Conservative Christians: Obama's Gay Benefits Order Approximates Marriage
By Dan Gilgoff, God & Country
Conservative Christian groups criticizing the president's memorandum extending certain benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees are alleging that the president is approximating the benefits of marriage—that he's basically creating "marriage light." It's an interesting line of argument because polls show that most Americans support benefits for gay partners but oppose gay marriage.
I'm not saying religious conservatives are acting purely politically—many do believe that providing benefits to gay couples is a sneaky way of legalizing gay unions. But given those poll numbers, it also makes political sense for religious conservatives to try to reframe the benefits issue as a gay marriage issue.
Gay rights advocates, meanwhile, see benefits and gay marriage as much different issues, since extending some benefits to gay partners still excludes key benefits of marriage.
Here's a statement today from Concerned Women for America President Wendy Wright:
"Barack Obama's order...attempts to elevate relationships outside of marriage as if they are the same as marriage. Marriage provides unique benefits to individuals, families, and society that cannot be replicated by any other living arrangements. Marriage helps nurture children and reduces social and financial costs to society by promoting healthy behavior. Federal funds should not be a political tool to elevate partner arrangements to be treated similar to marriage."
And here's a statement from Family Research Council President Tony Perkins making a similar marriage-based argument against Obama's executive memorandum:
President Obama's expected Executive Order extending benefits to homosexual partners appears to be a violation of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and clearly violates the spirit of the federal law which defines marriage as the legal union of one man and one woman as husband and wife. In 1996, DOMA passed overwhelmingly in both the House and Senate and was then signed by President Clinton.
- Follow Dan Gilgoff on Twitter.
- Read more about gay rights.
Tags: Barack Obama | religion | Christianity | marriage | conservatives | gay rights
Tools: 
Share
|
| Comments (38) | Print
Reader Comments
Sweet Christian Lies
My, oh, my... What a sweet condensation this article is of all the lies and misconceptions about non-heterosexual people. Lies, lies, lies, lies, lies.
Nothing - and I mean nothing in capital letters - gives anybody the right to deny any category of citizens their basic rights. This includes religious texts. The US Constitution is very clear on this point. Freedom of religion may not impede inalienable rights, nor can government impede freedom of religion.
Stop writing and believing these outright lies. Non-heterosexual people are people and perfectly equal citizens. NO MORE LIES!
More Than Conservative Christianity
Initially, the adjective “gay” was transformed into a noun to that describes a homosexual man displaying effeminate mannerisms. It seemed to be a sociological fit, created a simple synonym with four less syllables, and lost some of its negative connotation.
It is reported that sexually abusive relationships and dysfunctional families may result in difficulties relating to the opposite sex, and the adoption of a homosexual lifestyle.
By definition heterosexuals are attracted to the opposite sex. In restrooms, dorm rooms, and military barracks, it’s a simple process to separate facilities to maintain the needed level of decorum and comfort between the sexes. However, homosexuality makes chaos out of this convention as separation, decorum and comfort disappear when it is not just opposites that attract.
If a policeman pats down someone’s daughter, it’s likely the city will be sued on a sexual assault charge. And likewise if the policeman is gay, and he pats down someone’s son, the offense would be no less.
The homosexual community is aware of the confusion and conflict they create for themselves and others. Furthermore they loose the prestige of a family legacy, are subject to increased suicide rates, learn that many parents do not want their children influenced by them, and tragically they die far too soon as a result of their homosexual activities. It is reportedly more lethal than smoking cigarettes, reducing their lifespan by 40%, and should not be considered a victimless lifestyle.
http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/narth/medconsequences.html
http://www.theroadtoemmaus.org/RdLb/22SxSo/PnSx/HSx/hosx_lifspn.htm
Surprisingly, there is virtually no mention from the main stream media that confirms or refutes the homosexual lifespan issue. Consider the economic consequences as Obama plans to provide health benefits to homosexuals. Some of the wisdom of the past is worth examining before making changes that can turn our society upside down and difficult to reverse.
Homosexual apologetics say that their orientation is genetically or culturally influenced. Similarly, people with substance abuse, criminal, and heterosexual illicit tendencies can make similar claims, although the financial, cultural and spiritual outcomes are commonly destructive.
In addition to the pragmatic reasons to oppose homosexuality, Judeo-Christians don’t mix words, clearly condemning this lifestyle on Biblical grounds:
Leviticus 18:22
“Do not practice homosexuality; it is a detestable sin.”
And for raising children: Luke 17:2
“It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.”
More contemporary wisdom: "No man chooses evil because it is evil; he only mistakes it for happiness." Author: Mary Wollstonecraft
For all you conservatives...
Do you ever actually read the Bible? Do you actually study the word in its historical context? Are your beliefs fabricated from what someone else told you what was right or did you actually come to an educated belief? It sounds like to me that a bunch of you church-going, Sunday-Christians don't even know what the Bible is actually saying. Study up a little.
Jesus said to NOT judge others, lest you be judged. We already have a God who is guiding us and will let us all know. Jesus told us to love one another, and though some Conservatives are concerned, more than half the time you are just acting self-righteous. Stop being a pharasee.
advertisement
