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wonder what these folks would think of the past practice of outllawing interracial marriages. Brian Bates, Mac grove
Thomas Swift wrote:
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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
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