Originally Posted By EighthDwarf A lot has been discussed recently about the LDS Church supporting, and urging their members to support, Proposition 8. But today, I attended Catholic Mass and they showed a video urging members to "vote their conscience" as well as distributed a "Voter's Guide for Serious Catholics" and a copy of a letter written by the bishops of California in support of Proposition 8. Of course, it wasn't surprising to hear the church was supporting the proposition. But I did find it odd that they showed a video (I have never seen them do this before in mass) which was very sappy as well as the letter which makes some of the same false fear-mongering arguments we are used to hearing as well as urging the members to offer their financial support. A copy of the letter is here: <a href="http://www.cacatholic.org/bishops-statements/a-statement-of-the-catholic-bishops-of-california-in-support-of-proposition-8.html" target="_blank">http://www.cacatholic.org/bish...n-8.html</a> A link to the video they are showing in mass is here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61wj4tJICcc" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...j4tJICcc</a> With about 10 days to go, I suppose they are making a last-ditch effort to get this think to pass?? Also, as I was driving home, I say people with "Yes on 8" signs in front of another church yelling at cars. It's like the twilight zone. No on H8!
Originally Posted By Mr X A video shown at Holy Mass? Wow, that sounds very mormon of them. I wonder if there's a merger in the works. *shudders*
Originally Posted By mele It's so obvious that they're fighting the "ick" factor more than anything else. What else would make people fight so ferociously against another group of people.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder Some selected anagrams for the words "Mormon" and "Catholic". Coach Milt Moron Comical Hot Norm Lactic Homo Norm Calm Moronic Hot Coolant Rich Mom Actor Milch Moon Loath Comic Norm Mail Crotch Moon Maim Crotch Loon Oral Comic Month Oral Itch Common Ammo Crotch Lion Moan Crotch Limo Atom Clinch Room A Crotch Loin Mom A Rich Common Lot
Originally Posted By utahjosh <A video shown at Holy Mass? Wow, that sounds very mormon of them> There has never been a video in our "Mass" (Sacrament Meeting) as far as I know. Doesn't sound Mormon at all.
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 <<Of course, it wasn't surprising to hear the church was supporting the proposition. But I did find it odd that they showed a video (I have never seen them do this before in mass) which was very sappy as well as the letter which makes some of the same false fear-mongering arguments we are used to hearing as well as urging the members to offer their financial support.>> It's a pattern for the Catholic Church. A couple years ago, gay marriage was put up for vote here in Michigan. The Catholic Church was very involved from the beginning -- and was actively dishonest in its participation throughout. Instrumental in initiating and writing the "Save our society -- outlaw gay marriage!" proposal, the Catholic Church didn't stop there. It also quietly inserted "small print" in that proposal to ensure that not only gay marriage but also gay "unions" would be made illegal. During the campaigning phase, the supporters of the anti-"gay marriage" proposal, led by the Catholic Church, argued that allowing gay marriage would destroy the institution of marriage, destroy families, destroy society as we know it. It was ugly and hateful. They ran so many false and fear-mongering ads that most voters were completely distracted from the fact that the Prop also contained language about gay partnerships. Polls clearly showed that the overwhelming majority of Michiganians believe that gay couples should receive the same legal rights as heterosexual couples. Polls also showed that even after all the hysterical ads, slightly less than half of the citizens believed that gays should be able to legally "marry." The anti-gay "marriage" proposal passed by a small margin in Michigan. Most voters only learned after the fact that the passage of this proposal meant that all state-funded entities were now disallowed from recognizing same-sex unions. State government, state-funded colleges, state-funded hospitals, state-funded businesses everywhere were officially prohibited from granting ANY partner benefit to gay couples. Domestic partner insurance benefits were instantly outlawed in my state. So were same-sex partner hospital visitation rights and ALL the other rights that might accompany a "union." So I'm not at all surprised to hear that the Catholic Church is knowingly publishing and airing propaganda that it knows to be false in an effort to pass this Prop in California. The only difference I see between Michigan and California is that the Catholic Church tried to hide the fact that it was masterminding the campaign of lies here. It was journalistic research that finally exposed the Church as the primary supporter/funder of our hateful proposal. I have lost all respect for the Catholic Church over this issue. And it's not because I'm a one-issue guy. It's because the Catholic Church has demonstrated to me that it will fund hate and that it will be as deceitful as it needs to be to achieve its self-serving goals.
