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 President Barack Obama addressing a gay rights group in 2011.
May 9th, 2012
04:55 PM ET
Obama's gay marriage support riles religious conservatives, but political effects not yet clearBy Dan Gilgoff, CNN.com Religion Editor (CNN) – U.S. President Barack Obama’s endorsement of gay marriage on Wednesday outraged conservative Christian leaders, who vowed to use it as an organizing tool in the 2012 elections, but the move is also activating the liberal base, raising big questions about who gains and loses politically. “It cuts both ways - it activates both Democratic and Republican base voters,” said John Green, an expert on religion and politics at the University of Akron. “The most likely effect is that it makes an already close election even closer.” In an interview with ABC News, Obama said, "At a certain point I've just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married." The announcement puts Obama at odds with presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who opposes same-sex marriage and who voiced that opposition in an interview on Wednesday. CNN’s Belief Blog: The faith angles behind the biggest stories "Considering that 10 of the 16 battleground states have marriage amendments that could be overturned by the president's new policy position on marriage, today's announcement almost ensures that marriage will again be a major issue in the presidential election,” said Tony Perkins, president of the the conservative Family Research Council. “The president has provided a clear contrast between him and his challenger, Mitt Romney," Perkins continued. "Romney, who has signed a pledge to support a marriage protection amendment to the U.S. Constitution, may have been handed the key to social conservative support by President Obama." Obama stressed in the interview that his support was personal and that he would leave the issue of marriage to the states. But many conservatives chafed at the idea that the president's personal views would not affect public policy. Follow the CNN Belief Blog on Twitter Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, released a statement saying the president's comments were "deeply saddening." Dolan's statement continued, "I pray for the President every day, and will continue to pray that he and his Administration act justly to uphold and protect marriage as the union of one man and one woman." Bishop Harry Jackson, the senior pastor of Hope Christian Church outside of Washington, DC, said that "I think the president has been in this place for awhile and that he chose this time because he thought that it might shift the balance of power." Jackson has long campaigned against same-sex marriage. Ralph Reed, a top organizer among religious conservatives, said Obama’s announcement was a “gift to the Romney campaign.” Romney, a Mormon who has evolved to a more conservative position on hot button social issues, has struggled with his party's largely evangelical conservative base in the primaries. But Reed said Obama’s gay marriage support would help Romney in many battleground states. “The Obama campaign doesn’t have to worry about New York and California,” Reed said. “They have to worry about Ohio, Florida and Virginia and I don’t’ see evidence that it’s a winning issue in those states.” Green said that public opinion about gay marriage has been shifting dramatically in recent years, with some polls showing more support than opposition. Green said that in many battlegrounds, including Ohio, it's impossible to nail down current public opinion on same-sex marriage. A Gallup Poll conducted this month found that 50% of American adults support legal recognition of same-sex marriage, while 48% oppose it. Reed noted that same-sex marriage bans have passed in virtually every state they have appeared on the ballot, including in North Carolina on Tuesday. That’s a typically red state that Obama won in 2008 and that is the site of the Democrat's 2012 convention. Many liberal groups were ecstatic over Obama’s support for gay marriage. “Congratulations, Mr. President, for making history today by becoming the first sitting president to explicitly support marriage for same-sex couples,” said Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. In his interview with ABC, Obama talked about squaring his decision with his personal religious faith. “We are both practicing Christians and obviously this position may be considered to put us at odds with the views of others,” Obama said, referencing his wife, Michelle. “But, you know, when we think about our faith, the thing at root that we think about is, not only Christ sacrificing himself on our behalf, but it’s also the Golden Rule,” he said. “Treat others the way you would want to be treated.” One key Obama constituency that may be angered by his Wednesday announcement is African-Americans, who tend to be more religious than whites. Though they hew heavily Democratic, African-Americans are generally conservative on social issues like gay marriage. - CNN's Eric Marrapodi, Shannon Travis, and Mary Snow contributed to this report. soundoff (2,108 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Next »
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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The biblical argument against gay marriage doesn't hold up if one does not likewise support slavery – as slavery is a biblical right. No Christian church today would say that it endorses slavery – so apparently the Word of God IS liable to being ignored when convenient.
