Church learns vet was gay, cancels memorial

[The Dog]

I see the point Walter is trying to make, but think about this.....  the people who are honored at the church when they pass...do you think they are 100% innocent/good Christians.   How many of them have strayed from the teachings in the bible?  how many had pre-marital sex? how many have fudged their taxes or lied to their girlfriends/boyfriends about where they were last night.

is one sin worse than another?

[SLCPUNK]

What if it were Ted Haggard or Mark Foley?

[mrlee]

i just think the whole treating people equal thing doesnt go when they discriminate someone like this, especially when they died.

[Natasha23]

I see the point Walter is trying to make, but think about this.....? the people who are honored at the church when they pass...do you think they are 100% innocent/good Christians.? ?How many of them have strayed from the teachings in the bible?? how many had pre-marital sex? how many have fudged their taxes or lied to their girlfriends/boyfriends about where they were last night.

is one sin worse than another?

Excellent point!  According to Christians themselves, we are all sinners.  So why is this man being denied a funeral because he is a sinner (according to this church) when in fact we are all sinners? 
Discrimination is discrimination, no matter which holy book is being used to justify it. 

[JMack]

Maybe this church has a "Don't ask, Don't tell" policy? ?Well whatever the case he was a Navy Vet. R.I.P.
 
Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea! ?Most Holy Spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

 
 
O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walked'st on the foaming deep,
And calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea! ?O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea. ?

[SLCPUNK]

I understand why many people would be upset, but this individual was not a member of their church.  He had never set foot inside.  Homosexuality is viewed as a major sin in most churches.  I'm not here to argue if it truly is, personally I don't care what two adults do with their lives.  But it's common knowledge that Christianity bars homosexuality, and to expect a church to hold services for an open gay man who's not even a member of their congregation is a bit unfair.

Would you expect the NAACP to hold a funeral for a person after they found out he was a member of the Ku Klux Klan?  Probably not. (and for the really slow ones, I'm not comparing homosexuality to racism.  I'm simply pointing out the conflict each represents to those groups charters and beliefs)

You of all people. 

This guy is a vet, and perhaps these people inside the holy box should remember they may not have their church, if it weren't for people like him.

[Jim Bob]

did Jerry Falwell just die and he was a known gay pedophile.    his church had a service for him. 

[SLCPUNK]

did Jerry Falwell just die and he was a known gay pedophile.    his church had a service for him. 

Falwell? He spread the message of hate, but not of touching underage boyz. Correct me if I'm wrong though.

[Jim Bob]

did Jerry Falwell just die and he was a known gay pedophile.    his church had a service for him. 

Falwell? He spread the message of hate, but not of touching underage boyz. Correct me if I'm wrong though.

well one of those extreme right wing preacher guys, i could be wrong and it might not be him.  but theres no doubt many members of the cloth do such nasty shit.

dont even get me started on my theory on catholic priests..   
 

[The Dog]

did Jerry Falwell just die and he was a known gay pedophile.    his church had a service for him. 

Falwell? He spread the message of hate, but not of touching underage boyz. Correct me if I'm wrong though.

Haggard maybe?

but hes "cured" now!!!   

[Jim Bob]

its just so fucking hypocritical how against homosexuality they are yet some of their top members are closet practitioners and even worse with CHILDREN!

If they want to be anti-gay, I don't really care.    Thats their choice, I'm not gay so I can't say it affects me, but its just funny that their very leaders are the people they should shun.

[SLCPUNK]

Haggard maybe?

but hes "cured" now!!!   

"You suck a dick you lose the Kingdom"

-Sam Kinison

[SLCPUNK]

dont even get me started on my theory on catholic priests..   
 

The have sexual abuse insurance coverage now for their court payouts...

[crazycheryl]

It really doesn't matter who you are. Religion is very hypocritical in that way. When a person dies, they should have a proper burial period. It doesn't matter what they did, who they were or whether they belonged to a certain church. If you believe in god, what does it matter what religion or church buries you? I wish their was one religion, tolerant of everyone, allowing people to worship in their own way. There wouldn't be so many problems in the world or prejudice. Religion spurs more than race.

