Gay Rights and Religion

[PoliSciProf]

The Human Rights Campaign hosted The Visible Vote '08 forum in Los Angelas (8/9/07) in order to highlight Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgendered issues and to flex the growing political muscle of the GLBT community. It was attended by most of the candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination. The content was predictable. Afterwards, HRC President Joe Solomese made the following comment on the Huffington Post which was reported in The Washington Times (8/10/07): “But we’ve only scratched the surface. What exactly is it about a person’s religion that prevents him or her from being for marriage equality? How would they react if a staff member told them they were transgender (sic) and going through an operation?” Comments on and answers to Mr. Solomese’s incredible questions please.

 

[Della]

“What exactly is it about a person’s religion that prevents him or her from being for marriage equality?”

Since marriage has always been and will always be defined by the Church as a sacramental union between a man and a woman, that is what is it. Two men or two women do not make a sacramental marriage. It is not a question of equality of persons but of who has the privilege of entering into marriage. Same sex persons do not have this privilege within the framework of sacramental marriage. Plain and simple.

“How would they react if a staff member told them they were transgender (sic) and going through an operation?”

Assuming the operation mentioned is a sex change operation, I would react with sorrow and prayers for him or her. I would remind him/her in charity that doing so would mean committing a mortal sin. And I would advise him/her to seek counseling.

 

[Ahimsa]

The Human Rights Campaign hosted The Visible Vote '08 forum in Los Angelas (8/9/07) in order to highlight Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgendered issues and to flex the growing political muscle of the GLBT community. It was attended by most of the candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination. The content was predictable. Afterwards, HRC President Joe Solomese made the following comment on the Huffington Post which was reported in The Washington Times (8/10/07): “But we’ve only scratched the surface. What exactly is it about a person’s religion that prevents him or her from being for marriage equality? How would they react if a staff member told them they were transgender (sic) and going through an operation?” Comments on and answers to Mr. Solomese’s incredible questions please.

Are you talking civil union/marriage, or ecclesiastical marriage?

 

[Dale_M]

Are you talking civil union/marriage, or ecclesiastical marriage?

A good question - one among several I am curious about.

PoliSciProf, is it possible to link to the article or provide some quotes? I looked in the Huffington Post and at the Washington Times, but didn’t readily find the comments made by Joe Solmonese.

 

[Dale_M]

Are you talking civil union/marriage, or ecclesiastical marriage?

The column by Joe Solmonese doesn’t distinguish between the two.

Here is the relevant paragraph:

The candidates’ views on the major GLBT issues of our time are well established. None of the leading candidates are for marriage equality, and all are for repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” for allowing same sex couples to be granted immigration visas, and for finally passing a federal Hate Crimes law. But, we’ve only just scratched the surface. What exactly is it about a person’s religion that prevents him or her from being for marriage equality? How would they react if a staff member told them they were transgender and going through a transition? Being for the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is a positive step but what is your precise policy and political plan to make that a reality?

huffingtonpost.com/joe-solmonese/a-major-landmark-in-the-j_b_59809.html

Mr. Solmonese’s questions probably would have made the presidential candidates squirm more than the actual questions they were asked.

 

[ElizabethAnne]

Assuming the operation mentioned is a sex change operation, I would react with sorrow and prayers for him or her. I would remind him/her in charity that doing so would mean committing a mortal sin. And I would advise him/her to seek counseling.

I certainly do not support sex-change operations but have never heard that they are sinful. Do you have any Church statements on that?

 

[Riley259]

The Human Rights Campaign hosted The Visible Vote '08 forum in Los Angelas (8/9/07) in order to highlight Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgendered issues and to flex the growing political muscle of the GLBT community. It was attended by most of the candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination. The content was predictable. Afterwards, HRC President Joe Solomese made the following comment on the Huffington Post which was reported in The Washington Times (8/10/07): “But we’ve only scratched the surface. What exactly is it about a person’s religion that prevents him or her from being for marriage equality? How would they react if a staff member told them they were transgender (sic) and going through an operation?” Comments on and answers to Mr. Solomese’s incredible questions please.

I actually watched some pieces of this and after responses. I noticed Doogie Howser (or the actor that plays him) was in the audience which isn’t surprising. Gay activists live in a different universe from faithful Catholics…and the pandering that was going on by the candidates at this thing was nauseating. I never thought I’d see the day where major candidates to a national campaign would ever attend something like this. Fortunately, all the Republicans had the good sense to decline Logo and HRC’s invitation to a separate forum.

 

[CatQuilt]

I certainly do not support sex-change operations but have never heard that they are sinful. Do you have any Church statements on that?

If getting your tubes tied is a mortal sin, having a sex-change operation is also a sin. For a woman, it would involve adding a penis (wouldn’t it?) and for a man, it would involve removing the penis and creating a vagina.

 

[Riley259]

If getting your tubes tied is a mortal sin, having a sex-change operation is also a sin. For a woman, it would involve adding a penis (wouldn’t it?) and for a man, it would involve removing the penis and creating a vagina.

