Index of SPPS Budget Discussion http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/spps-posts.html _________________________________________ Tuesday March 23, 2004 3:16 AM
By MARK NIESSE Associated Press Writer ATLANTA (AP) - From the cradle of the civil rights movement, several dozen black pastors are voicing their opposition to the gay marriage movement and rhetoric that equates it with the struggle for racial equality. The pastors rallied late Monday at an Atlanta-area church where they signed a declaration outlining their beliefs on marriage and religion. They are pressing for a state constitutional ban on gay marriages, which will be considered again by the Georgia House as soon as this week. Many black clergy say they are offended by the gay rights movement's claim that their struggle is the same as the effort for equal racial rights. The declaration, which was signed by 30 pastors, was to be presented to legislative leaders later in the week. It said same-sex marriage is not a civil right, and marriage between a man and a woman is necessary for the upbringing of children. ``This is neither a hate nor a fear issue,'' the statement said. ``People are free in our nation to pursue relationships as they choose. To redefine marriage, however, to suit the preference of those choosing alternative lifestyles is wrong.'' Bishop William Shields of Hopewell Baptist Church told the crowd of about 250 that gay marriage is ``a threat to who we are and what we stand for.'' ``I'm not here tonight to discriminate against anyone. I'm here to stand on the word of God,'' Shields said. Bishop Donn Thomas of Messiah's World Outreach Ministries said the civil rights movement ``was a positive freedom for African-Americans to experience our capabilities as men and women created in the image of God.'' ``The homosexual lobby is seeking a negative freedom rooted in the sexual revolution, and it's a negative freedom from the restraint of morality,'' Thomas said. The rally is important because the black pastors are taking a stand on such a difficult issue, said Randy Hicks, president of the Georgia Family Council, which helped organize the event. ``They're making an appropriate statement about what marriage is and what it is not,'' Hicks said. ``These men and women can certainly be characterized as compassionate and caring, and they are concerned about things like discrimination.'' Same-sex marriage is already illegal in Georgia, but supporters of the ban say the constitution needs to be changed to make sure a judge does not direct Georgia to recognize gay marriages performed in other states. ================================================== The concept of negative freedom expressed here by Bishop Thomas is the same one that the gentelman at the Capital rally was explaining to the young lesbian I wrote about earlier. TSwift Cherokee Park __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance Tax Center - File online. File on time. http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html _____________________________________________ SPPS Budget Reduction Forum - Feb. 23-27 Co-Sponsored By NEAT: http://www.stpaulneat.org/ _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