The definition of slavery is: one who is owned or indebted to another.
How many of us today, are in debt? Monetarily or by favors....
We are slaves.
@ SAS6907
You may consider yourself a slave to your debt, but your creditors, cannot sell you, trade you or flog you to death. You also have the option of going bankrupt and walking away from all of your debt with nothing more than a decimated credit rating. An actual slave who is the property of their owner doesn’t have that option and would be severely reprimanded, if not killed, for even trying.
I don't care, and am sick and tired of hearing about your imaginary friend jesus and his sky-papa with the white beard. Enough of the crap already!
God is not dead idiot, know what you say first before opening your mouth. Marriage is between a Man and a Woman.
Marriage is between a Man and a Woman.
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According to you. You make the rules for everyone else, huh?
@idriss
“God is not dead idiot” Correct idiot! God does not exist and therefore cannot be dead or alive.
Idriss, you are so completely and sadly brainwashed.
Your god is dead, and no one cares. Attack the civil rights of Americans, and we'll come for your churches.
I agree, I don't care, and am sick and tired of hearing about your imaginary friend jesus and his sky-papa with the white beard. Enough of the crap already!
How bout we tax the religions who have the gall to interject their "rules" on American society? Religion should keep its fvcking mouth shut and stay in its dark corner.
Really, you believe that Jesus is dead?
Do you believe He was alive?
If so, then you know He is still alive, for God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
sas6907, yes, jesus never even existed.
I still don't understand why we even bother to write an article about what the religious reaction is. The government issues marriages licences making them the decider of what constistutes a marriage....not the church.
While today it is the government that "issues" marriage licenses, it usurped this from the church.
The President is using a religious commandment "Treat others the way you would like to be treated". I fully agree that we should be nice to the Gays and Lesbiens and that they should have union rights to equal jobs, signing papers for each other, the same rights in hospitals everyone else has and etc., but God also said man shall not lay with man. A marriage always has been between a man and a woman and should remain as such. In fact, unless the laws have changed, the things the gays and lesbiens do are illegal. Votes and money seem to replace intelligence and religion and the family values. Lord, forgive thy soles as they know not what they do.
And for those who do not believe in your god? Should they also have to pander to the intentions you ascribe to this god?
"In fact, unless the laws have changed, the things the gays and lesbiens do are illegal."
What laws are you talking about?
You should really educate yourself. The Supreme Court ruled that acts between gays and lesbians is not illegal. Any state law purporting to deem that criminal would be struck down.
You too Norman believe in Santa Claus hah? No wonder why the US has the lowest score in math and sciences in the developed world. Grow up and be counted among the intellectuals
Forgive their feet? Sigh. Dear God, please give us strength to deal with your hate-filled followers.
The Medieval mindset is so persistent with certain elements of the public followers of the Xtian Pagan cults. They reject Science, they reject genetic reality, they reject history (or try to distort it). Time to wake up and smell the Coffee.
Actually, you are wrong. God did not say anything in the bible. Human beings wrote the bible, in case you were unaware of that.
but God also said man shall not lay with man
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How do you know God said this? Did you interview him? Is this on tape? Oh...it's in the bible? Well, the bible was written by men, who want you to think that way. In your case, they've succeeded.
That is all the gays are asking for!
A civil union, also called a marriage under the law – but not to be confused with a religious marriage. Your religious marriage means nothing to the government – only the marriage license that you file with the courthouse means anything to the government.
They are not asking for the government to force churches to marry gays.
This issue has nothing to do with religious organizations – other than the fact that they both use the term "marriage".
"In fact, unless the laws have changed, the things the gays and lesbiens do are illegal."
Gays and lesbians do not do anything that we straights don't do. SCOTUS struck down all these laws years ago.
Why do you guys hate the constîtution?
