Several pastors want to repeal Cleveland's domestic-partner registry

[Algorem]

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/12/several_pastors_want_to_repeal.html

Posted by Henry J. Gomez/Plain Dealer Reporter December 30, 2008 16:49PM


Several local pastors have banded together in an effort to repeal Cleveland's recently passed domestic-partner registry.

A group led by the Rev. C. Jay Matthews of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church is circulating two types of petitions, one of which would put the controversial issue on a citywide referendum ballot.

Matthews cast the registry as a sneaky maneuver by the City Council to circumvent a 2004 constitutional amendment that banned gay-marriage and civil unions in Ohio.

"It should be handled by the state of Ohio and, unfortunately, our city is once again out of step with the reality of the challenges that are before us," Matthews said at news conference Tuesday at his church. He was joined by seven other religious leaders...


COMMENTS (112)




http://www.gaypeopleschronicle.com/stories08/december/1219081.htm

December 19, 2008

Referendum looms over partner registry

by Eric Resnick

...Asked directly if he had been strong-armed by ministers, Pruitt said “Yes.”

Pruitt said he still supports the registry, calling it “a good concept, a good idea.”

Pruitt said the threats caused him to withdraw support for the registry and vote against it, and that it was purely related to his special election.

“I couldn’t risk having the ministers, who don’t have all the facts, on the pulpits preaching against me on Sunday,” Pruitt said...

[MNBrewer]

1. This should not even be possible

to vote on whether we get equal rights.

[ThomCat]

25. If our system of law and government was designed to protect us

rather than control us then you're absolutely right. This should be impossible. :(

Instead, we have to struggle step by step to force our civil rights upon our government.

[Chovexani]

2. You know, I've been to Cleveland

And that town has way bigger fish to fry than denying LGBT people legal rights.

[jaysunb]

3. " Rev " Matthews might consider spending more time

trying to help the people of his crime ridden and employment devastated community find a way to get better.
Kinda like his boss ( Jesus ) instructed him. :evilfrown:

[CurtEastPoint]

9. (ahem) His name is Dr. C. Jay Matthews, I ..as in THE FIRST...

can you say E G O ?????

This is from his home page of the church's website.

I am gagging :puke:

[pl259]

4. Mr. C(orksocker) Matthews better hope to shit Jesus never gets around to visiting him

he won't like the upshot of that meeting.
:grr:

[yardwork]

5. LOL! Welcome to DU!

[liberalhistorian]

6. Jesus Fucking Christ, as a liberal Christian

I am sick to death of seeing this kind of focus from so-called "religious" leaders. Why can't they focus on TRULY important matters, like feeding the hungry, helping broke and frazzled single parents, taking in the homeless and protecting them from Cleveland's vindictiveness against them and against the poor in general in that city, speaking out against injustice, being a voice for the voiceless, etc., etc., etc. Those aren't just suggestions from Christ, they are commandments. What is wrong with allowing people to love each other in the way they choose to do so?

[pl259]

8. Jesus would not recognize most "christians" nowadays.

He would call them Pharisees.

[QC]

7. Oh come on, everybody, Reasonable people can disagree on this issue.

It's just their perspective, not prejudice, and we need to reach out to them more.

:sarcasm:

[davidinalameda]

11. I thought we were supposed to reach out to these people

while we get stabbed in the back

[QC]

13. Yes, but their sincere beliefs require them to stab us in the back!

We have to embrace that stabbing, and respect it, and value it!

[davidinalameda]

26. amen brother!

it would be funny as hell if it wasn't so sad

[donco6]

35. That's right. He needs a major speaking engagement.

That'll clear up his wrongheaded thinking pronto.

[Bluebear]

10. Sorry. We must honor ALL points of view.

That is what will truly unite us. :crazy:

[QC]

12. It's just their perspective! That's all!

:sarcasm:

[Bluebear]

15. Reasonable people can disagree.

:crazy:

[QC]

16. It's the pragmatic, post-ideological thing to do! n/t

[bluedawg12]

19. There is no compromise or outreach - this is a hobby for them.

This level of dehumanizing is beyond belief.

But of course, gays need to approach our adversaries with less militancy.

[yardwork]

43. Not all points of view, Bluebear. The GLBTQ point of view needs to simmer down.

We're making too much noise and dominating the conversation for our own special little interest group, dontcha know?

