Religious Arguments for and against Prop 8

The San Diego Union Tribune had articles by religious leaders for and against prop 8. here is part of the article in favor of Prop 8, by Bishop Roy Dixon, an African American pastor in southern California.

The next morning, the national news picked up the fact that Proposition 8 was leading and later that it won 52 percent to 48 percent. Then came the angry response from the opposition being expressed in many ways. I asked myself, “If the results were reversed, would we have reacted in the same manner?” The answer is, “NO!”

In 2000, voters passed Proposition 22 with 61 percent of the vote cast, which changed the California Family Code to formally define marriage in this state as between a man and a woman. In 2004, same-sex marriages were performed, which were subsequently judicially annulled. Eventually, this led to a decision announced on May 15, 2008, of the California Supreme Court, which by a 4-3 vote struck down Proposition 22.

I realize that being a senior citizen, I might be missing something and do not understand the present generation.

So, I sought the help of an 18-year-old student to express what I have taught as a pastor and his belief on the subject of same-sex marriage. His response:

“I do not support same-sex marriage and homosexuality. I believe God wants us to keep marriage holy and sacred, between one man and one woman. In the Bible, it states that 'homosexuality is an abomination.' (Leviticus 18:22)”.

Yet, that does not mean we don't want homosexuals to come to our church. We welcome them because all of us have fallen short of the glory of God. God loves all those he created. He does not hate gays, and neither does the church. God is just displeased with the behavior because homosexuality is a sin and against his will.

Here is the Episcopalian view, advocating same sex marriage, and opposing Prop 8.

Many people say they have lots of gay friends, but they just don't approve of their “lifestyle.” In fact, Frank Schubert, the chief strategist who helped raise more than $40 million to pass Proposition 8, says he is not anti-gay, that he has a lesbian sister. I wonder if he celebrated this victory with his sister and her partner?

I feel a bit odd as a straight, white man making the case for gay and lesbian rights. It will seem even odder to some that I do so as a church leader. Nearly half of that $40 million war chest was contributed by Mormons, and we now know the Mormon Church was recruited to the cause by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco. But here's the rub. On Election Day, we voted to take away a right, a right that hurt no one and that did not threaten traditional marriage. In taking that right away, we hurt people and demeaned their humanity.

There are reasonable people who think I am wrong and that the right side prevailed on this issue. However, the ongoing protests so widely criticized by Proposition 8 supporters speak to the level of pain this measure has inflicted. Those who favored the proposition, especially, must own their share of responsibility for that pain.