No Longer Silent: Arizona Clergy Against Prop 102

Jim Burroway

October 17th, 2008

A large coalition of Phoenix-area clergy called No Longer Silent has released this video urging Christians to vote against Proposition 102, Arizona’s so-called “marriage amendment.”

Kevin

October 17th, 2008

Sometimes, after being bashed over the head with all of the stuff the anti-gay fundamentalists do and say, I wonder if there is anything redeeming in organized religion.

Then I’m reminded of groups like No Longer Silent.

Thanks!!!!

rusty

October 17th, 2008

WOW! That is amazing

Eddie89

October 17th, 2008

I’m glad that they put out this video.

Too bad that it’s only online and that few to none of the “mainstream” in Arizona will get to see it.

I was expecting to see some actual clergy members speaking out against Prop. 102 and not just slides with background music.

California – Vote “NO” on Prop. 8!
Arizona – Vote “NO” on Prop. 102! AGAIN!
Florida – Vote “NO” on Amendment 2!
Connecticut – Vote “NO” on Question 1!

Eddie89

October 17th, 2008

Something like this video is what I was expecting.

California – Vote “NO” on Prop. 8!
Arizona – Vote “NO” on Prop. 102! AGAIN!
Florida – Vote “NO” on Amendment 2!
Connecticut – Vote “NO” on Question 1!

Ben in Oakland

October 18th, 2008

I agree, eddie. we need to see more of those.

Micah

October 20th, 2008

This is a well made video but I have to disagree on this. Marriage is a divine institution. God made man and woman with a purpose. Marriage isn’t just about love. Anybody can love whoever they want. Marriage as defined as between one man and one woman is equal to everyone.

If two people want to make a similar commitment to each that is their right but to call it marriage would change what marriage is about. Marriage is about a man and a women and the power to create life. The union of two people of the same sex will never have the power to create life and this is just the cold hard facts of life – no discrimination there.

Timothy Kincaid

October 20th, 2008

Micah,

Since what we are talking about is civil marriage, not the marriage that you get in your church, using religion is not a very convincing argument.

But I have to ask you, Micah, do you believe in freedom of religion?

Because if so, why are you trying to deny the Congregational Church in town from being able to perform the weddings that they wish. Why should they be forced to comply with the doctrines of your church? That doesn’t seem fair.

And what about the Reform Jews. Can’t a rabbi announce two Jews to be married if they want? Why are you denying Reform Jews from the marriages that are consistent with their faith? Should they worry that you next insist that only Christians can call their union “marriage”?

Louie

October 20th, 2008

In their Amicus Curiae Brief for “In Re Marriage Cases”, the Council for Secular Humanism wrote one of the best arguments against Micah’s claim, I.E. that the “State” sponsored and or recognized “civil” marriages are “holy unions” and therefore recognized by almighty God (Big news to those folks that only got married by the State, little did they know that they are also now married under the eyes of God, because the State is God, according to Micah):

“…the ban on same-sex marriage violates the
Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States
Constitution and also violates Article I, § 4, and Article XVI, § 5, of the
California Constitution.

No branch of government can favor believers over nonbelievers. No
branch of government can favor one religion over any other. All
government actions must have a secular purpose. The principal or primary
effect of government action must be to neither advance nor inhibit religion.
No government action is permitted to foster an excessive government
entanglement with religion. Courts must examine whether a claimed secular
purpose is a mere sham. All government actions that claim a secular
purpose, but are actually based upon religious doctrine, must be held
unconstitutional.

Ultimately, the ban on same sex-marriage is not grounded in any
foundation, other than religious belief. The ban is therefore
unconstitutional under the United States and California Constitutions.”

California – Vote “NO” on Prop. 8!
Arizona – Vote “NO” on Prop. 102! AGAIN!
Florida – Vote “NO” on Amendment 2!
Connecticut – Vote “NO” on Question 1!

Brad

October 23rd, 2008

It’s real simple. Some people’s worldview is aligned with the book of Leviticus. Others are aligned with the book of Matthew. If you’re a Leviticus person, vote YES. If you’re a Matthew person, vote NO. There is no wrong way to vote, since not everyone believes in the beatitudes.

Mark Forister

October 29th, 2008

Traditional marriages in the USA as depicted by Prop 102 end in divorce at the rate of 50% of 1st , 67% of 2nd, and 74% of 3rd marriages as sourced from the Forest Institute of Professional Psychology. Answer this, how can Prop 102 preserve traditional marriages by writing blatant discrimination into out state constitution, it can’t.

