Denver Church stops funeral when Head Bigot realizes Deceased was a Lesbian

[dbackjon]

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_27312180/family-lakewood-church-refuses-funeral-service-because-woman

A Lakewood minister refused to hold a memorial service on Saturday for a mother of two at his church because the woman was gay, family and friends said Tuesday.

"Her casket was open, flowers laid out and hundreds of people sitting in the pews," supporters said in a Facebook post. "He collected money for the funeral and has yet to return it."

Vanessa Collier was 33 when she died on Dec. 29, leaving behind her wife and children.

"You will not find Jesus at New Hope but you will find hypocrisy," said a sign carried at a demonstration outside the church Tuesday by about four dozen family members and friends.

[Fearless]

1. Judge not lest ye be judged.

I reserve the right to judge that motherf*cker pretty harshly thanks.

[roguevalley]

16. hear, hear, fearless. i will help you.

[BlueJazz]

2. "Vanessa Collier was 33" To die so young. Her poor family. geez.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. Twitter is calling for action....

Be interesting to follow this for a few days.

https://twitter.com/search?q=Lakewood%20Colorado&src=typd

[RationalMan]

4. This is such a travesty...........

Jesus walked among sinners of all stripes. He never judged.

Here we have a minister who thinks that Jesus didn't want him to minister to those that are different than him. Jesus never advocated this. Jesus would have been at that memorial service.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. Jesus would have been giving that memorial service.

Welcome to DU, RationalMan!

[workinclasszero]

12. Yes sir

Sadly, lots of what goes on in so-called "Christian" churches nowadays has zero to do with following Jesus and doing what he told us to do.

[niyad]

20. welcome to du

[progressoid]

5. WTF?

[shenmue]

6. I hope they sue his ass

[oldandhappy]

7. From now on, never go anywhere (church) that is not inclusive.

Jesus was massively inclusive.

[workinclasszero]

13. And he was regularly abused for hanging out

with Romans, the poor, tax collectors, the unclean, the sick, criminals...sinners in general.

The religious establishment hated him for that and....surprise!...they still do hate the people Jesus came to save yet they claim to be his followers. SMH

Some things never change.

[Historic NY]

9. WWJD, New Hope offers dispair in time of need.

[TNNurse]

10. Pretend Christians

Are so much worse than openly evil people.

[AtheistCrusader]

11. Not the first time.

http://www.youplusdallas.com/cityblog/religion-faith/2014/08/should-church-have-refused-funeral-for-gay-man/

This pastor is the brother of 'Houston Lakewood Church's' Joel Osteen so these motherfuckers have a history of this bigoted shit.
http://www.towleroad.com/2007/08/church-denies-n.html

[fbc]

14. Well I guess they shouldn't have chosen a church that condemns homosexuality then.

Christians have a right to be close minded a-holes. Her family and friends have the right to not patronize a church that condemns people based on sexual preference. Why are they giving these people money for a funeral in the first place?

[niyad]

21. because it was a church in their neighborhood. guess they did not realize how bigoted it is.

[Lancero]

23. Best to read the story before trying to justify the churches actions.

The church was paid in advance. The church was provided a video, a week before the service, to be played during the service showing her life - It included footage of her with her wife.

The church was well aware of her 'lifestyle'. They had ample opportunity to call the family beforehand to cancel. They decided instead to halt the service as it was in progress.

Try justifying it if you wish, but the church had been given ample... well... warning about vanessa's sexuality.

[rurallib]

15. Jesus Christ I wish the IRS would pull a few tax exemptions from clowns like this.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

17. She died when her gun went off while cleaning it.

That is awful.

[niyad]

22. link please?

[OneCrazyDiamond]

28. Is washington post ok?

Last paragraph:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/national/wp/2015/01/13/colorado-church-refuses-to-hold-funeral-for-lesbian-woman-after-dispute-over-affectionate-photos/

Collier died on Dec. 30, when her gun went off while she was cleaning it

[niyad]

34. thank you, and sorry I didn't even see that last paragraph.

[sarisataka]

29. Which has what

to do with stopping the service?

[OneCrazyDiamond]

30. It isn't related to stopping the services

I don't see a direct connection. They are both awful, and should not have happened.

[sarisataka]

31. Agreed

[benld74]

18. Minister should be on the next season of the Biggest Loser, and I'm not talking weight issues,,,,

[VA_Jill]

19. I would be willing to bet

the church didn't mind taking her money while she was alive....

[cstanleytech]

24. If he collected money and then refused to hold the service isnt that fraud?

[BrotherIvan]

25. He knew she was gay. He stopped the services because the family wouldn't hide it

The funeral could only go forward in his church, Chavez said, if mourners removed any visible evidence that Collier was a lesbian, including photos taken with her partner, Christina, which he insisted must be edited out of the video.

The funeral-goers refused Chavez’s terms and the pastor canceled the ceremony altogether 15 minutes after it was scheduled to start. Fortunately the family and friends gathered were able to move the funeral — flowers, programs guests, casket and all — to another location nearby.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/01/colorado-pastor-halts-lesbians-funeral-when-family-refuses-to-hide-all-signs-that-she-was-gay/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

He is a thief and a despicable human being.

[DeSwiss]

26. K&R

- This clown of a preacher actually has a Ustream site where he can spew his hatred and stupid religious shit online.

And he's getting it good right now......

NHMofdnever- New Hope Ministries

[tjl148]

27. Keep giving it to him! nt

[RKP5637]

32. Individuals like this guy are not about religion, they use it as a cover for their hatred of many

people. I wish Americans would wake the F up, and realize what these flock leaders (some) are about, and some are clearly disciples from hell dressed in disguise using their professed religion as a veil.

[Thor_MN]

33. West Westboro...

[JackInGreen]

35. The times you wish that the population

could tar, feather, and ride someone out on a rail. This guy deserves to be nailed to that rail, but carrying him out and dumping him in a waller would be just as good.