How can one know right from wrong? I would not have known what sin is untill I read of it in the Bible, the Word of the Almighty God. The Word of God is living and alive and active in our day. You just cannot perceive it because you are spiritually dead. But nevertheless, even the dead will see the power behind theWord of God. When the cup of inquity reaches its full, it will be game over. It will not be done by man's hand, but rather, by the power of the Almighty God, theFather of our Lord, Jesus the Christ. So, what does this news from the US President mean? He claims to be a Christian and yet by deeds and words he sets himself against the Word of God. And he thinks he is cleaver by using part of the Word of God to justify his actions. What you do not understand and what now must be spelled out to all that will hear, a choice has been put before you, and based on the reply, judgments from of old will begin take hold from one end of the Earth to the other. I say this to all that will hear, separate yourselves and stand aside, make sure you do not partake of it's sins, the Almighty does not need men to execute his judgments, he has already deployed legions of His angels to do his bidding, the hour is now upon us, it is only a matter of time.
Thy name is mental illness. Seriously, how could you type this out in today's age?
And you set yourself against Jesus Christ. Follow His words and deeds, not your own.
Pretty sure you could post this every year for the rest of your life, and pass that responsibility on to your children's children, and you're still never going to see that "judgement" come.
If "god" was real, and was really all knowing, and was that upset about what we were doing, he would just wipe us out now. IF we are heading to an innevitable end, why would he wait? Is "God" a procrastinator? More likely; he doesn't exist, OR, he exists, and doesn't care.
I think if Christ were alive today.... he'd walk hand in hand with a gay couple into the most conservative "christian" church in this country, walk right up to the podium, and perform the marriage ceremony himself.
THAT is the Jesus I know.
I read of it in the Bible, the Word of the Almighty God
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Interesting description of the bible. The bible has the hand of man all over it: man wrote it, man edited it, man selected the individual works to comprise it, man left out equally relevant and compelling works because they didn't convey the message that MAN wanted, and man has(and continues to) offered new versions of it many times over. With these indisputable facts in place, I always find it interesting how someone can rationally call the work the "word of God".
I thought hubris was a sin. Claiming to know the mind of God is certainly hubris.
The Bible speaks of witches, Jonah inside a whale, the Earth being created in 6 days, Adam and Eve coming before any of the other animals (dinosaurs, etc.) etc. etc. It's the biggest bunch of BS. Until you come up with some evidence that any of it is true, my belief in the Flying Spaghetti Monster has exactly the same amount of credibility as your believing in your god...zero.
This is often referred to a s "Delusional" talk because you, an infinitesimal, tiny spec of protoplasm purport to speak for the Creator of the Galaxies and Planets and Love. You quote a book that has been passed through the hands of every tribe, re-written a thousands times and would literally require you to go to the edge of town and burn bull guts or to stone an "unclean woman" in some Barbaric way. So when Obama quotes Christ Himself and you don't...he wins and he is right because his is a position of love, equality and mercy and without judgement. Judge Not, Lest Ye Be Judged!
So what makes your Bible true and the Koran or Bhagavad Gita or Upanishads not true? You have proof? Have you even studied other faiths or their texts? Have you ever actually studied religious history? The arrogance and judgment of your post is the exact opposite of the teaching of Jesus Christ in the Bible that I read. Where is your compassion? Where is your humility? Where is you removing the sliver from our own eye? Where is your critical thinking skills? What makes the Bible true? Because you said so? Because a preacher said so? Shakes head.
Thank you for telling it as it has been written and commanded. He who has ears let him hear. As for the rest, Anathema Maranatha. It is also daid, "My children will hear My Voice"
I see in you another "biblical scholar" who has not read the book. How do I know you haven't read it? Because I have and you obviously do not know 1/10th of what is in it. Quit listening to the gibberish of some idiot on a pulpit, take the time to read the bible and then THINK FOR YOURSELF.
Honestly, he said he still thinks individual states should decide. So what does it really matter that he, personally, thinks they're okay, if he explicitly plans on not doing anything about it?
Gay Marriage is a civil right. The sooner Americans begin to realize it, the better. This is just "one small step" toward that end.
...but changing civil rights is not as simple as changing laws; rights require changing people's hearts, minds, and culture, too. It is happening, but slowly. Pushing an "agenda" right now is as likely to backfire badly as it is to succeed at fixing things.
BO and Biden also endorse anal copulation with gay sheep.
...at least you'll have company.
Hmmm...notice the first place your deviant mind went to...very telling.
