Little “faith” at the Faith and Freedom Conference

Faith and Freedom Conference

Sarah Posner has a fascinating article on today’s Religion Dispatch on the Faith and Freedom Conference. Posner quickly points out that many reporters at the conference where conferring about where all of the “religion” and “faith” were amidst this political conference. She explains the nature of the conference by breaking down the two key words in the conference’s name:

First, the Faith and Freedom name plays right into the idea, a cornerstone of religious right activism, that “faith” and “freedom” are inextricably linked; that America is a Christian nation whose founders escaped religious persecution (true) but that their descendants’ freedom of religion has been curtailed by secularists who invented separation of church and state and seek to restrain evangelism (which is equated with “religious freedom”) by allowing gay marriage or other legislation conservative evangelicals disagree with (not true). Being able to practice your “faith” (i.e., demand that government legislate morality based on your faith) is freedom, in this view, which is a driving force of the religious right.

After exploring the overarching intent of the conference, Posner touches upon the Manhattan Declaration (signed by Tim Goeglin of the Bush White House) which placed emphasis on “religious freedom.” Interestingly, those who signed the document proclaiming religious freedom are the same group of people (with a few exceptions) that now oppose the construction of a religious worship site and cultural center in New York City.

Posner explains that the Faith and Freedom Conference was filled with “The your-rights-infringe-on-my-religious-freedom argument is the main one you’d hear from an opponent of gay marriage, say.”

What about the your-religion-infringes-on-my-civil-rights?

U.S. Exports: Homophobia UP Civil Rights for All DOWN

Today’s Boise Weekly included an article on how the United States is exporting its “homophobia” to African countries, such as Uganda. This mass export of ideological hatred has resulted in persecution, torture, and death in Uganda. I wonder what Jesus would have to say about this “modified” form of “love the sinner, but not the sin?” Currently, Uganda is considering an anti-homosexuality bill that would mean genocide for gay and lesbian Ugandans.

Of the situation in Uganda, the Boise Weekly writes:

Although homosexuality has been illegal in Uganda since the colonial era, there has been an unprecedented escalation of hatred fueled by Uganda’s pending Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009. If passed in its present form, the wide-ranging legislation calls for the death penalty for gays and lesbians who engage in sex and are HIV positive, have committed the offense of homosexuality more than once, have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol during a sexual encounter or one partner has a disability. For other, less “aggravated” offenses, they face life in prison.

The bill also affects heterosexuals. Nongovernmental organizations including human rights, advocacy or aid organizations will be prosecuted if any material or advocacy support is provided to or on behalf of LGBT people. This includes family members, friends, medical professionals and clergy. There will be nowhere to run for Yiga or his friends.

So, how does this impact the United States? Well it just so happens that during an economic downturn, America has another export that conservatives in other parts of the world are grappling to purchase — HOMOPHOBIA. In regards to the Ugandan situation the Boise Weekly explains how the U.S. is exporting its views on homosexuality:

America’s influence in African politics goes back centuries, but this most recent anti-homosexual movement can be traced, in part, to a three-day seminar in Kampala in March 2009 called “Exposing the Truth behind Homosexuality and the Homosexual Agenda.” It was led by Scott Lively–a conservative known for his Holocaust revisionist book, The Pink Swastika, which claims homosexuals founded the Nazi party and were responsible for many death camp atrocities–and fellow evangelicals Caleb Lee Brundidge and Don Schmierer.

Therefore, although IBM, MSFT, ACHN, and other stocks might not be producing the returns you expected this year, you might want to invest in homophobia, because it appears that the demand is up and the supply is for the taking.

It is truly a sad day for religion when it becomes the source of hatred and bigotry. Gay and lesbian people around the world must stand in solidarity with their gay brothers and sisters throughout the world. Queer Faith News (QfN) encourages you to contact the Ugandan Mission to the United Nations and tell them that you will not stand silently while the prospects of genocide wade in the future. You may also want to contact the exporters of hate in the United States and let them know that you would be very supportive of them producing love as an alternative.

Read the entire article on the Boise Weekly’s website.

Today’s Church Bulletin, September 5, 2010: Thousands rally against gay marriage in CA, Pope prepares for trip to UK — converts ready?

Pope Benedict XVI

Today’s headlines feature two interesting articles:

First is an article exploring a rally that took place yesterday in California against gay marriage and abortion. The rally was called “The Call to Conscience” and was organized by Lou Engle. Here is an interesting excerpt that includes a statement by Engle:

“If marriage is going to be upheld between a man and a woman, which we believe is the best for families and children and society, then right now, it seems we need divine intervention,” Engle said in an interview between appearances on stage. “That’s part of the reason we’re coming here, to pray, but also to take a stand and be a prophetic voice to stand for truth.”

Read the entire article online at The San Francisco Chronicle.

A second article is not directly on GLBT issues, but still interesting and relevant. As you may know (I sure hope you know), the Pope is to visit the United Kingdom next week. In preparing for the Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church’s arrival, The Daily Telegraph has an interesting article about the critics that Benedict XVI faces upon his arrival in the UK. This paragraph helps to understand those criticizing the Pope:

Threats of a citizen’s arrest; protests from survivors of priestly abuse and the gay rights lobby; some spectacular organisational bungling on the part of the Catholic hierarchy in this country: nothing can dent the sheer joy felt by many of Britain’s four million Catholics at the prospect of seeing the Pope in their midst. In what must count as the annus horribilis of the Church, when every day seemed to bring fresh revelations of abuse by priests of their young charges, the Catholic faithful are hungry for reassurance. Apart from a miracle – Richard Dawkins’s Damascene conversion? Cardinal Newman, resurrected, fulminating at the next gathering of the British Humanist Association? – the papal visit, with its pomp and picnics, is the best means to restore hope and rekindle faith.

The article continues by reminding readers that this papal visit will be very different than that made by his predecessor, John Paul II:

This will be a very different papal visit. When Benedict XVI lands at Edinburgh airport on September 16, he will not drop to his knees and kiss the ground, as his predecessor did. This is not only because the octogenarian pontiff is physically frail and less of a showman, but because the grand romance of that gesture would strike a false note today.

Read the entire article on The Daily Telegraph.

And the winning article is “Gay and lesbian Christians criticize plans to disrupt pope’s visit” in The Guardian from September 1, 2010. “Disagree with respect” is the mantra of UK’s GLBT Christians as they prepare for the arrival of the Pope. The article explains that GLBT Christians are encouraging their non-Christian brothers and sisters to voice their criticisms, but not to do so in a way which would be disrespectful to the Pope. We agree with the call to “disagree with respect” — we catch more with honey than vinegar 🙂