  Version 8.2 |
|
|
|
|
<-- WNest 2.1|
|
Wren's Wrants
& Wramblings
|
Features... News Links Who Is Wren W Nest Logos |
Go to the... |
| Witchvox Chapter: Wren's Nest News | Chapter Page Views: 56,547,091 |
 Christian Leaders Unite On Political Issues Author: Laurie Goodstein Source: New York Times Title: CHRISTIAN LEADERS UNITE ON POLITICAL ISSUES Citing the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s call to civil disobedience, 145 evangelical, Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christian leaders have signed a declaration saying they will not cooperate with laws that they say could be used to compel their institutions to participate in abortions, or to bless or in any way recognize same-sex couples. “We pledge to each other, and to our fellow believers, that no power on earth, be it cultural or political, will intimidate us into silence or acquiescence,” it says. The manifesto, to be released on Friday at the National Press Club in Washington, is an effort to rejuvenate the political alliance of conservative Catholics and evangelicals that dominated the religious debate during the administration of President George W. Bush. The signers include nine Roman Catholic archbishops and the primate of the Orthodox Church in America. They want to signal to the Obama administration and to Congress that they are still a formidable force that will not compromise on abortion, stem-cell research or gay marriage. | |
| Community Thoughts: There are 18 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| They Stepped In WHAT? | Nov 22nd. at 12:33:06 am EST |
|
Elwin Shadowstrider (Bartlett, Tennessee) - Email Me Ok, since when is narrow mindedness a law? Even more so one that is supposed to be imposed upon anyone whose views differ from theirs? Who made their views absolute? By what resoning do they continue to try and shove their faith into my life? Who are they to judge just what "type" love can be and where it comes from? Be it the same sex marriage or not? Since when does their rights come at the expense of my own? Finally what makes these people believe they are better/greater than anyone else? They failed in the conquest of many souls and are losing more each day, I wonder why? Too bad narrow mindedness and stupidity isn't painful........... Hecate's Child, Elwin Shadowstrider ) O ( |
| Secular Or Religious But Not Both | Nov 21st. at 6:05:48 pm EST |
|
Serendipity (Bonita Springs, Florida) - Email Me Pharmacists have been sued successfully in court for refusing to fill birth control prescriptions, something some of them have done because they hold the religious belief that birth control is wrong. Doctors have been successfully sued for refusing to inform patients about abortion alternatives available to them for the same reasons. Freedom of belief and freedom of action are two different things. Once a person of faith steps outside of the doors to their church and into the secular world, as in a pharmacist working in a pharmacy, or as a doctor working in a Planned Parenthood clinic, then those people must be prepared to subject themselves to the secular laws of the state and the nation. The First Amendment isn’t the only amendment that comes into play here because these people who do these things are attempting not only to make determinations for themselves but for others as well, and what is more they are doing it not in a religious forum but in our hospitals and other health care venues. The First Amendment doesn’t go so far as to allow that. Any church should have the right to run any business that it deems to be for the good of people. This includes hospital. But, those businesses should be required to function under the same laws and guidelines as any secular establishment or they should not be allowed to receive government funding of any kind for any reason. You just can’t have your cake and eat it too. |
| That's Fine... | Nov 21st. at 10:10:29 am EST |
|
Ciarán Ruadh Rósairgid (Urbana, Illinois) - Email Me As has been kicked around in some other comments, they actually won't be legally compelled to perform marriages that they don't want to, or abortions, or...you get the idea. My parents aren't and never were Catholic. There was a Catholic church in their home town that my mother wanted for the wedding because it was so beautiful--the priest said no, unless they were going to convert to Catholicism. How it is that these same priesthoods are convinced that they would be any more compelled to perform a gay wedding than a non-Catholic wedding is beyond me. So go ahead, that's fine. Swear that the government can't make you do anything you don't want to as a church. Which they can't anyway. Congratulations, you've demonstrated the maturity of a three-year-old. ~CRR |
| They Need To Get Their Priorities Straight. | Nov 21st. at 6:43:58 am EST |
|
Laura C. (Weston, Florida) - Email Me I may not agree with the typical Christian stand on abortion and gay rights, but I'm certainly not going to stop them from expressing those views loudly and publicly if they so choose. However, telling your congregation that those are the most important issues today is extremely misleading. What about: - "Preaching" through your actions instead of your words - Bringing an end to religious warfare (I refuse to call them "holy wars," because that's an oxymoron) - Undoing as much as possible of the damage we've done to the planet so our children's generation can actually live in it - Caring for the needy Or is "Love thy neighbor" only relevant when they can't get an abortion or marry a member of the same sex? |
| That's Their Religion | Nov 21st. at 12:34:28 am EST |
|
Hadriana (Rome, Georgia) - Email Me I don't think they should be forced to participate in something like gay marriage or abortion if they don't want to. I know I'd never go to a Holy Rolling Baptist Preacher for an abortion if I wanted one. haha I couldn't get past this "the primate of the Orthodox Church in America." I didn't think they believed in evolution. But no matter - the federal govt., - IMO - should respect gay marriages if there is a religion willing to marry gay people. Actually I think the govt. should certifcy civil unions and leave the marriages to the churches. Fair is fair. As for religions that are willing to perform the services, I know of at least one. ;) |
| Pfffffffffffft | Nov 21st. at 12:33:03 am EST |
|
