Christian group protests Gay Pride night at San Diego Padres game

[marmar]

:crazy:


from the San Diego Union-Tribune:


Padres promotions called unwelcome double play


By Jeanette Steele
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

June 27, 2007

July will be a busy month at Petco Park, with the Padres hosting special days for Episcopalians, children in summer camps, knitters and people of Jewish heritage. But it is Pride Night, a July 8 event for gays and lesbians, that is causing a stir.

An El Cajon-based Christian ministry is protesting the confluence of Pride Night with a floppy cap giveaway for children 14 and younger, saying the Padres are welcoming thousands of youngsters on the same day they're celebrating a lifestyle that the religious group calls sinful.

Set Free Ministries will make its point by walking out on the 42 concession jobs its participants fill. The recovery program run by Southern Baptist missionaries also plans to pass out fliers about Pride Night to families entering Petco Park that day.

“We're concerned about Christian parents and other parents who do not want to have to answer at a ballgame why 'Adam and Steve' are doing what they are doing,” said Pastor J.D. Loveland, development director.

San Diego Pride is promoting the night as “Out in Petco Park” and the Gay Men's Chorus of San Diego will perform the national anthem before the game, which will be shown on ESPN.

San Diego Pride's response to the hubbub: It's people enjoying a game together, not a drag show.

“We're going to be wearing ball caps and jerseys. That's the extent of the lifestyle they will be seeing,” Pride Executive Director Ron deHarte said.

The Padres will play the Braves that night, and Atlanta last year was the first major league club to host a “Faith Night,” which drew criticism from those who thought religion shouldn't be injected into a secular event.

Other teams have followed, inviting Christian bands to rock the outfield after games and players to testify about their faith. (The Padres have never had a Faith Night, which some say might explain why they're the worst-hitting club in the National League.)

A Padres spokesman said the team welcomes all fans – gay, religious, butcher, baker or candlestick maker – in the name of boosting attendance. The team hosts more than 5,000 groups for special events each season. Others in recent memory: Harley-Davidson Night and Bowling League Night. .....(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/padres/20070627-9999-1n27pride.html

[Elspeth]

1. These people give Christianity a bad name

They need to learn tolerance.

[Pushed To The Left]

2. "floppy cap giveaway for children 14 and younger"? They are trying to brainwash young people into

being bigoted towards gay people. That is absolutely disgusting on the part of this "Christian" group. What about the open-minded, progressive parents who don't want their children to grow up to be prejudiced? I'm not a parent, but if I were I would be a lot more disturbed by what this so-called "Christian" group is doing than anything else going on at the game.

[marmar]

3. "What about the ... progressive parents who don't want their children to grow up to be prejudiced"

Exactly. Those are the kind of "family values" I endorse.

[Bluebear]

4. Their website says they are "trained to serve Jesus 24/7", so they are Christian alright

http://www.setfreesd.org/

I always understand the people who say these types of people are not "real" Christians etc., but I can only take them at their word. It certainly seems that that faith runs the gamut on extremes much as many other religions. It is a shame that they give the religion a bad name.

[muntrv]

5. Bishop Gene Robinson needs to bitch slap pastor Loveland and his ilk.

[haele]

6. This is San Diego -

They should be more worried about seeing drunken college age boors and scantily clad women than Adam and Steve or Mary and Eve making out.

As for recruitment - ever see what happens on any of the many military nights when the roving bands of recruiters lock on to any young people they spot hanging out at the concession stands that don't have the military haircut?

Thing is, this group has contracted with Petco Park to man the concession stands with volunteers; what money that doesn't go to the park and clubs go straight back into this group's ministries.
In the spirit of disclosure and fair play, especially since they're going to "make their political point" as is their right, they should have big signs at their stands disclosing the amount of what money spent on that hot dog or beer is going to their ministries.

Haele

[DBoon]

7. a Christian group server beer?

and they are OK with selling alcoholic beverages?

[jmowreader]

9. Oh, you fuckers haven't heard the BEST part...

This organization runs Twelve Step Programs, to include AA.

Okay, let me get this straight: These folks fund an Alcoholics Anonymous program through the sale of beer. And the Alcoholics Anonymous headquarters doesn't have a problem with this?

[LordJFT]

they are justified in being worried about their kids asking questions

how do you explain to kids why homosexuality is wrong when there is just no rational argument for it?

[DBoon]

8. interesting - while the gays are there to just enjoy the game

and aren't by any stretch "advocating" a lifestyle, the Christian night features heavy duty proselytizing.

I wouldn't mind going to a ballpark on a special night where church members attended, but I would not want to be subject to religious propaganda as part of the game.

[CatholicEdHead]

10. Conservative Catholics also blew a fuse over this on another board

I thought they were way over the top, of course those posters really go over the top there, it is not pretty to read.

[Richard Steele]

11. Hateful bigots using religion to excuse the spreading of their hateful bigotry.

I'm not buying it. And if they ain't fooling ME,
they sure as hell ain't fooling G*D.