It leaves a sick feeling in my stomach, but at the same time, I'm really not surprised by the announcements.
Today we've learned that:
1) Children living in a same-sex household may not be blessed as babies or baptized.
2) Those in a same-sex marriage fall under the definition of apostasy.
I swear, every chance the church takes a step forward when it comes to accepting homosexuals, it takes 472 steps back.
There are a lot of thoughts running through my mind right now - mainly anger. So this post will be quite scattered.
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Most people know that I'm LDS, but a much smaller percentage know I'm gay. As news of this announcement spreads over the coming days and weeks, am I going to be seen as a homophobic jerk due to my association with the church?! At the time of this writing, 3 of the 4 broadcast TV channels in Salt Lake City are reporting the news on their homepages. (C'mon ABC 4, you're a little behind! EDIT: It's there now!) With this kind of coverage, it won't take long for this news to go national and international and I'll just want to hide and hope friends and acquaintances forget that I'm LDS.
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Today I've also been thinking a lot about the TBM gay folks. How do they feel about today's news? Are they a little upset with their own church? Or does stuff like this make their faith and devotion even stronger? Is this even a story to them? Blogger GayMormonMan, who says he's a TBM, seems a little perturbed by everything that happened today. Some of the most anti-gay marriage people I've come across are gay/SSA men married to women. I'm really curious as to what's going through their minds right now.
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Randall Thacker of Affirmation was quoted in this Salt Lake Trib article:
"I cannot imagine Jesus Christ denying any child a baptism because of the status of their parents. It goes against everything I ever thought the savior and baptism was about."
I admire Thacker's humbleness in giving a quote! My quote would have been a little on the mean/upset/angry side!
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This commenter on KUTV's Facebook page was not as conservative as Thacker:
"When will they stop with the hatred. Now they are involving kids. But, at the same time - I would hope a gay couple would not want their kids affiliated with that church anyway. Just sickening they felt the need to have this declared/announced. Shame on them."
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But again, should we really be surprised by all this? We all know how the church feels about same-sex marriage. I guess the leaked handbook photo and subsequent media coverage by multiple outlets (during sweeps month!) is making this all a little overwhelming.
While the announcement bums me out, it'll be interesting to see how everyone (straight, gay, LDS, non-LDS, ex-LDS) react to this PR nightmare. (Thanks John Dehlin!)
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Article of Faith #2 - We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
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Article of Faith #2 - We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
I cannot help but think of the following: Mark 10:14 (KJV)
ReplyDeleteBut when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
To deny children of same-sex families not to be blessed or baptized is taking away their birthright as Children of God to seek salvation for themselves under their own free-agency. To disfellowship children immediately from understanding the Gospel of Jesus Christ as a result of their parents sins is purposely taking away any opportunity for them to make their own choice in what they individually believe.