Feminist Looking Glass

Being an atheist and having the additional belief that the world would be far better off is there were no religion or churches, my first take on any news story that mentions churches is that the church has caused some harm or taken some ridiculous position.  (Yes, I know churches sometimes do community good deeds, but those good deeds could be done just as well by any secular entity without the rest of the grief caused by the church.)  Thus, it did not surprise me when the infamous Marion Barry (former mayor of the District of Columbia and now City Council member) was the lone nay voter in last month’s 12-1 vote to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.  (In addition, some council members stated that they may introduce a bill to allow same-sex marriages to be performed in D.C.)

After casting his vote against the bill, Mr. Barry stated “All hell is going to break loose” and “We may have a civil war. The black community is just adamant against this.”

Mr. Barry had been pressured to vote against the legislation by the Missionary Baptist Ministers’ Conference in the region.   Reverend Patrick J. Walker, who was chairman of a task force within the Minister’s Conference stated that “We are not homophobic. We are not hatemongers. We love everybody,” while proclaiming his adamant antagonism to same-sex marriage.

Hallelujah!  Imagine my surprise then when I saw yesterday this headline in the Washington Post: “Clergy Rally in Support of Same-Sex Marriage.” Reportedly, “A diverse coalition of more than 100 clergy gathered in a Southeast Washington church yesterday to show their support for same-sex marriages in the District.”  Reverend Dennis Wiley, pastor of the Covenant Baptist Church, stated that “We declare that our faith calls us to affirm marriage equality for loving, same-sex couples.”

Sounds like a holy war is brewing in the District.

Filed under: GLBT, Religion