Originally Posted By mele <<the passage of this proposal meant that all state-funded entities were now disallowed from recognizing same-sex unions. State government, state-funded colleges, state-funded hospitals, state-funded businesses everywhere were officially prohibited from granting ANY partner benefit to gay couples. Domestic partner insurance benefits were instantly outlawed in my state. So were same-sex partner hospital visitation rights and ALL the other rights that might accompany a "union.">> This is so evil...to prohibit companies that *want* to provide this are still not able to. Amazing to me the amount of hate that organized religion peddles. It is the reason why I am 99% sure that I will never attend church again. They do things like that and have the nerve to call other people hateful. I am so sorry that you are affected by this, Inspector. Are there any measures on the ballot this year to solve this disgusting law?
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 <<I am so sorry that you are affected by this, Inspector. Are there any measures on the ballot this year to solve this disgusting law?>> Thanks, mele. I was very personally affected. I lost my health, dental, and optical insurance. Sadly, there are no measures on the ballot to overturn this legalized discrimination. But, happily... After the Prop passed, and after the shell-shock wore off, institutions across the state began engaging in "civil disobedience" in amazing numbers. School districts said, "We're going to continue providing health insurance to same sex partners. Period." Hospitals said, "Sorry, that doesn't apply to us." Universities said, "We're going to find a way around this." And they did. The Catholic Church took the Ann Arbor School Board to court over the issue. The School Board won. Employers are finding ways to NOT comply with state-mandated discrimination. I got my insurance back. Still, it sucks that companies have to go to such lengths to NOT discriminate against their employees. And, honestly... Losing my insurance was bad. But learning how absolutely hypocritical and hateful a "Christian" organization is was a complete kick in the lungs to me. It's weird. I'm an atheist. But learning this truth about the Catholic Church was almost as horrible as losing my insurance.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt As many atrocities as the Catholic Church has committed throughout history (not to mention the shameful practice of protecting pedophile priests) I find it more than a bit ironic that it would have the nerve to utter a peep to persuade its members how to vote in an civil election. Its absurd attempt to appeal to emotion in the video is, quite honestly, laughable.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< And, honestly... Losing my insurance was bad. But learning how absolutely hypocritical and hateful a "Christian" organization is was a complete kick in the lungs to me. It's weird. I'm an atheist. But learning this truth about the Catholic Church was almost as horrible as losing my insurance. >>> You can't really blame Christian organizations. After all, they're duty-bound to promote the type of society that Christ himself would have wanted. He spoke out frequently against homosexuals, and He actively promoted discrimination. Who are you to question it?
Originally Posted By oc_dean >> After all, they're duty-bound to promote the type of society that Christ himself would have wanted. He spoke out frequently against homosexuals, and He actively promoted discrimination. Who are you to question it?<< Huh? (Must be a joke I didn't catch) I think Jesus spoke very little about homosexuality.
Originally Posted By DAR Granted I only go to church on holidays now but I've never seen them show us a video on anything.
Originally Posted By Mr X Well, when I went to Catholic school for many, many, many, many, many, MANY long years..we went to church many, many (okay, enough ) times. And I don't recall ANY filmstrips at High Holy Mass, that's for sure! Next thing you know the Pope is going to start praising Elohim or something!
Originally Posted By FaMulan More and more I'm thinking that the Government needs to readdress the tax exempt status of religions that engage in active political behaviors.