Can the conservatives tell me / us 1 good reason why it should not be allowed besides it says so in the bible? You people really believe its a choice and not gene related?
They just "don't like it". Therefore, it's bad for you and me.
Don't bother arguing with these clods. They sincerely believe they're never wrong - which is EXACTLY the defining characteristic of a truly rock-stupid person. If you're looking for engaging debate, you're better off arguing with your cat.
They do. They also think the World began 6000 years ago, that men and dinosaurs cohabitated, like the flintstones and that a Jew rose from the dead because a god impregnated a virgin with himself, to give birth to himself, so he could sacrifice himself to himself to "forgive" and original sin that never happened.
Never, ever underestimate the capacity of your average evangelical or conservative Christian to be mind numbingly stupid.
@Jeff,
I'd take it one step further, even if it was purely a choice- SO WHAT? That still doesn't give a reason why it is bad or harmful to others who don't make that choice.
Jeff: I don't believe it is a choice, and I don't think it is gene-related. I think it is environmental - possibly pre-birth, possibly post-birth, most likely both. Identical twins can have different orientations, so I think the genetic theory of orientation is a pretty weak one. The real issue should be whether it is okay, not what causes it.
I was so 50/50 to simply not even vote, prior to this announcement. Now, there is nothing that can be done to change my mind. I'M VOTING FOR OBAMA!
I for one support gay and lesbian marriage to the fullest. If we are all equal then they should be as miserable as all the rest us married folk. j/k on the last part.
Do 'Christian' conservatives really think that God has any use for them?
They do. That is the problem!
This is just sad that our country has stooped to this level and our own President supports this. One thing for sure if normal folks man and women stop having children than the human race is gone. I am yet to see a man and a man make a child or 2 women. We have messed in what God ordained and he will cause destruction to this planet. We can not say that we came form monkeys anymore because they have normal action than humans I don't see them doing the things that we are doing and call it normal because it is not. I will not vote for someone that goes against what God has put together and call them selves christains!!
If anything, there are too many people on the planet. We're wrecking the place beyond repair. Thinning the herd is long overdue.
As for "what God ordained", well, that's *your* God. You know, the cosmic crybaby that so many people are tired of babysitting.
There is no god. So Gay marriage should be okay.
why do you believe that? what if you are wrong and what about the golden rule? Why hate and judge?
I hope you are really old, or you just re-defined stupid. Your post is so jawdroppingly stupid on so many levels that one gets confused in how to reespond to it, not to mention the 5th grade diction and spelling. All in all, it is better to simply abuse you for your Everest like ignorance and move on.
You really are a simpleton.
1) Go to a zoo, monkeys display all kinds of gay behavior.
2) Women can always have babies without men, ivf. No man, no matter who he marries, can ever have a baby
3) Whether or not a same gender couple marries is not going to effect whether or not they have a child. A gay man isn't going to want to sleep with a woman JUST becasue he can't marry the man he loves- "Can't have who I want guess I'll just start breeding". How do you not see that?
4) the world is massively overpopulated and getting worse. Do you think allowing people who weren't interested in the opposite gender to marry each other is going to kill us off?
5) If "God" exerts the level of direct influence you are suggesting then he is responsible (or at least complicite) in the birth of gay people. I would think you'd respect his plan and let it go.
I agree with you on the procreation part of man and woman being able to spread the species of man, but you lost me on you sky-daddy god and your imaginary friend jesus.
You obviously never graduated...from anything, considering your asinine statements above. Even if your god existed it wouldn't concern itself with something as trivial as gay marriage. How bout you religious conservatives work on something that actually advances us as a civilization rather than drag us down with your dark ages edicts.
You know what religious zealot means? Look up in the dictionary. No wonder the US has the lowest score in math and sciences in the devrloped world. It's the people like you who gets to live in the fantasy world of make belief. And the people like you that cause those score to be low.
@BRC Props! You nailed it.
So are you voting for Romney, the mormon? you do know that mormon's believe jesus came to the Utah, USA in the 1800's right? That's why their church is latter day saints...Are they against your word of God?
How 'Christian' of you. Jesus would gladly bring some wine and fish to his gay friends wedding. That's what people who love everyone (like Jusus) do.
