Comments on: Gunman Opens Fire On Gay-Friendly Church, Two Killed

By: Burr

Burr — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:45:31 +0000

But I thought these nutjobs were for freedom of religion?

Oh wait.. freedom of THEIR religion.

By: Martin Lanigan

Martin Lanigan — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 01:42:05 +0000

My condolences to Greg McKendry’s family, Linda Kraeger’s family, and the entire community of Tennessee Valley UCC.

I have no words to describe my feelings towards the pseudo-christian anti-gay industry and how their rhetoric contributes to this insane hatred.

By: larry

larry — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:37:06 +0000

It’s terrorism: An act of violence against a specific group or population. It won’t get reported as such, but it is nonetheless terrorism. And what the freepi and the fundies don’t seem to abosorb is that it was done by one of them! It was done by a freepy fundie against the liberals and gays that they hate.

By: Bruce Garrett

Bruce Garrett — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:11:23 +0000

AP is reporting now that the Knoxville police chief is saying the letter found in Adkission’s car indicated a frustration over being out of work, and a hatred of the “liberal movement’. So far, that’s the only thing I’ve seen on the letter.

By: Jason D

Jason D — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:46:46 +0000

From what I’ve read, this may or many not be motivated by the church posting a welcome to gays and lesbians. The two events happened so close together that it’s possible, but not necessarily connected. He could just be crazy.

By: Regan DuCasse

Regan DuCasse — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:32:50 +0000

Stay tuned to see if the FRC or FOTF will spin this as hate crime against Christians.
Several years ago, a gun man went into a Southern Baptist church in Texas and opened fire. He killed six and wounded eight. Two children were killed in that shooting. The shooter killed himself.
FOTF spun it as a hate crime against Christians, asserted that such crimes were INCREASING and that this country was at war (especially the liberal mindset) with Christianity and this shooting was proof of it.

What James Dobson left out, and what WAS clearly stated in the news articles subsequent to the shooting, was the murderer was anti Semitic. His diaries and plans for the shooting clearly spoke of his hatred for Jews and hostility at the church welcoming Jews.

The shooting was on the day that Southern Baptists set aside to try and convert Jews to Christianity.

So the shootings roots were hate based, but not for Christians, but Jews.
Hate crimes against Christians are so beyond the pale. And certainly it’s never Jews or gays who commit even any vandalism against churches.

That James Dobson would deceptively report the former tragedy and exploit it as a call to arms, so to speak, was despicable.
As soon as I saw what kind of church was targeted, I was certain it had more to do with the traditional welcoming UUC has for gay people. Before that, it was blacks and women. Especially in positions of ministers.

Since that is already on the wire, maybe the usual suspects won’t be able to exploit it, but I wouldn’t put it past them to try.

I’ve actually heard the most anti gay say that churches that DO welcome gay people, are NOT genuine Christians.

By: Robguy

Robguy — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 07:06:14 +0000

I recently read that 4 in 5 protestants in England think that homosex is a sin. I think the number of gays that believe in invisible sky fairies was inverse to that. I wonder if the numbers are related.

By: tristram

tristram — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 05:19:00 +0000

Hate has many targets. I understand that this church was involved in immigrant support activities as well. And the fact that they supported desegregation probably still rankles some of the diehards.

I will say that every day on my way to work I pass a major UUA church which is located right across from our statehouse, and when there have been gay issues before the legislature the church invariably flies a huge rainbow flag. It’s almost enough to bring me back to religion.

By: Fiona

Fiona — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 04:14:43 +0000

It looks like the seeds of hate and bigotry have taken root and grown in Knoxville, Tennessee.
The people of this church will be in my thoughts and prayers.