Christian Leaders to Present Anti-Gay, Anti-Abortion 'Manifesto'

A group of 145 Roman Catholic, evangelical, and Orthodox Christian leaders will present a document today at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. today saying they are in solidarity against abortions and same-sex marriage.

The NYT reports: "The manifesto, to be released on Friday at the National Press Club in Washington, is an effort to rejuvenate the political alliance of conservative Catholics and evangelicals that dominated the religious debate during the administration of President George W. Bush. The signers include nine Roman Catholic archbishops and the primate of the Orthodox Church in America. They want to signal to the Obama administration and to Congress that they are still a formidable force that will not compromise on abortion, stem-cell research or gay marriage. They hope to influence current debates over health care reform, the same-sex marriage bill in Washington, D.C., and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation."

The document was reportedly written by evangelical Charles Colson, Catholic Princeton professor Robert P. George, and the Rev. Timothy George of Beeson Divinity School in Alabama.

Part of the goal is to reach younger Christians who may have more progressive notions about gays and remind them that the church thinks gays are bad.

The 4,700-word document is called the “Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience," according to the NYT.

Says the document: "We will not comply with any edict that purports to compel our institutions to participate in abortions, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide and euthanasia, or any other antilife act; nor will we bend to any rule purporting to force us to bless immoral sexual partnerships, treat them as marriages or the equivalent...We pledge to each other, and to our fellow believers, that no power on earth, be it cultural or political, will intimidate us into silence or acquiescence."

Houston Mayoral Candidate Annise Parker Attacked with Anti-Gay Flyer; Warns of City Run by Someone 'Trapped in Homosexual Behavior'

The homophobic attacks against Houston mayoral candidate Annise Parker have begun, and the first is a doozy. It's a postcard mailing to 35,000 people from local activist Dave Wilson featuring a picture of Parker and her longtime partner, which asks, "Is this the image Houston wants to portray?" and reads:

“I have nothing but compassion, respect and sensitivity towards those trapped in homosexual behavior. I have family members and friends who have been ensnared in this behavior, and I know something of the incredible pain and sorrow it has brought to them and their families. With God’s grace, I carefully balance this love and respect for these individuals with warnings about the promotion and demand for legal and political approval for homosexual behavior that will stifle religious freedom and trap millions of more people in its deadly grip. Therefore, I would ask you to vote against Annise Parker for Mayor.”

KHOU reports:

"Dave Wilson, an electrician who has spent years pestering incumbent politicians of both parties, has turned his sights on Houston Controller Annise Parker. He says that Parker should not be mayor because 'homosexual behavior leads to extinction.' Wilson says he is mailing the fliers to 35,000 Houston voters who cast ballots both in the November mayoral election and in the 2008 Republican presidential primary. 'I'd like to energize the conservative Christian base in Houston, and get them to vote,' he said...'I don't see a good family, a Christian family, one man, one woman,' Wilson said. 'It's a picture of her and her mate being sworn in in public and that's the image I have a problem with.' 11 News asked Wilson what he believes is wrong with the city having an openly gay mayor. 'The openly gay lifestyle leads to extinction,' he said. 'You can't reproduce.'"

Aside from the irrational bigoted nonsense and hate behind Wilson's perspective,  what the F does reproduction have to do with running a city?

A poll published yesterday showed Parker leading her opponenet Gene Locke by a margin of 47-34:

"A recent Lake Research Partners survey of likely voters in Houston's upcoming mayoral runoff shows that City Controller Annise Parker holds a strong lead over former City Attorney and lobbyist Gene Locke. In our recent survey, among likely voters with previous participation in past city runoff elections, Parker leads with 47 percent (37 percent strong) to 34 percent for Locke (27 percent strong). A fifth of voters (19 percent) remains undecided. Parker holds this large lead even though the poll simulated high turnout among African American voters. The sample was comprised of 54 percent Anglos, 30 percent African Americans, and 12 percent Latinos. Parker remains the best-known and liked candidate in the race and she maintains her lead even under a simulated attack. Only a substantially negative campaign from Locke can interrupt her momentum. Sixty-seven percent of voters have a favorable impression of Parker and 62 percent think she has done either an excellent (21 percent) or good job (41 percent) as City Controller. Fifty-seven percent of voters hold a favorable view of Locke."

A news report on the flyer, AFTER THE JUMP...

The run-off election is December 12th. Annise Parker's campaign site is HERE.

Gays and Evangelicals Face Off as Fort Worth 'Kiss-in' Gets Rowdy

A "kiss-in" planned by the group Queer Liberaction at Fort Worth Stockyards, which bills itself as "the wholesome western experience of Fort Worth", turned into a loud demonstration on Saturday as counter-protesters arrived and the two groups squared off against one another:

The Star-Telegram reports: "About 40 members of Queer Liberaction said they needed to take a stand against intolerance by carrying out public displays of affection in what they considered an area not traditionally friendly toward gays. The other group, mainly evangelical Christians and also numbering about 40, said homosexuality is a clear lifestyle choice, not a naturally occurring sexual orientation as many scientists believe. They beseeched Liberaction members to abandon their 'kiss-in' and come to Jesus Christ as straight adults. The gatherings broke up peacefully. Joe Remsik, 37, leader of Liberaction’s Fort Worth chapter, said the demonstration was to let the public know about fears within the city’s gay community."

