by Republican presidents.
The "activist judge" movement is more dangerous than an unnecessary constitutional amendment. The real goal is term-limiting judges - nullifying the power of the judicial branch and eliminating checks and balances. With equal branches of government, we allow courts to lead the way even when such leadership may overrule public opinion and special interests.
Politicians like former Rep. John Thune, R-S.D., disagree, and are determined to weaken church and state boundaries. In his final months in Congress, Thune sponsored "The House of Worship Political Speech Protection Act," to allow churches and groups like the South Dakota Family Policy Council to endorse candidates and contribute 20 percent of their collection plates.