Transgenderism and gender identity issues are clearly psychological issues that need to be addressed through skilled counseling not through affirmation of mutilating one’s body.

 

[Gamera]

… HRC President Joe Solomese made the following comment on the Huffington Post which was reported in The Washington Times (8/10/07): “…What exactly is it about a person’s religion that prevents him or her from being for marriage equality?”

What exactly is it about a person’s religion that prevents him from supporting theft? What exactly is it about a person’s religion that prevents him from supporting lying? What exactly is it about a person’s religion that prevents him from supporting assault?

Oh yeah … the whole “obeying God” thing.

 

[BarbG]

I live in San Francisco and believe me when I say that the “gays” have felt that they’ve taken over the “town”. Several months ago the Jesuit high school which has been in San Francisco for 150 years and where my sons went to high school celebrated the 150th anniversary with a “block party”. They had everything possibly imaginable for families – a band, an orchestra, clowns for the little ones, etc., etc. BUT there was not one word in our hometown newspaper “The San Francisco Chronicle” – BUT the next week the gays celebrated their “Block Party” and the entire section of the newspaper called “Datebook” was devoted to the Gay Block Party – I was totally devastated and cancelled my subscription to the paper that I had carried for many years.

 

[Riley259]

I live in San Francisco and believe me when I say that the “gays” have felt that they’ve taken over the “town”. Several months ago the Jesuit high school which has been in San Francisco for 150 years and where my sons went to high school celebrated the 150th anniversary with a “block party”. They had everything possibly imaginable for families – a band, an orchestra, clowns for the little ones, etc., etc. BUT there was not one word in our hometown newspaper “The San Francisco Chronicle” – BUT the next week the gays celebrated their “Block Party” and the entire section of the newspaper called “Datebook” was devoted to the Gay Block Party – I was totally devastated and cancelled my subscription to the paper that I had carried for many years.

I don’t mean to be cruel but San Francisco these days sounds like a modern version of Sodom and Gomorrha. I heard that the gay parades are downright offensive…correct me if I’m wrong.

 

[RhyannaRose]

So if we don’t need to listen to religion on gay marriage, then why should we listen to it on anything? Would these people also support rape, child molestation, murder, theft, assault, etc. because they can’t understand “what it is about a religion that makes a person against” those crimes? Either we listen to God or we don’t…and in the words of King David… “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

 

[Bennie_P]

It is a simple as night and day, some people just don’t know how to turn on the light switch. They are just convinced that up is down and down is up, to turn on the light the switch must go up.

He that believeth in him is not judged. But he that doth not believe is already judged: because he believeth not in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the judgment: Because the light is come into the world and men loved darkness rather than the light: for their works were evil. For every one that doth evil hateth the light and cometh not to the light, that his works may not be reproved**. But he that ****doth truth cometh to the light, **that his works may be made manifest: because they are done in God. John 3:18 -21

 

[Della]

I certainly do not support sex-change operations but have never heard that they are sinful. Do you have any Church statements on that?

Any operation that unnecessarily prohibits the natural reproductive processes of the body is a mortal sin. An example of a necessary operation would be the removal of the womb in order to treat a cancerous tumor. Sex change operations are not necessary to save the life of the person.

 

[matt1985]

I don’t think religion has anything to do with my stance on gay rights or abortion. I don’t think it is fair to allow gays to marry, have civil unions and adopt if polygamists can’t. Many cultures practice polygamy. Why members of one alternative life style be denied rights that members of another alternative life style get?

 

[Elric]

My opinion is why would homosexuals want to partake in an institution that dislikes them?

Why would you want to follow the same practice as a group of people who hate your lifestyle?

It seems strange that people would want to do that and I cant understand the logic behind it.

 

[ElizabethAnne]

Any operation that unnecessarily prohibits the natural reproductive processes of the body is a mortal sin. An example of a necessary operation would be the removal of the womb in order to treat a cancerous tumor. Sex change operations are not necessary to save the life of the person.

Good point! Though, I would question a person’s mental state if they chose a same-sex operation. They may be impared in a way that would lessen their culpability.

 

[ElizabethAnne]

My opinion is why would homosexuals want to partake in an institution that dislikes them?

Why would you want to follow the same practice as a group of people who hate your lifestyle?

It seems strange that people would want to do that and I cant understand the logic behind it.

I think they want acceptance. They want to show the world that they are the same as everyone else, that they are not living an alternative lifestyle.

 

[NewUlm1976_2000]

What exactly is it about a person’s religion that prevents him or her from being for marriage equality? How would they react if a staff member told them they were transgender (sic) and going through an operation?" Comments on and answers to Mr. Solomese’s incredible questions please.

There is nothing which keeps people from being for marriage equality. I see it as a union of two people who want to commit the rest of their lives to be together and be happy with each other (and all the usual ups and downs of any marriage).

Being transgender also does not matter. Because it is what is on the inside that really counts, in their heart, not their superficial appearance.