Not the Onion: Religious Groups Worried They’ll Be Branded As Bigots After Same-Sex Marriage Case

[n2doc]

WASHINGTON — Some of the nation’s largest religious groups are worried that their opposition to same-sex marriage will make them outcasts in American society, and they told the U.S. Supreme Court they are being “slandered” as bigots as justices prepare to hear arguments in a landmark case.

“Laws reserving marriage for the union of a man and a woman were the universal rule in this country until a decade ago,” says a brief filed by Southern Baptists, evangelicals, Mormons and others. “They are not tokens of ignorance and bigotry now.”

Catholic bishops and a national coalition of black pastors have also weighed in about their opposition to same-sex marriage as have faith-based groups like Concerned Women for America. Jewish groups and some smaller Christian denominations have expressed support for same-sex marriage.

The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on April 28 in cases challenging state bans on same-sex marriage as violations of the 14th Amendment’s guarantees of equal protection and due process. A decision is expected before July.

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http://swtimes.com/news/politics/major-religious-groups-worried-they-ll-be-branded-bigots-after-same-sex-marriage-case

Poor Bigots. If the Shoe fits...

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. Uh, guys...

“Laws reserving marriage for the union of a man and a woman were the universal rule in this country until a decade ago,” says a brief filed by Southern Baptists, evangelicals, Mormons and others. “They are not tokens of ignorance and bigotry now.”

Hate to break it to you, but they were tokens of ignorance and bigotry then, and they still are now, the same as miscegenation laws before them.

[msongs]

2. bible approved laws approving slavery were also the universal rule in this country at one time nt

[libdem4life]

9. Yes, and divorce. New Testament. Jesus said that. Lots of wiggling out of that one, too.

[Initech]

8. Once again they fail history.

George Bush went ahead in the unofficial vote count against Al Gore (I will never say that he got elected because he didn't) and that's only because Karl Rove started a fear and smear campaign against LGBT Americans in key swing states like Iowa and Ohio to rile up the fundamentalists. And now they're worried about being called bigots. Pot meet kettle?

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

10. Good point, it was an updated 'Southern strategy'

that attacked a minority group that people still felt free to be bigoted against.

[libdem4life]

3. I'm sorry, but at the "oral arguments" I just about lost it. In any case, bigots are as bigots do.

Judge not that ye be not judged. They wonder why young people don't much go to church anymore. And by young people, I mean college age and young families.

They are afraid mostly of continuing the slide to irrelevancy. People who approve of or participate in gay marriage or gay sex don't spend time "slandering" these, uh, people. In fact, they mostly could care less what they think or believe. That's the worst case scenario. Irrelevancy.

[RKP5637]

4. These fucked up people/groups have to be just utterly stupid. Like DUH, they ARE bigots and haters,

what do they expect people to think/call them.

Do they think people see them as embracing loving people. Millions of people are leaving religion in America, they really need to get a clue that people are fed up with the hatefulness of religion as perpetuated by these individuals/groups. They are what they are, haters and bigots, and they have a very long history of that, this is not something new.

They have been on the wrong side of history for eons. Fortunately with mass communications of today, they are finding it more and more difficult to slither back into their cauldrons of hatred and bigotry.

[surrealAmerican]

5. It's not slander when the accusation is true.

... and whichever way the court rules, you will still be regarded as bigots, because you are behaving in a bigoted manner.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

6. Newsflash

They already ARE bigots.

[rpannier]

20. They aren't worried about being a bigot

Just about being called it

[3catwoman3]

25. You hit that nail...

...right on the old head. Well said.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

35. True dat!

n/t

[longship]

7. What fucking universal rule? You fucking bigots! R&K nt

[ProfessorGAC]

36. Yes. There Was Some Buffoon On Washington Journal. . .

. . .a few weekends ago, that kept saying that his organization represents the "majority" (don't know how we arrived at >50%) who "KNEW THE TRUTH" about marriage being between one man and one woman.

It was his obvious hook line and he must have said it 40 or 50 times. He never did, however, explain how he KNEW it was the TRUTH.

[msanthrope]

11. It's not slander if it's true.nt

[Novara]

12. if the bigot shoe fits.....

They're already sliding into irrelevance. And they're panicking. Oh boo hoo.

It never ceases to amaze me that they supposedly follow Jesus, who taught love and tolerance, and they have neither for their fellow man unless he's a white, heterosexual egotistical bigot just like them.

[Binkie The Clown]

13. To slightly paraphrase the Southern Baptists...

“Laws reserving marriage for the union of a man and a woman of the same race were the universal rule in this country until a few decades ago,”

Exact quote from the OP, except for the added underlined part.

Doesn't work here; doesn't work for them. A tradition of bigotry does not make bigotry O.K.

