Anti-Gay MarriageAmmendment Summit held in Eden Prairie on Thurs 11/10

[CatholicEdHead]

I just saw this in KARE-11's leadoff story. There is a meeting tomorrow, Thursday November 10 in an Eden Prairie megachurch of many religious sects to organize the push for the anti-gay marraige consitutional ammendment. I am beyond disgusted. Archbishop Flynn will probably be hearing from me. KARE-11 said he sent out a letter to many priests encouraging them to attend.

Here is more info in the Strib. The last part of the excerpts show the real target, the DFL controlled Senate and Mark Dayton's seat (e.g. Mark Kennedy campaign). This is not about marriage but political power.

http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/5718036.html

"Hundreds of Minnesota pastors -- and as many protesters -- are expected to gather today at an Eden Prairie megachurch for the first skirmish in what promises to be a pivotal political and cultural controversy next year, a proposed constitutional amendment to prohibit same-sex marriage.
........
Organizers of today's event expect a big turnout of clergy, especially from outstate areas. Meanwhile, the Catholic Pastoral Committee on Sexual Minorities and the gay-lesbian advocacy group Outfront Minnesota are planning a rally outside the church from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
........
Support is coming from culturally conservative quarters ranging from the national Focus on Family organization to African-American pastors to Roman Catholic Archbishop Harry Flynn, who is scheduled to speak at an evening dinner.
..........
A key target of the Pastors' Summit is the DFL state Senate majority and its leader, Sen. Dean Johnson, a Lutheran pastor in Willmar. His caucus has kept a House-passed marriage amendment from a vote by the full Senate.
........"

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. Uh-oh

I can see this causing some real hurt in my church, which has a lot of GLBT members.

When the rightwing churches in Oregon organized against gay rights in the early 1990s, the liberal churches organized People of Faith Against Bigotry, took out a full-page ad in the Oregonian, and held a rally in Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Three anti-gay ballot measures were defeated before last year's successful :grr: initiative.

It may be time for the liberal churches to unite here. Plymouth Congregational even has a transgendered minister, for goodness' sake.

[Spike from MN]

2. So does that mean we need to look into the tax-exempt

status of these churches? Seems to me that if they're pushing political agendas, they should lose their tax-exempt status. Hmmm...isn't there something about the separation of church and state in that shredded document we used to refer to as the Constitution? Then again, what do I know about religion? I'm an atheist so in their eyes I'm a heathen so I'm sure to burn in hell. I'd rather do that than spend eternity with the likes of them, that's for sure.

If any constitutional amendment is proposed that prohibits same-sex marriage, I would urge my Congress Critters to tack on an addendum stating that gays, bi-sexuals, and lesbians no longer have to pay taxes. Why should they have to pay taxes when they don't enjoy the same rights and freedoms as the rest of us? The Fundies might still vote for it but I'm guessing the tax clause might be enough to make the Repugs vote it down. Actually, if an anti-same-sex marriage were to pass in this state, I think I'd have to move. Discrimination just royally pisses me off.

[hermetic]

3. I like your ideas here Spike

I think it is time to send out some letters re: this politics from the pulpit thing. This seems clearly in violation of their non-profit status. Who would we complain to? Hatch? Or, god forbid, Kiffmeier?

[dpbrown]

4. This should be protested

All politics is local.

[indigo32]

5. I was all over dat

the crowd was pretty good considering the time, and I was pretty happy with the response we got from presumably unsuspecting Eden Prairie folks heading to work.

[liberalconscious]

6. Simply disgusting.

I think it is too little too late though. Given the condition of Iraq, corruption of the GOP, and the low popularity of Bush, I do not believe it will be enough to motivate the MN republican base for it to succeed.

[CatholicEdHead]

7. Don't be so sure

it was what probably turned 2004. Granted your examples were not as intense then as they are now, but the anti-gay ammendment seems to bring out the worst emotional reaction in people.

All you need is one crucial issue (relevent or not) to have many people choose between a R or a D or I (Independence)on a ballot.