Southern Baptists: Gay rights not same as civil rights

[MindMover]

Source: Washington Host

NEW ORLEANS — A day after electing their first African-American president in a historic move that strives to erase its legacy of racism, Southern Baptists passed a resolution opposing the idea that same-sex marriage is a civil rights issue.

Thousands of delegates at the denomination’s annual meeting in New Orleans on Wednesday were nearly unanimous in their support for the resolution that affirms their belief that marriage is “the exclusive union of one man and one woman” and that “all sexual behavior outside of marriage is sinful.”

The Rev. Fred Luter, Jr.: New face of the Southern Baptist Convention:?New Orleans pastor Fred Luter, Jr., became the first African American president of the 167-year-old Southern Baptist Convention, whose members are meeting this week in Luter’s city.

The nation’s largest Protestant denomination is attempting to broaden its appeal beyond its traditional white Southern base. At the same time, leaders said they feel it is important to take a public stand on their opposition to same-sex marriage.

The resolution acknowledges that gays and lesbians sometimes experience “unique struggles” but declares that they lack the “distinguishing features of classes entitled to special protections.”

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/southern-baptists-elect-1st-african-american-president-the-rev-fred-luter-jr/2012/06/20/gJQArEPkpV_story.html?tid=sm_twitter_washingtonpost

[complain jane]

1. Hm.

I wasn't aware equality was "special protections".

[Bozita]

2. Now I think I know why the black guy got elected yesterday.

[MindMover]

3. You connected the dots.........

[clang1]

4. re: Now I think I know why the black guy got elected yesterday.

Loool ya was wonderin that meself. Guess this is them reinventing themselves huh. Getting some new marketing going for what they peddle.

[MindMover]

10. With Mr. Luter's $250 shirt and $75 dollar tie....I think the marketing campaign to defeat...

the current President of the USA....and his policies has been stepped up a notch by this proclamation of a predominantly right wing religious organization 38 million strong....

[hrmjustin]

11. yep it is all politics. n/t

[Politicub]

5. I think animus against gay people is what drives them

And people like them.

It's not about following Jesus, or helping others, or acts of kindness. Their faith is a fig leaf to cover the bigotry in their hearts.

Some of them have gay kids, relatives and friends. Don't these people realize how much damage they are causing?

Their vote for denying gay rights as civil rights was a vote for fear and hatred.

[clang1]

6. re: I think animus against gay people is what drives them

Your're right. Of course. ANYTHING outside their narrow belief system. What gets me about these hypocrite yahoos is why they need a church for morals and values anyway. Didn't they learn those at home? school? Oh wait.

[Warpy]

7. They didn't think full citizenship for black folks

was about civil rights, either.

The Southern Baptists say a lot of stupid shit. This is only some of the latest.

[Grassy Knoll]

8. When I hear anything southern baptist this video come to mind...

[freshwest]

9. Please, gents, supply chapter and verse for the line of scripture cited here:

“distinguishing features of classes entitled to special protections.”

Jesus didn't say those words during His ministry. They should read the Bible before speaking.

[msongs]

12. and what does Jesus say about divorce, southern baptist style? read it and weep lol nt

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

13. They think it's a choice

From the article: "there is not incontrovertible scientific evidence that homosexuality is an innate characteristic, like skin color."

Even with "incontrovertible scientific evidence", these guys don't respect science, do they. They don't believe in evolution or that the Earth is 4 billion years old. If it's a choice, why don't they prove it to themselves by trying it out? Maybe it is a choice for a small number of people with a fluid sexual identity. But I hardly think that the vast majority of people who identify themselves as gay would choose to suffer the the vilification and humiliation heaped on them by the religious extremists if they could avoid it.

[clang1]

14. re: They think it's a choice

They cannot conceptualize what the Universe is, how vast it is, how old it is. They have no damn idea. Frankly about anything, most of the time, IMO.

[NYC Liberal]

21. Religion is a choice. Do they think people discrimination

based on religion ought to be allowed? Somehow I doubt it.