Poor, Mike...we will have the exact same number of gays we and every society has and has had for all time (.5 to 1.5% of population by birth). This will not create new gays, nor take them away. But we will enter a time where humanity becomes slightly more divine and less judgmental. The past ways simply don't work. Go forth and multiply was not a permanent edict to choke off the planet. It was a command given to two specific people. So in this way, the LGBT folks are alleviating our very real ecological crisis...that sounds like God's Plan to me.
If this does become federal law and a church refuses to do the cerimony will this affect there tax status?
No. States could recognize same gender marriages all day long, adn in all 50 states by matter of law, but the Church can never be forced to sign off on it. Which is fine, they can be as dogmatic as they want, but it should be kept out of the governemnt.
More churches should lose their tax free status. Too many are hiding behind Christianity to push a conservative agenda that has nothing to do with Christianity.
They will never be 'forced' to perform a gay wedding. That's protected under religions freedom. They have the right to deny their religious services to anyone. If you're married you already know that since you had to prove to the church that you and your spouse are qualified to get married by the church.
Bishop Harry Jackson, the senior pastor of Hope Christian Church outside of Washington, DC – Ask what would Jesus has done.. He taught us to love everyone and same rights for every human. Do not worry – gay marriages will not hurt your marriage.
Christianity has NOTHING to do with Jesus.
Agreed, I don't see the big deal. It's not like we're doing great as a country anyway with marriage (50 something percent divorce rate if I recall). Also I find it amazing that it's 2012 and women are still fighting for true equality and that gays can't marry. It amazes me that we're (at least we consider ourselves) the greatest, most advanced country, yet we're still barbarians. Sigh.
Jesus never existed. Neither does god. Man created god.
Agree to that, there is no god, man created gods......lot's of em...
This is a zero sum event at worst for the president and possibly a small longterm boost. Anyone whose religious convictions drive them to the polls were already going to vote for Romney anyway... or not at all, given the cult label that hangs over his chosen religion.
It wasn't political calculus that the Obama administration made this proclamation during an election year, it was big mouth Biden being his usual candid self. Some of Biden's mishaps have caused the administration discomfort or amusement, this one may actually prove to be of benefit. After the media gets over the fact that the president has shifted on this issue (more publicly than privately I suspect) it may galvanize the lgbt community (a significant and ever-growing bloc) into action. That and NC's recent actions will prompt liberals and progressives to get into campaign mode early, the country has been shifting to the left on this issue for 20 years and a tipping point is at hand. Soon this issue will cease to be one. History will find Obama on the correct side of this, if a little late.
Yes, the conservative right is, for the most part, a "cult". True Christians follow the words and deeds of Christ. They are not haters. How many serial killers have been raised in this cult because those raising children think they are evil and try to bend them to their will or drive demons out of them through abuse? Jesus loved children and helped them through love not torture and evil acts.
The purpose of gay marriage will never be to pro-create. H o m o s e x uality is an excstacy of self love.
My wife and I are never going to procreate, so what's your point?
Kentucky science = oxymoron
Your posts are a excersize in self love. Shove your backwards way of thinking back up your loose butt hole.
I've been married to my wife for 8 years with no intention of procreating. Does that make us a gay couple?
The Truth,
In reference to your article claiming that the LDS Church has once again involved itself in trying to destroy gay celebrities. There is not a single reference to the LDS Church in this article. Is your accusation just a hollow rant?
Obviously, the LDS is trying to gain control of this country for some conspiracy.
The LDS is trying to get a Mormon as president so we can have multiple young girls as wives. And that we can marry our younger sisters and first cousins. Keep quite this is the plan if Mitt Romney wins the Whitehouse. Enjoy!
Divorce and infidelity are bigger threats to marriage and family values than "gay marriage" but you don't see the religious right trying to outlaw those. Probably because most of their Pastors would end up in jail.
Actually, the Roman Catholic church does not recognize divorce even today. (Not that this has actually stopped anyone.)
Why does Ralph Reed have any meaning to anyone. After that Abramoff, Norquist money laundering to funnel cash to Reed?
Reed should just crawl back under his rock.
I always thought....... and still think....... ralph reed is gay! so typical of finger pointing repubs