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Gay marriage support about civil rights, not religion, pastors say
http://www.suntimes.com/news/19274300-418/gay-marriage-support-about-civil-rights-not-religion-pastors-say.htmlBY TINA SFONDELES Staff Reporter
April 4, 2013 1:54PM
Thirteen Chicago-area black pastors on Thursday voiced their support for gay marriage in Illinois, saying the issue is about civil rights and not about religion.
The support comes a day before Cardinal Francis George, former state Sen. James Meeks, pastor of Salem Baptist Church, and a group of black pastors plan to voice their opposition to the bill. Meeks is the voice of robocalls aimed at African-American households in Cook County, warning that family structure will be jeopardized if same-sex marriage is legalized.
“Discrimination is wrong no matter who the target is. This is about equality and justice,” said the Rev. Richard Tolliver, pastor of St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church on the South Side. “This is a matter of equal protection under the law for all citizens. This is not a religious issue.”
On a 34-21 Valentine’s Day vote, the Illinois Senate approved a same-sex marriage bill. The matter is left to the state House, where the bill’s chief sponsor would not commit to when he intends to call the legislation for a vote.
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