| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"" |
| Date: |
07 Mar 2006 06:37:28 AM |
| Object: |
Sen. McDonald: Religion's hand in politics is troubling |
Sen. McDonald: Religion's hand in politics is troubling
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/scn-sa-nor.mcdonald7mar06,0,6431997.story?coll=stam-news-local-headlines
Stamford Advocate - Stamford,CT,USA
[excerpt]
By Lauren Klein.
STAMFORD -- During a discussion about the separation of church and state,
state Sen. Andrew McDonald, who led the same-sex civil union bill through
the Legislature, said yesterday he is concerned about the role religious
organizations play in politics.
The Stamford Democrat spoke at St. Francis Episcopal Church in North
Stamford as part of a lecture series, "Voices of Faith in Life," in which
religious leaders, academics and politicians discuss issues of faith in
daily life, the Rev. Mark Lingle said.
McDonald, born and raised a Catholic in Stamford, said he believes in the
core tenants of his faith -- Christianity, compassion and charity -- but
worries that some religious organizations are more interested in lobbying
than tackling community needs such as poverty, children's health and care
of the elderly.
"I'm frightened because religion is being used for goals and objectives
that were never intended for public life," McDonald said.
For example, some religious organizations run Web sites that lobby for
Supreme Court justices, McDonald said. By doing that, the religious groups
use their power inappropriately and spur division in the country, he said.
[end excerpt]
***************************************************************
You are invited to check out the following:
The Rise of the Theocratic States of America
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/theocracy.htm
American Theocrats - Past and Present
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/theocrats.htm
The Constitutional Principle: Separation of Church and State
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/index.html
[and to join the discussion group for the above site and/or Separation of
Church and State in general, listed below]
HRSepCnS · Hampton Roads [Virginia] SepChurch&State
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HRSepCnS/
[Its not just Hampton Roads folks who are members, there are members from
all over the US and a couple from overseas as well]
***************************************************************
.. . . You can't understand a phrase such as "Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of religion" by syllogistic reasoning. Words
take their meaning from social as well as textual contexts, which is why "a
page of history is worth a volume of logic." New York Trust Co. v. Eisner,
256 U.S. 345, 349, 41 S.Ct. 506, 507, 65 L.Ed. 963 (1921) (Holmes, J.).
Sherman v. Community Consol. Dist. 21, 980 F.2d 437, 445 (7th Cir. 1992)
.. . .
****************************************************************
USAF LT. COL (Ret) Buffman (Glen P. Goffin) wrote
"You pilot always into an unknown future;
facts are your only clue. Get the facts!"
That philosophy 'snipit' helped to get me, and my crew, through a good
many combat missions and far too many scary, inflight, emergencies.
It has also played a significant role in helping me to expose the
plethora of radical Christian propaganda and lies that we find at
almost every media turn.
*****************************************************************
THE CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLE:
SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/index.html
****************************************************************
.
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| User: "Barney Fife" |
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| Title: Re: Sen. McDonald: Religion's hand in politics is troubling |
07 Mar 2006 03:03:36 PM |
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It's only troubling to those that don't want the morals and principles
in the Bible to interfere with their plans.
What they don't know is that if they have any conscience, what they do
will come back to bite them big time at their leisure.
The damage will be done but they will suffer much more than American
Victims they inflict with their greed and corruption.
.
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| User: "655321" |
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| Title: Re: Sen. McDonald: Religion's hand in politics is troubling |
07 Mar 2006 03:48:12 PM |
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Barney Fife wrote:
It's only troubling to those that don't want the morals and principles
in the Bible to interfere with their plans.
Exactly. That bloody collection of fables and poems has no place in
government.
What they don't know is that if they have any conscience, what they do
will come back to bite them big time at their leisure.
What does this have to do with anything?
The damage will be done but they will suffer much more than American
Victims they inflict with their greed and corruption.
Which is why the Bible has no place in Government.