[Jamastiene]

14. I wonder if some political party might ever step in and fight with us.

to help us get our rights and stop these scoundrels. Maybe, the Green Party will come into a lot of money somehow, considering the fact that they support full gay marriage and other full civil rights for the GLBT community. If only... :eyes:

[yardwork]

17. I have to say that waiting for the Democrats to step up is like waiting for hell to freeze over.

Sometimes I wonder if the Republicans will do some kind of unbelievable about-face and decide to use gay rights as a way of making amends.

And then I think, nah. Neither party will ever do anything brave unless they're forced to do it, in which case it still isn't brave.

[bluedawg12]

20. The appeasers are wrong the repigs will never support a Dem POTUS

they have already said so, they plan to play the "loyal opposition," and have stated as much.

[yardwork]

21. Agreed. And I don't think that Obama is naive enough to think they will.

All the pretty words about "Obama is everyone's president - whether they voted for him or not" are political weasel words. Obama hopes to build popularity among social conservatives, period. He does not expect to change their minds about social issues. He doesn't want to change their minds. It's not a priority with him or the team of center-rights he's gathered around himself.

The only way to get equal rights is to be so loud and obnoxious that the Democrats have no choice but to do the right thing. They'll bitch about it every step of the way, too.

[bluedawg12]

22. Sounds like a plan to me. I like obnoxious!

[yardwork]

23. Well, I'm just naturally that way so I don't have any choice in the matter...

[bluedawg12]

24. [,,,**++==/:]

:rofl:

[bluedawg12]

18. These pigs are never going to stop.

:grr:

[Berry Cool]

27. Matthews won't be getting any petition signatures from me.

Or, if someone passes one to me and asks me to sign it, I'll take it, and I'll sign it "Why don't you work on doing something to really help the city of Cleveland and leave gay people alone? Signed, A Concerned Citizen."

That will ruin the look of the petition, if nothing else.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

28. yeah this is why civil unions will pass before marriage is the biggest bullshit lie the dems feed us

its going to be an equal amount of struggle and opposition by the same bigots

[bluedawg12]

31. Exactly! We had legal marriage and they UNMARRIED gay people.

They f*cking UNMARRIED people. There is no incremental anything, we had it, we reached it in California.

We are the f*cking laughing stock of the progressive world.

[Deep13]

29. They have the facts. They're just hateful assholes. nt

[RetiredTrotskyite]

30. Yep. That Is What..

it all boils down to. They are a bunch of haters and will fight our rights until the bitter end.

[bluedawg12]

32. This time

we have the inter net, the old isolate, intimidate and destroy tactic won't work any longer.

[Deep13]

33. Damn right it won't. nt

[yardwork]

34. Where are all the DUers who insisted that we were just turning the corner on GLBTQ rights?

Where is everyone? All you folks who have been assuring gay folks that "reaching out" would result in better understanding of the need for human rights?

[donco6]

36. Well . . .

Most are still alive and well, and posting on the blood donation thread that sent dweeb over the edge.

[RetiredTrotskyite]

40. I Never Was Aboard That Boat

because I knew it would sink at the pier.

[yardwork]

44. I know that you weren't part of that expedition. Many were, though, and their silence speaks volume

[Deep13]

37. Once again, we are not members of your religion and are not bound by its rules.

Stay the fuck out of public policy.

[Maven]

38. But if we just stop asking for marriage they'll leave us alone! It's the word!

:eyes:

[bluedawg12]

39. They will never leave us alone: their money and power depend on hate.

[RetiredTrotskyite]

41. Bluedawg, You've Hit the Nail On the Head!!

These people whip up hatred against us because that is their bread and butter. If any of these clown quit preaching homohatred, their moronic followers would just find some other hater to follow. These guys are not dumb. They now Homohatred=$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

[bluedawg12]

42. They are organized, well funded and have been at this since Reagan

and earlier.

That's what I was bringing up in another thread about how they operate at the grass roots level and spread the message, which is then amplied on Faux News and on 500 rw radio shows and the same talking points are used and picked up by folks on the right and some from the left even spout the same crap, because there is so much out there, that even if 10% sticks, it floods the national consciousness.

Also, as the thread about concerned women for america documents, their larger goal is a fundytheoracy, of course based on their version of religion.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=221&topic_id=111513&mesg_id=111513

[yardwork]

45. I created a new thread on this in the GD-P forum, because I'd like to hear

from the posters in GD-P who have been assuring folks that "reaching out" to Warren will result in equal rights for gay folks. I'd like to hear their thoughts on this latest attack on gay rights coming from preachers.