Watch a news report from The 33 TV, AFTER THE JUMP...

Florida Megachurch Dumps Pepsi Over its Positions on Gay Issues

The Bell Shoals Baptist megachurch in Brandon, Florida is making headlines for carting 10 Pepsi machines out of its premises and replacing them with machines from Coca-Cola, because, they say, Pepsi donated to Prop 8, sponsors Gay Pride parades, and runs ads that cater to homosexuals.

10 Connects reports: "'We would like to send them a message,' said Terry Kemple, President of the Community Issues Council that is organizing a boycott of Pepsi products because he says it 'advocates the acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle.' ... 'They (have) begun to utilize the money we've helped them build up to trample on what we consider family values,' said Kemple of Pepsi. He said the company donated more than a million dollars to organizations that fought California's gay marriage-banning Proposition 8. He also says the Pepsi Corporation has sponsored gay pride events and commercials that accept cross-dressing and homosexuality. 'We're concerned about that diminishment of the ability of Christians to speak what the Bible says,' Kemple said. But Nadine Smith, the Executive Director of Equality Florida, called the boycott offensive to her and embarrassing to those who participate. 'The irony is that - in moving from Pepsi products to Coke products - they actually switched from one company that supports full-equality to another company that supports full-equality,' Smith said."

Watch a video report on the Coke-drinking Christians, AFTER THE JUMP...

Sarah Palin Defends 'Ex-Gay' Programs While Discussing Church Fire

Governor Sarah Palin called into On the Record with Greta van Susteren last night to talk about the church fire that destroyed the Wasilla Bible Church over the weekend. Right wing pundits have been trying to link the fire to gays because of criticism during the campaign of the church's promotion of an "ex-gay" conference, although there is no evidence gay people had anything to do with the church fire.

Here's a transcript:

VAN SUSTEREN: Well, when we were there, there was one little controversy that was brewing that the pastor was trying to explain to us about gays and some sort of meeting in Anchorage. Do you know about that at all, what that controversy was?

PALIN: Yeah, I think there was an insert in the church's bulletin one Sunday that had advertised a seminar that was being (INAUDIBLE) at another church in Anchorage, and it had to do with those who wanted some assistance or some kind of counseling in dealing with any struggles that they would have regarding homosexuality. And it was a seminar that was advertised at the church. And yep, that drew quite a bit of scrutiny during the presidential campaign because people looked at that and wanted to spin that into something that it was not. And yes, that was a bit of the scrutiny and attention that the Wasilla Bible Church has received.

VAN SUSTEREN: Well, are gays welcome at your church in Wasilla, the one that was burned?

PALIN: Absolutely. Of course. Yes. In fact, the pastors and leadership at that church, they are quite open in terms of welcoming people into the church and assisting anyone who desires assistance or counseling or help. That's what this church is all about. Wasilla Bible Church, along with some other churches in Wasilla and Alaska, are very, very good, very, again, biblically-based and not intolerant or judgmental, just welcoming people of all walks of life.

In fact, nobody was trying to "spin" anything during the campaign. The only "spin" that was going on was pointing out the church's endorsement of discredited Christian therapy programs that claim to "cure" homosexuality but have been shown time and time again not only to fail in their efforts, but to do more harm than good.

The NYT reported, in 2007: "Mental health experts say there is no proof that sexual reorientation therapy, as it is often called, works. Meanwhile, they argue, the damage it can inflict on self-esteem, triggering depression and even suicide, is well documented. 'There’s not a debate in the profession on this issue,' said Dr. Jack Drescher, a New York psychiatrist and former chairman of the Committee on Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Issues of the American Psychiatric Association. 'This is like creationism. You create the impression to the public as if there was a debate in the profession, which there is not.'"

Watch the On the Record clip, AFTER THE JUMP...

Palin's Wasilla Church Torched By Arsonist; AP Links Gays

Sarah Palin's Wasilla church burned over the weekend in an attack by arsonists. Central Mat-Su Fire Chief James Steele said "We have no information on intent or motive."

Yet the arson attack, which occurred while a small number of people were inside, was linked by news media to "undeserved negative attention" the church received during Palin's campaign from groups disapproving of the church's links to "ex-gay" ministries:

"Palin, who was not at the church at the time of the fire, stopped by Saturday. Her spokesman, Bill McAllister, said in a statement that Palin told an assistant pastor she was sorry if the fire was connected to the 'undeserved negative attention' the church has received since she became the vice presidential candidate Aug. 29. 'Whatever the motives of the arsonist, the governor has faith in the scriptural passage that what was intended for evil will in some way be used for good,' McAllister said. The 1,000-member evangelical church was the subject of intense scrutiny after Palin was named John McCain's running mate. Early in Palin's campaign, the church was criticized for promoting in a Sunday bulletin a Focus on the Family 'Love Won Out Conference' in Anchorage. The conference promised to 'help men and women dissatisfied with living homosexually understand that same-sex attractions can be overcome.' The fire was set at the entrance of the church and moved inward as a small group of women were working on crafts, Steele said. The group was alerted to the blaze by a fire alarm."

No doubt the NoMobVeto group and other members of the religious right will take this unwarranted connection and run with it.