The Collapse of Antigay Religion

[cbayer]

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/frame_game/2014/05/antigay_religion_how_catholics_and_evangelicals_are_coming_to_accept_same.html

Polls, pastors, and theology are shifting toward same-sex marriage, even among conservatives.

By William Saletan


Russell Moore preaching at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, October 2011.
Photo courtesy Theology147/Creative Commons

Throughout history, religion has sanctioned and fueled the persecution of homosexuality. That dynamic may be drawing to an end. Polls, clerics, and denominations are shifting. Theology is adapting. Resistance to same-sex marriage is dwindling, and there’s no end in sight.

For 15 years, the Ethics and Public Policy Center has hosted the Faith Angle Forum, a regular conference on religion and public life. Several weeks ago, the group met again to discuss current issues. Transcripts of the conference have just been posted on EPPC’s website. They underscore the extent of the antigay collapse.

The first session, led by papal biographer Paul Vallely and Boston Globe editor John Allen, focused on Pope Francis and the Catholic Church. Vallely, the author of Pope Francis: Untying the Knots, noted that before Francis became pope, he supported civil unions in Argentina. “I think he sees that as a human rights issue,” said Vallely. Allen pointed to the pope’s comment in a March 5 interview with Corriere della Sera:

Q: Many nations have regulated civil unions. Is it a path that the Church can understand? But up to what point?

A: Marriage is between a man and a woman. Secular states want to justify civil unions to regulate different situations of cohabitation, pushed by the demand to regulate economic aspects between persons, such as ensuring health care. It is about pacts of cohabitating of various natures … One needs to see the different cases and evaluate them in their variety.

That answer, according to Allen and other pope watchers, signaled that Francis is open to civil unions. Both speakers said Francis wasn’t going to change church doctrine. Allen pointed out that in Africa and Asia, where many Catholics live, same-sex marriage remains deeply unpopular. But the speakers emphasized that Francis was striking a new tone, softening the language (“He's the first pope ever to use the word gay,” said Vallely), renouncing judgment, and creating space for liberalization.

more at link

[intaglio]

1. I just hope it happens n/t

[cbayer]

2. It's going to happen

There will still be packets of bigotry, just as there are following all civil rights movements.

But they will be marginalized and impotent.

[intaglio]

3. Arrrrrggggghhhhh then you see something like this then....

(via Pharyngula) Where he is reporting on the response of businesses to Missouri's "Let's discriminate against gay customers" law where they put up stickers saying


Except the American Family Association disagrees -

AFA spokesman Buddy Smith said: “If you do that, you are agreeing with these businesses that Christians no longer have the freedom to live out the dictates of their Christian faith and conscience.

“It’s not really a buying campaign, but it’s a bully campaign, and it’s being carried out by radical homosexual activists who intend to trample the freedom of Christians to live according to the dictates of scripture.

“They don’t want to hear that homosexuality is sinful behaviour – and they wish to silence Christians and the church who dare to believe this truth.

[cbayer]

4. AFA is not going away and will likely become more and more strident as they lose ground,

but it's the pushback that is important. They are becoming marginalized.

I love those stickers and would certainly seek them out if in Missouri.

Take a stand!

[AtheistCrusader]

5. One too many words in your subject line.

Soon...

[libodem]

6. .

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