Metro Weekly

FRC Tony Perkins flailing attack against gays, DADT repeal, Unitarians and Episcopalians

”[Allowing open homosexuality in the military] would mean simultaneously ushering out the back door anyone who disapproves of homosexual conduct, whether because of legitimate privacy and health concerns or because of moral or religious convictions…. This means that all 1.4 million members of the U.S. military will be subject to sensitivity training intended to indoctrinate them into the myths of the homosexual movement: that people are born “gay” and cannot change and that homosexual conduct does no harm to the individual or to society…. Those most likely to suffer are military chaplains…. if a homosexual seeks counseling regarding his personal relationships, will the chaplain be free to recommend therapy to overcome homosexual attractions? Or will he be forced to affirm a lifestyle that his faith condemns? … This may result in a chaplain corps that has plenty of Unitarian ministers and homosexual Episcopal priests, but a shortage of clergy to minister to the largest religious groups in America, such as Roman Catholics (whose catechism declares that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered”) or Southern Baptists….”

Tony Perkins of the socially conservative and politically focused Family Research Council. Here, he proves again that he and his organization represent the worst of what “free speech” allows — fear mongering falsehoods wrapped in religion nonsense for the purpose of stomping on the equality of minorities. In this CNN blog entry, Perkins bemoans the fact that he was dis-invited a couple of months ago from being a speaker at a prayer event at nearby Andrews AFB. He claims it’s because he criticized the President’s plan to roll back the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. Perkins goes on to extoll the righteousness of anti-gay “monotheistic” denominations, while at the same time mocking gay-inclusive Episcopalians and Unitarians. He appears to be saying Catholics and Southern Baptists all hold equally negative beliefs about gays, and that those off-shoots of Christianity are the only ones holding correct beliefs about homosexuality. He argues that it’s Freedom of Religion for military chaplains to refer soldiers to peddlers of the ineffective, psychologically harmful “pray the gay away” industry.  Perkins’ ridiculous, discriminatory conclusions are not based in either faith or logic; and this piece only serves to offend the many lesbian, gay, bi and trans servicemembers, and veterans, who have (under politically enforced secrecy) fought in defense of all Americans’ rights and freedoms. (CNN)

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