[freedom78]

Strange that they'll cancel it for this, but not for any other sins.  This is why I have trouble with organized religion.  The faiths rarely bother me, but the hypocrisy and arrogance trouble me greatly.  

Can you imagine if the Catholic church canceled memorials for everyone who had ever worn a rubber or beat one out?   

[Natasha23]

Can you imagine if the Catholic church canceled memorials for everyone who had ever worn a rubber or beat one out?? ?

No one would be buried.  We'd all be dragged to the curb in hefty bags.

[DevilHatesALoser]

I understand why many people would be upset, but this individual was not a member of their church.? He had never set foot inside.? Homosexuality is viewed as a major sin in most churches.? I'm not here to argue if it truly is, personally I don't care what two adults do with their lives.? But it's common knowledge that Christianity bars homosexuality, and to expect a church to hold services for an open gay man who's not even a member of their congregation is a bit unfair.

Would you expect the NAACP to hold a funeral for a person after they found out he was a member of the Ku Klux Klan?? Probably not. (and for the really slow ones, I'm not comparing homosexuality to racism.? I'm simply pointing out the conflict each represents to those groups charters and beliefs)

You of all people.?

This guy is a vet, and perhaps these people inside the holy box should remember they may not have their church, if it weren't for people like him.

I didn't say I agree with or support the church's decision.  Hypocritical, bullshit or just plain wrong, we all know the Church's stance on homosexuality.  This man did his time, and hopefully has the marker that all vets are entitled to.  I'm just pointing out that you can't expect an organization that is known for their anti-stance on Homosexuality to bend over backwards for someone who was apparently open about their sex life and was not even a member of their congregation.

Obviously Religion wasn't that important to this man (specifically the practices of this Church) as he had never attended.  My question is why would his family want to hold services in a place that didn't codone the good life their son/brother lived?  There are many Christian churches that have no problem with homosexulaity; Episicipalion and Lutheran come to mind.

Personally I would have had no issue attending or supporting this man's funeral had I known him.  However, I can't denounce a group that has a clear agenda on an issue that was heavily pertinent to this man's life. 

Finally, rather than everyone call Christians hypocrites and denounce their beliefs, let me remind you that no one is making you join them.  Just like no one makes you join the Republican or Democrat party.  Considering that most people who are avidly against Christianity know little more than what is in The DaVinci Code or some other anti-religion commentary, I'd take such opinions with a grain of salt.

[Natasha23]

Finally, rather than everyone call Christians hypocrites and denounce their beliefs, let me remind you that no one is making you join them.? Just like no one makes you join the Republican or Democrat party.? Considering that most people who are avidly against Christianity know little more than what is in The DaVinci Code or some other anti-religion commentary, I'd take such opinions with a grain of salt.

It is not about being "avidly against Christianity," it's about being against discrimination, hatred and bigotry, which runs rampant in the hearts of many so-called Christians who want to tell the rest of us how we should live our lives or we'll burn in hell.  Also, it is absurd to assume that anyone who does not agree with Christian doctrine must not know anything about Christianity.  I was raised in a Southern Baptist church and I also went through 12 years of religious study.  I believe that if you ask several of the other people in this thread who disagree, they were probably raised in similar religious traditions as well. 

Also, to make the argument that this man wasn't even a member of the church -- apparently that didn't seem to be a factor before they found out he was gay, so it shouldn't be a factor after they found it.

[fuckin crazy]

Ok, two people have asserted this act as hypocritical, but have failed to justify that.

I not going to waste my time digging the passages up, but you know, all thoses verses in the NT about love, forbearance, humility, love thy neighbor, turn the cheek, ect ...

[Timothy]

Ok, two people have asserted this act as hypocritical, but have failed to justify that.

I not going to waste my time digging the passages up, but you know, all thoses verses in the NT about love, forbearance, humility, love thy neighbor, turn the cheek, ect ...

Sorta like, let they with no sin cast the first stone.