[Stinky The Clown]

33. Iteresting screen name choice

Welcome to DU

[Binkie The Clown]

43. Hey, Maybe we're related!

Do you have a cousin named Winky the Clown?

[niyad]

14. ummmm, bigots??? you already ARE branded as the ignorant, hate-filled

cretins that you are. a scotus decision is not going to change that. you did it all by yourselves. no help needed.

[beam me up scottie]

15. Religious Groups: We’re Not Bigots

Religious Groups: We’re Not Bigots

The nation’s major religious organizations are trying to convince the justices that they don’t have any animosity toward gays and lesbians.

“A decision that traditional marriage laws are grounded in animus would demean us and our beliefs,” the Baptists, evangelicals, Mormons and others told the justices.

“It would stigmatize us as fools or bigots, akin to racists. In time it would impede full participation in democratic life, as our beliefs concerning marriage, family, and sexuality are placed beyond the constitutional pale.”

The comparison to racism could be particularly sensitive for the religious organizations since a major legal precedent involved in the same-sex marriage case is the Supreme Court decision of 1967 striking down bans on interracial marriage.

They're worried they'll look like fools OR bigots?

Too late, you're already known as both.



Oh and wah.

My heart is breaking for you.

[okaawhatever]

16. Funny, I don't worry about being labeled a bigot. Wonder why that is? nt

[AllyCat]

17. Um, public hating on groups "not like you" is,

indeed, bigotry. And that makes them...bigots.

[caraher]

18. I still can't figure out why the court should care

Is a court supposed to rule a certain way in order to keep a group from being labeled bigoted based on their views? This just shows how bankrupt of principle their arguments for legal discrimination have become - "you can't allow same-sex marriage because if you do our opposition will make us look bad!" Somebody call the...

[MrModerate]

19. I think if your position . . .

Is likely to make your group "outcasts in American society," then the first thing you should examine is your position.

[Arugula Latte]

23. And progressives need to stop supporting these institutions.

[Duppers]

28. Indeed.

[MrModerate]

30. A lot of progressive, religious people . . .

Are feeling challenged by the stances representatives of their faith are taking publicly -- which often (I'm told) differ from what congregation members believe and express.

I'm not a religious person, so my suggestion (tell the leaders to go pound sand) is easy for me, but tough for those for whom religious community is important.

[Arugula Latte]

44. They're enabling the misogyny and homophobia.

If you're "liberal" and you attend a Catholic Church, for example, especially if you donate, you're helping them to continue to treat women and gays like shit. This applies even if your particular church/parish/priest, whatever is more groovy than the Vatican...That's the bottom line.

[Skittles]

21. "national coalition of black pastors"

you gay folk can get on the bus - just make sure you stay in the back

[ProfessorGAC]

37. Nice Catch!

You'd think that group, of all people, would know better.

[Arugula Latte]

22. I have a suggestion for them.

They can all fuck off.

[Jimvanhise]

24. They tried this with Prop 8

Their argument against Prop 8 being overturned was that if it wasn't upheld, it would make them feel bad. This is the same thing.

[LynneSin]

26. I had a boss who use to say 'Perception is Reality'

I think that would apply pretty well right here

[RKP5637]

31. Yep!!! n/t

[Agnosticsherbet]

27. Well, there is a real easy fix for that. They should quit acting like biggots.

[TlalocW]

29. Our feel-feels might get hurty-wurty

So marriage equality can't be made the law of the land!

Geeze... These people.

TlalocW

[MicaelS]

32. Just like defending slavery.

"History shows us that some of this nation’s most abhorrent laws and practices — laws and practices that are now considered anachronistic blemishes on our history — were grounded in and defended by religious and moral justifications,” the Jewish groups said.

[romanic]

34. Bit late for that.

Don't ya think? :I

[Gothmog]

38. The truth hurts

These idiots are bigots and deserve any scorn directed against them

[LibertyLover]

39. Don't worry about it you guys -

nobody I know thinks you all are bigots for trying to derail marriage equality . . . . . . we KNOW you are bigots.

[Lint Head]

40. By law marriage is a civil act not a religious one.

[Bluenorthwest]

41. Look who's talking....

Mormons had racial restrictions against black people until 1978, not exactly ancient history. Southern Baptist Convention took until 1995 to officially admit and renounce the racist roots of the denomination and apologize for their support of slavery and white supremacy.
So how dare anyone associate them with bigotry!

[Kurska]

42. Bigots who used the basic rights of gay people as a political whipping boy for decades

Concern that history with remember them as bigots.

[Orsino]

45. They are the branders, not the branded.

Let it eat them.

[joeybee12]

46. After? nt

[stevenleser]

47. Don't want to be called a bigot? Don't be a bigot! Sounds simple to me.