I went to church this weekend. I don't go very often, but it was Greek Easter, and mom learned long ago how to successfully yank my chain (I believe, regarding going to church, she pulled the "do you want your mother to die thinking your soul is going to hell?") She's good. Anyway, despite our church's conservatism, anti-gay attitudes, and backwards thinking regarding the rights of women, one thing you'll never hear in a Greek church is bigotry and hatred. Church is about loving thy neighbor and doing what's right. It's not about voting against the stimulus package and stopping the gays.
That's my church. Unfortunately it's not the same church - nor the same God, I fear - that the religious right worships.
I've been following the radical right for about 15 years now, and they still never cease to amaze me. Perhaps it's because, at my core, I'm still a good Christian boy who wants to believe that even bad people contain a kernel of good.
Yeah, not so much.
To wit: The religious right's newest argument for opposing granting equal civil rights to gay Americans. If we grant gays equal rights, Baptists and Mormons may no longer be able to incite violence against gay Americans.
Seriously, that's their pitch.
Here's an email being sent around by one of the large religious right groups about the Hate Crimes amendment:
It is imperative that we contact all members of the House and demand that they vote against this bill as it will not protect a pastor, Bible teacher, Sunday School teacher, youth leader or anyone else from prosecution if he or she teaches against homosexuality if an individual who hears their message then goes out and commits a crime against a homosexual. The pastor or teacher could face prosecution for using "hate speech" and "conspiracy to commit a hate crime."I could give some technical response, such as the fact that we already have a hate crimes law on the books that protects religious right bigots, and no one has been prosecuted under that law for their speech. And I could even try to explain that we don't need the hate crimes amendment to prosecute murderers or their accomplices. If a preacher succeeds in trying to incite someone to violence, I seriously doubt their stature as a person of faith is going to protect them for current American laws pertaining to murder. But, rather than get all lawyerly, let's talk about the bigger problem here.
The lead religious right groups are concerned that if the Hate Crimes amendment passes, they may no longer be able to incite the murder of gay Americans.
The religious right is no longer simply demanding that we tolerate their intolerance, now they want us to recognize their right to murder people they disagree with.
They've moved from the right to life, to the right to kill. Who are these people, and what "god" do they worship?
