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May 13th, 2012
01:07 PM ET
Across country, black pastors weigh in on Obama's same-sex marriage supportBy Dan Gilgoff, CNN.com Religion Editor Washington (CNN) - Addressing his large, mostly black congregation on Sunday morning, the Rev. Wallace Charles Smith did not mince words about where he stood on President Barack Obama's newly announced support for same-sex marriage: The church is against it, he said, prompting shouts of "Amen!" from the pews. And yet Smith hardly issued a full condemnation of the president. "We may disagree with our president on this one issue," Smith said from the pulpit of the Shiloh Baptist Church in Washington. "But we will keep him lifted up in prayer. ... Pray for President Barack Obama." And Smith said there were much bigger challenges facing the black community - "larger challenges that we have to struggle with" - bringing his full congregation to its feet, with many more amens. Days after Obama announced his personal support for same-sex marriage, pastors across the country offered their Sunday-morning opinions on the development, with the words of black pastors - a key base of support for Obama in 2008, that is also largely opposed to gay marriage - carrying special weight in a presidential election year.But black pastors were hardly monolithic in addressing Obama's remarks. In Baltimore, Emmett Burns, a politically well-connected black minister who said he supported Obama in 2008, held an event at Rising Sun Baptist Church to publicly withdraw support from the president over Obama's same-sex marriage support. CNN’s Belief Blog: The faith angles behind the biggest stories "I love the president, but I cannot support what he has done," Burns said at the church. In an interview with CNN, Burns predicted that Obama's support for legalized same-sex marriage would lead to his defeat in November. The Rev. Calvin Butts, an influential black pastor in New York City, did not endorse Obama's views but denounced those who are ready to "watch others be discriminated against, marginalized, and literally hated in the name of God." "Our God is love," he said. And like Smith in Washington, plenty of black ministers talked about distinguishing between opposition to same-sex marriage and views about Obama. "I don't see how you cannot talk about it," the Rev. Tim McDonald, based in Atlanta, said earlier this week. "I have to. You can say I'm opposed to it (same-sex marriage), but that doesn't mean I'm against the president." Though African-Americans provided Obama with record support in 2008, they are also significantly more likely to oppose same-sex marriage than are whites. That may be because black Americans are more likely to frequently attend church than white Americans. A Pew Research Center poll conducted in April found that 49% of African-Americans oppose legalized same-sex marriage, compared with 39% who support it. Among whites, by contrast, Pew found that 47% supported gay marriage, while 43% opposed it. African-American pastors have been prominent in the movement to ban same-sex marriage. In North Carolina, black leaders helped lead the successful campaign for a constitutional amendment prohibiting gay marriage and domestic partnerships. In California, 70% of African-Americans supported Prop 8, the 2008 state gay marriage ban, even though 94% of black voters in California backed Obama. McDonald, who founded a group called the African-American Ministers Leadership Council, says he opposes same-sex marriage, but that he is more concerned about issues such as health care, education and jobs. But he says more black pastors are talking about same-sex marriage than ever before. "Three years ago, there was not even a conversation about this issue," McDoland says. "There wasn't even an entertainment of a conversation about this." In Atlanta, at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church - where Martin Luther King Jr. got his start - the Rev. Ralph Warnock addressed the president's remarks near the end of his sermon. "The president is entitled to his opinion," Warnock said. "He is the president of the United States, not the pastor of the United States." Warnock said that there is a place for gays in the church, and that "we don't have to solve this today." Black churchgoers on Sunday appeared split on same-sex marriage, though many of those opposed to it said they still supported Obama. "It's a human rights issue, not a gay issue. All people that pay taxes should get ... the same privileges and rights," said Terence Johnson, a congregant at Salem Bible Church in Atlanta. At Shiloh Baptist in Washington, Shauna King said she does not support same-sex marriage, but that she respects the president's decision on it. "I think he was very honest in what he was saying and personally he decided to do that," said the 38-year-old mother of two. "As individuals, we all have to make that decision for ourselves." "I believe it speaks to what America is," she said. "That we all have different views and are respected for our views individually." Black opposition to same-sex marriage has dropped dramatically in recent years. In 2008, Pew found that 63% of African-Americans opposed gay marriage, 14 percentage points higher than the proportion who expressed opposition this year. On Friday, a handful of black