655321
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| User: "stoney" |
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| Title: Re: Sen. McDonald: Religion's hand in politics is troubling |
10 Mar 2006 09:04:30 AM |
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On Tue, 07 Mar 2006 07:37:28 -0500, wrote in
alt.atheism
Sen. McDonald: Religion's hand in politics is troubling
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/scn-sa-nor.mcdonald7mar06,0,6431997.story?coll=stam-news-local-headlines
Stamford Advocate - Stamford,CT,USA
[excerpt]
By Lauren Klein.
STAMFORD -- During a discussion about the separation of church and state,
state Sen. Andrew McDonald, who led the same-sex civil union bill through
the Legislature, said yesterday he is concerned about the role religious
organizations play in politics.
The Stamford Democrat spoke at St. Francis Episcopal Church in North
Stamford as part of a lecture series, "Voices of Faith in Life," in which
religious leaders, academics and politicians discuss issues of faith in
daily life, the Rev. Mark Lingle said.
McDonald, born and raised a Catholic in Stamford, said he believes in the
core tenants of his faith -- Christianity, compassion and charity -- but
worries that some religious organizations are more interested in lobbying
than tackling community needs such as poverty, children's health and care
of the elderly.
"I'm frightened because religion is being used for goals and objectives
that were never intended for public life," McDonald said.
For example, some religious organizations run Web sites that lobby for
Supreme Court justices, McDonald said. By doing that, the religious groups
use their power inappropriately and spur division in the country, he said.
He has found that in Hartford, Catholic organizations rally against
pro-choice legislation but are barely visible when the death penalty
issue is raised, McDonald said.
"I find that troubling," he said. "The inconsistency of the argument
supports an element of hypocrisy."
As co-writer of the civil union legislation, McDonald discussed at
length the role religious organizations play in gay rights issues.
When he introduced the bill, 10 monks sat in the audience praying for
him, McDonald said.
"It was intended to be intimidation," he said.
The law gives same-sex couples the same 588 rights conferred by the
state to married couples, including the ability to make medical
decisions and hospital visits, inherit property, share health benefits
and other rights.
"It's not our role in government to change the minds of people of
faith," McDonald said. "There is a role of civil government that is not
tied up with faith."
Separating the religious concept of marriage from the civil contract
that affords equal rights to committed consenting adults is essential
for the advancement of gay rights, McDonald said.
"But what is missing is the cultural and social acceptance," said
McDonald, the only openly gay senator in Connecticut. "We can't do
anything further for gay rights under state law. But we can educate
people."
Connecticut does not recognize same-sex marriages from Massachusetts,
which poses a problem for gay married couples who move here from
Massachusetts, he said.
A Massachusetts couple that has been married for 20 years and moves to
Connecticut cannot obtain a civil union because Connecticut does not
recognize the marriage, and because they already are married in another
state. So, in Connecticut, they will not have rights to hospital
visitations, estate inheritance and others, he said.
That should be rectified, McDonald said.
The more discussions are held about same-sex rights, the more people can
understand the issues facing homosexuals and the sooner the cultural and
social evolution will happen, he said.
Betsy Adams, 52, a St. Francis congregant and supporter of gay marriage,
said McDonald gave her "food for thought." Legalized civil unions help
gay couples attain equal rights but still asks them to separate that
contract from their faith, Adams said.
"When my faith cannot be integrated with my daily life, I feel like a
second-class citizen," said Adams, a Stamford resident. "When religion
is used as a weapon in politics, that is a conundrum."
Professor Gary Dorrien from Union Theological Seminary will discuss
"Ethics: Why Do I Do What I Do?" at the church's next talk on March 26.
For information, call 322-2949.
Copyright © 2006, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc.
--
Fundies and trolls are cordially invited to
shove a wooden cross up their arses and rotate
at a high rate of speed. I trust you'll
be 'blessed' with a cornucopia of splinters.
.
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