karrie9 (Kenosha, Wisconsin) - Email Me - Web How insulting they are to the person of average intelligence. They think they're so stupid that people won't catch on that equality is about removing the public (government related) institutions of prejudice. They'll be allowed to keep their reglious axis of morality based on prejudice, lies, and hate. It's just that not everyone will admire them for it. They'll never be forced into marrying gays or anything to do with abortions. They may, however, have to give up their above the law attitudes, nonexistent war on Christmas, Religious Reich martyr cards, and so on and so forth. |
| States Rights, Until ... | Nov 20th. at 10:14:46 pm EST |
|
Emerald Tiger (Jamestown, North Dakota) - Email Me Yes, the issues listed in this article are states rights. They become federal issues when those state laws conflict with the constitution. In the case of same sex marriage, a lot of states that are prohibiting it are also prohibiting the recognition of those marriages legally performed in states that DO recognize it. That is the case in my home state. This is in violation of the constitution and the full faith and credit clause. I agree with the statement that if you don't agree with a stand for religious reasons, don't be in a position in which you may be forced into the situation to have to choose. |
| I'm Not Sure. | Nov 20th. at 9:56:05 pm EST |
|
Avagdu (Independence, Missouri) - Email Me If any of the religious institutions take government monies, they'll have to comply or give up the money. I hope the government doesn't make an exception for them. If they want the financial handouts, they'll have to play the game, if not, find another source of income. |
| Makes Me Glad I'm Pagan... | Nov 20th. at 9:25:02 pm EST |
|
bigcat (peoria, Illinois) - Email Me I don't need or want them to speak for me, because I don't care what they think. They are too narrow minded to tend to any need of mine. They need to be told that once in awhile. |
| First Amendment | Nov 20th. at 9:21:51 pm EST |
|
Zodiac (Waverly, Nebraska) - Email Me Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, ***OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOR;*** These churches are not arguing for the "right" to hurt other people or impose their wills on others. You'll still be able to get abortions and gay marriage and stem cell research outside of Catholic run institutions. What these people are saying is that it is unConstitutional for the Congress to attempt to force laws on them contrary to their beliefs. And these churches are right. |
| ... | Nov 20th. at 8:06:31 pm EST |
|
Draken (Bronx, New York) - Email Me - Web Seriously, who supplies these guys with the crack? |
| Why Should We Care? | Nov 20th. at 7:42:30 pm EST |
|
lizzard 326 (Montgomery, Illinois) - Email Me This topic really does not touch me, however I konw those who it might. We can't change a what some don't except. We just don't join or stay in those groups. If that is what they beleive then so be it. We have to stop trying to change some groups just get them not to try to change us. The majority will come around in time. It might take a while , but they will. Or the old will take thier veiws with them when they die. |
| Here's A Radical Concept. | Nov 20th. at 6:52:59 pm EST |
|
Ursyl (Murrysville, Pennsylvania) - Email Me I couldn't care less if these churches recognize my marriage. Indeed, given that neither my husband nor I are Catholic, let alone any other form of Christian, we would not have expected any priest or minister of such churches to have performed our wedding any more than we'd've expected a Jewish rabbi or Muslim imam to have performed it. Interestingly enough, they also did NOT have any right to forbid us from marrying either. They seem to forget that their religious rules apply ONLY to their parishioners and congregants. Unless, of course, they want to set the precedent whereby other religions' rules can be enforced as law in the same manner that they want theirs to be? |
| Lions 1000 Christians 0 | Nov 20th. at 6:25:49 pm EST |
|
Hernesvoice (Lake Oswego, Oregon) - Email Me So many Christians...too few lions. |
| Some Work To Impose Their Will On Others | Nov 20th. at 3:57:23 pm EST |
|
Serendipity (Bonita Springs, Florida) - Email Me The biggest mistake these people are making is the same old one that we see so often. The Constitution recognizes anyone’s right to believe whatever he or she wants to believe. It does NOT give people the right to act on those beliefs when those beliefs are in conflict with local, state, or federal laws. There alone is the crux of the problem. These are people who show no regard for the laws of the land they purport to love so dearly. I get it, somebody is a Catholic and believes he will go to hell for performing abortions, but the law of the land allows abortions. The answer is simple; the individual should not put himself in a job where he might be call on to do an abortion. Does that infringe on the Catholic’s rights? Not at all, the reason it doesn’t is because the Catholic has the right to make his own choices. He can choose to do abortions if he wants to risk his immortal soul. He can refuse to do them when the law requires him to do them and risk losing his medical license, or going to jail. He can, wisely, choose to work at something that won’t put him in either of those positions. The thing is, these people don’t want to just choose for themselves they want to choose for others. If something doesn’t work for them, if it is against their personal religious beliefs, then they want to force others to change, both in personal terms and in terms of the laws that govern all of us. |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright 1997-2010 The Witches' Voice Inc. All rights reserved
Note: Authors & Artists retain the copyright for their work(s) on this website.
Unauthorized reproduction without prior permission is a violation of copyright laws.
Website structure, evolution and php coding by Fritz Jung on a Macintosh G5.
Any and all personal political opinions expressed in the public listing sections (including, but not restricted to, personals, events, groups, shops, Wren’s Nest, etc.) are solely those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinion of The Witches’ Voice, Inc. TWV is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization.
Sponsorship: Visit the Witches' Voice Sponsor Page for info on how you
can help support this Community Resource. Donations ARE Tax Deductible.
The Witches' Voice carries a 501(c)(3) certificate and a Federal Tax ID.
Mail Us: The Witches' Voice Inc., P.O. Box 341018, Tampa, Florida 33694-1018 U.S.A.