ABC NEWS: Clinton and Obama Appear at Religious College that Categorizes Homosexuality with Stealing

[ruggerson]

Clinton and Obama Appear at Religious College that Categorizes Homosexuality with Stealing, Adultery & Sexual Abuse

Jake Tapper

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/04/clinton-and-oba.html

Both Democratic presidential candidates on Sunday night appeared at a CNN "Compassion Forum" at Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania.

Messiah College describes itself as embracing an "evangelical spirit rooted in the Anabaptist, Pietist and Wesleyan traditions of the Christian Church."

As such, its "community covenant" states that members of the Messiah College community "avoid such sinful practices as drunkenness, stealing, dishonesty, profanity, occult practices, sexual intercourse outside of marriage, homosexual behavior, and sexually exploitative or abusive behavior."

In the past, Republican presidential candidates have been criticized for speaking at universities where certain religious beliefs are considered bigoted, most notoriously when then-Gov. George W. Bush in 2000 spoke at Bob Jones University, where anti-Catholic dogma was taught and inter-racial dating banned.

Messiah counsels its gay and lesbian students to seek the help of controversial organizations that use Scripture and behavioral exercises to coach them to stop acting on gay feelings and impulses.

It's not difficult to imagine a big outcry among liberal activists if, say, Republican presidential candidates attended such a forum hosted by, say, Fox News at such a university.

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[joeybee12]

1. Very disappointing...and, of course, the real disappointment is that

this won't gain legs as a story...the MSM categorizes homophobia as a difference of opinion, not for the bigotry it is.

[mucifer]

3. wouldn't it be nice if losing the 4th ammendment to the constitution

was newsworthy? But, it's not. Homophobia not newsworthy either.

[ruggerson]

4. One would think

that every DU'er would be outraged by this.

But... doesn't seem that way.

[Danger Mouse]

2. Pandering. Pure and simple.

Showing where their real priorities lie.

[PVnRT]

16. The entire event was pandering

Of course, none of the candidates (McCain included) could be bothered with a science debate. No, let's continue forcing religious tests on candidates.

[Wickerman]

5. While many here wouldn't agree with what is taught at either

to compare Bob Jones and Messiah is laughable.

If one knows anything about theology there is a world of difference between the Wesleyan and Anabaptist theologies and the non-denominational born-again stuff taught at BJ U.

Messiah's About page:
http://www.messiah.edu/about/index.html
Identity and Mission

Messiah College is a Christian college of the liberal and applied arts and sciences. The College is committed to an embracing evangelical spirit rooted in the Anabaptist, Pietist and Wesleyan traditions of the Christian Church. Our mission is to educate men and women toward maturity of intellect, character and Christian faith in preparation for lives of service, leadership and reconciliation in church and society.

Bob Jones University Creed
http://www.bju.edu/about/creed/creat.html
University Creed
Creation
I believe in the creation of man by the direct act of God.

God's Word was not given to us to teach us science. But the same God Who wrote the book made the laws that govern science; and He would not cause to be set down in His Word anything that would be contrary to His own laws.

[ruggerson]

7. No Democrat should appear at a school

that has this in its "covenant:"

we are to avoid such sinful practices as drunkenness, stealing, dishonesty, profanity, occult practices, sexual intercourse outside of marriage, homosexual behavior.

[tishaLA]

6. Very disappointing

Clinton and Obama probably shouldn't have appeared at the event, and CNN should have picked a better venue. For instance: Swarthmore is in PA and it is deeply rooted in the Quakerism, which is both compassionate and progressive.

[ruggerson]

8. Exactly

infuriating isn't it?

If they had gone to a school that had racist or anti semitic language in the "covenant", there would be an enormous outcry.

CNN could just as easily have picked a school that does not promote bigotry.

[rox63]

9. Then that would also exclude all Catholic colleges

Like Boston College, Notre Dame, Holy Cross, etc. Catholicism looks at homosexuality as a sin. But there are gay students at all of those colleges, despite the scholl's religious doctrine.

[ruggerson]

10. Do they have handbooks comparing being gay to stealing?

[Hugabear]

12. Do they have to?

Isn't enough that the schools teach that homosexuality is a sin?

[ruggerson]

15. That's why I asked

I don't know that BC does that. I know the parent church does. But does the school have a written "covenant" stating that?

[Laughing Mirror]

20. homosexuality an "objective disorder," homosexual relations "intrinsic moral evil"

Watch the candidates fall all over the Pope as he pulls into town.

He's hardly gay friendly, we know.

http://washingtonblade.com/2008/4-11/news/national/12407.cfm

Benedict himself has been credited with playing a pivotal role in strengthening the church’s opposition to homosexuality during his tenure since the early 1980s as head of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith under his former name of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.

It was during that period that Ratzinger pushed through a controversial October 1986 letter to Catholic bishops declaring homosexuality an “objective disorder” and describing sexual relations between gay people as an “intrinsic moral evil.”

The 1986 declaration retained an earlier Vatican policy that recognized a homosexual “inclination” as being “innate” and not a sin. However, theologians and gay Catholic activists said the new terms of “objective disorder” and “intrinsic moral evil” set the tone for harsher policies toward gays among bishops and cardinals in the U.S.

[Bonobo]

11. It also categorizes it with "sex outside of marriage". nt

[ruggerson]

13. meaning what?

[Bonobo]

18. Simply meaning that I read their college statement or whatever the hell it was and

"sex outside marriage" was one of the things they listed as abborhent to them. So it's not just anti-gay, it was radically christian.

[npincus]

14. is there anything wrong with trying to enlighten ignormauses?

[ruggerson]

17. so you were fine with Republican presidential candidates going to Bob Jones U?

and, btw, show me where Clinton or Obama "enlightened" anyone about gay and lesbian rights during this "Compassion Forum.

[JimGinPA]

19. I Pointed Out Several Times That Messiah Is An Ultra Conservative College...

Both before the forum (I believe I was the first to post the announcement of the event here) and while it was happening. I was kind of surprised it was held there in the first place. I used to live fairly close to that school and I know some kids that go there. What was the most surprising to me was the very positive response that Obama received that night.

[xchrom]

21. recommend

[Bluebear]

22. Kick

[hulklogan]

23. Sickening.

It's going to be quite a struggle to drag myself to vote for either of these two.

[walldude]

24. A K&R for a thread that we should all be able to agree on..

Seems like separation of Church and State has become a thing of the past and people don't seem to be too upset about it. There is an actual unspoken religious litmus test for getting into office. It's pathetic to watch both of them pander to the lowest and most ancient form of control known to man.

[AX10]

25. Can we all agree that both candidates were 100% to go to that place?!?

[PetraPooh]

26. Mountain out of a mole hill. What's most disturbing is the idea

that they felt the need to go to a religious forum at all.