[demwing]

25. If homosexuality is a choice, then heterosexuality is also a choice

along with straight marriage.

Therefore, straight marriage doesn't deserve federal protection, and DOMA is unconstitutional.

[MADem]

15. Because they say so? I don't think so... nt

[jtuck004]

16. And being a Southern Baptist isn't the same as being a Christian. Apparently. n/t

[clang1]

26. re: And being a Southern Baptist isn't the same as being a Christian. Apparently. n/t

Nah they better than the Christians.

[jtuck004]

27. I grew up in one of those, but I was one of the lucky ones. I escaped.

Thinking back through those years, I met one person who embodied what was in the instruction manual, who deeply and personally believed that it meant compassion and care for others, even at the risk of his own safety. Watched him (I think I must have been 10 or 12) walk into a spousal abuse situation and take a woman out from in front of an unhappy drunk that was twice his size (he was a smaller framed man). He left a big multi-million dollar church after they got all political and money-hungry and went to work in downtown Oklahoma City, opened up a food kitchen, visited people in jail. Prayed with them if they wanted, but didn't spend time being a self-righteous asshat like so many I remember.

One guy out of several churches full of people. I'm sure there were more decent people, but no one I ever saw put it into action like he did.

I realized it wasn't the instruction manual that was guiding him. That may have some bearing on my inability to believe in ghosts now.

[daaron]

17. K&R'd & X-posted in Religion. nt

The SBC keeps coming up in that forum, so might as well throw another log on the fire.

[sofa king]

18. Not the same as civil rights, which they also opposed.

Don't forget that the inferiority of non-whites was actually codified in at least one religion, and their God had to personally revoke his prior decision in order for a certain territory to achieve statehood.

So I don't give a shit what God is telling those kooks today. You know who is God? We are. When we get pissed off enough, we will shout those small-minded people down, and the gangsters who profit from them will realize that "God" has changed her damned mind again.

[Swede Atlanta]

19. Equal Rights are not special rights.....

"Homosexuals are seeking special rights" is a line the reich wing talking heads have repeated to themselves and across every possible public medium for decades until they believe it themselves.

These are the same people that coined the term "government takeover" of health care when the government is in fact maintaining the basic status quo - majority of Americans will receive health insurance from private insurers and consume that insurance at private hospitals, doctors, clinics, etc.

As a gay man all I want is to be treated equally meaning I have the same rights and protections (e.g. not to be subject to termination by my employer SOLELY based on my innate, immutable homosexual self.

Enough with the "special rights" line of distortion. But this is what these people are best at - creating tag lines that, if carefully analyzed, hold no water.

[LibertyLover]

20. Also interesting is that the Southern Baptists voted

to allow a change to their name. Their congregations may now call themselves Great Commission Baptists in lieu of Southern Baptists. I figure that the new president will be figure-head without any real authority, unless of course he is needed to dispute GLBTQ aspirations for equality or bolster Rmoney's candidacy.

[clang1]

24. re: Also interesting is that the Southern Baptists voted

Their Booosch and war, torture, kidnapping etc. support is why they changed their name. They are a bunch of scumbags. You can even see it in the google results: southern baptists bush support torture

up to 2008 support Bush and torture, after 2009 no more support for torture. More snakes.

[santamargarita]

22. I would expect that from a Racists bunch of Assholes!

[sinkingfeeling]

23. Not to worry. It only took the SBC until 1995 to retract their belief in slavery.

[Volaris]

28. The nation’s largest Protestant denomination...

...is attempting to broaden its appeal beyond its traditional white Southern base. (huh, that's very noble, understanding,and forward-thinking of them...)

At the same time, leaders said they feel it is important to take a public stand on their opposition to same-sex marriage. (AHHHH, THERE it is, THAT'S what we were all looking for lol)




I think the Convention is in St. Louis this week, right? Is that why the whole damn city feels more derp-y than usual?.

And I would say, ya'know, grats on that whole progress and racism thing guys, but you're not allowed a pass on one form of bigotry just 'cause you made a token gesture on another.