Louie

October 30th, 2008

So, to truly “protect” marriage, shouldn’t they place a ban on DIVORCE in the State’s Constitution?

Or maybe, that’s their (extreme right wing Christians) next step!


California – Vote “NO” on Prop. 8!
Arizona – Vote “NO” on Prop. 102! AGAIN!
Florida – Vote “NO” on Amendment 2!
Connecticut – Vote “NO” on Question 1!

Kiefer

October 30th, 2008

What the? This video did nothing. I hope they didn’t waste money on this. Or you know what? I hope they did, because it doesn’t do anything to help the campaign. VOTE YES ON PROP 102!

Pissed off Arizonan

November 1st, 2008

I really fear that PROP 102 is going to pass with all of its support. It really makes me sick that so many people want to continue this kind of old fashioned discrimination. I hope enough people will be able to think for themselves and vote NO on PROP 102. How can the same religious person who believes in ‘love thy neighbor’ and ‘judge’ not support such hate. Do people actually think that allowing gays to get married will ruin the purity of their own marriage? Is this really because homosexuals make so many people feel “icky”? How long is it going to take for people to finally really accept each other. I may not be gay, but I have friends and family who are, and I want their rights protected. Please vote NO on PROP 102! DO NOT let your religion make you hate your fellow man in the same way that has started wars since the beginning of time.

I'm Voting Yes!

November 2nd, 2008

A vote “yes” does not mean a vote for hate. It is not about being less tolerant. My sister does many things that I do not agree with, based on my religious beliefs. I love her dearly, and instead of telling her it is OK, I can still tell her that what she is doing is a sin. I beleive one can truly love the sinner and hate the sin. We are talking about all of God’s children here. I know he loves all of us, but He certainly does not condone the sins we commit. I beleive it is wrong to mask the face of sin in the word “tolerance.” I am tolerant of my sister, but I do not condone her actions. For some reason, today, to tolerate means to agree with, which is not the correct meaning of the word. I get along fine with my sister, and we can talk about many meaningful things, but, there are instances when it is time to respectrfully disagree. I see no hate in that, nor do I see any intolerance.

Christina

November 2nd, 2008

Micah –

I’m curious to know what you think about sterile or infertile men and women marrying. What about elderly men and women? They can’t create life, right? Are you seriously saying that anyone who doesn’t contribute to our skyrocketing over-population shouldn’t be allowed to marry and that marriage is solely about procreation?

L. Junius Brutus

November 2nd, 2008

To “I’m Voting Yes!”,

It seems pretty clear to me that you only preach about love, but practice its exact opposite. Maybe talking about love tires you so much that practicing it would be too much of a bother.

Ken R

November 2nd, 2008

“I’m voting Yes!” – yes, it is hate and intolerance no matter how you look at it. Majority of proponents of Prop 102 demand that their religious views concerning traditional marriage be the law of the land. What’s next? What other laws are you willing to pass in the name of your biblical worldview to stifle those that do not believe as you do? Why haven’t conservative Christians tried to pass laws against no fault divorce? Jesus spoke out against it except in cases of adultery by either party. Is it because support within your own congregations are rather lacking? This only shows the sad truth about the hypocrisy within these churches. I used to be amazed by Christians like you that would clamor that gay people bow to the will of professing biblical Christians because they think they have it completely right and that God was only on their side. Time and reading just shows how wrong they are.

There is no such thing as love the sinner hate the sin. In truth when confronted they admit they really do think lesser of gay people and then drag out Scripture to hammer away at us to prove it. Scripture is not the be all and end all of God. He is still speaking to us. Many Christians like yourself just don’t hear him or refuse to budge from the “biblical truth” you have been taught. If it isn’t in Scripture it must be rejected! He is in fact STILL revealing himself to the world.

Yes, it is discrimination I’m voting Yes! No one has a right to take another person’s rights away. That is not Christ-like at all.

Michael Lunday

November 3rd, 2008

Voting No on 102

Thank you so much for doing this video. I wish there had been more public viewing opportunities other than the internet but I also know in my heart that Love is practiced and has to come from the heart not $6 million dollars of out of state money from the far right so called Christian Coalition. The last time I looked Christians are suppose to love thy neighbor. There will be a judgement day and we will all be judged by only one person and it will not be by the far right. Tomorrow will be history in the making by electing Obama and I too hope in the near future that we will all be able to have the same rights and not discriminate against one another.

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