leaders, including the Rev. Al Sharpton and former NAACP leader Julian Bond, released a letter supporting Obama's position on same-sex marriage but expressing respect for those who disagree. "The president made clear that his support is for civil marriage for same-sex couples, and he is fully committed to protecting the ability of religious institutions to make their own decisions about their own sacraments," the letter said. "There will be those who seek to use this issue to divide our community," it continued. "As a people, we cannot afford such division." But the letter itself was an implicit acknowledgement of discord within the African-American church community on gay marriage. Black pastors who preach in favor of same-sex marriage know they may pay a price if they take Obama's position, says Bishop Carlton Pearson. The Chicago-based black minister says he lost his church building and about 6,000 members when he began preaching that gays and lesbians were accepted by God. "That's the risk that people take," he told CNN. "A lot of preachers actually don't have a theological issue. It's a business decision. They can't afford to lose their parishioners and their parsonages and salaries." Pearson navigates the tension between the Bible's calls for holiness and justice this way: "I take the Bible seriously, just not literally," he says. "It's more important what Jesus said about God than what the church says about Jesus." In Obama's interview with ABC this week, in which he announced his personal support for same-sex marriage, the president 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, referring to 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." - CNN’s John Blake, Chris Boyette, Meridith Edwards, Dan Merica and Stephanie Siek contributed to this report. soundoff (3,700 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 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 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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HUMAN RIGHTS, not religious rights
Gays have the same rights as you or me. Straight people cannot marry the same gender under federal law either or can in the states that allow it. Thats equality.
Paulie,
Two left handed people should not be allowed to marry.
Correct ?
For some strange idiotic reason, people think that the Black vote is one big block vote as they do with the Latino vote. Pastors responsibilities are to lead their congregations to pray (continually) for their leaders and not become political voices from their pulpits. It's sickening to see and hear the political commentaries resonating from these place they consider holy. No wonder the Church in America does not carry the clout it should. The President has a clear conscience about this matter and pastors should do what they are called to do so that their consciences could be clear as well.
Well 90% of blacks in the USA voted for Obama based on skin color. Now some of them wont vote for Obama because of this views on gays. Poetic justice.
Biden and Obama dancing cheek to cheek in the darkened "Oval Office" is just marvelous.
scary image
wouldn't bother me.
Biden cant dance.
Hey!!!! You black pastors out there....you will do as I tell you to do.
I am the shepard and you are my my sheep. Sheep follow the shepard....get it.
On no.....Michele is yelling at me. Got to go.
Obo
A black male is six times more likely to contract AIDS than a white male. They don't get if from needles either. This is the country that can't afford disabled soldiers, but we cn afford an AIDS epidemic?
Silly, silly little mind, what a waste. Give it to science for research on retardation.
Seems like you have been reading racist propaganda. AIDS is AIDS, and does not discriminate.
Blacks, haitians, hemophiliacs, gays and intravenous drug users are at higher risk of contracting AIDS/HIV (fact).
you're not at risk at all, Paulie. you couldn't get laid in a monkey w.hore house with a fist full of bananas.
booty: I happen to be monogamous and by the way AIDS/HIV can be dormant for many years after being contracted.
Hetero black woman are at highest risk, they dont think it can happen to them.
So in other words Obama is losing black peoples votes because of his bone headed divisive comment. Good!
NO. He's not losing votes. These doofuses just run their mouths in front of the media, and always act like they represent an entire race of people. They couldn't have chosen a more ludicrous subject to make such a claim.
He absolutely is losing votes of church going black persons! He alienated his base.
The only alternative for them is to not vote. They're not going to vote for Romney. If they're sheepish enough to surrender their vote because the pimmp in the pulpit said so...then they'll get what they deserve.
Obama had a stroke of brilliance.
Romney has painted himself into a corner as out of touch with Americans.
GOP wants him to concentrate on the economy.
Obama drops gay marriage into his lap, and he now has to deal with.
Obama/Biden 2012
The Golden Rule also has roots in the two old testament edicts, found in Leviticus 19:18 ("Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself"; see also Great Commandment) and Leviticus 19:34 ("But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God").
The Old Testament Deuterocanonical books of Tobit and Sirach, accepted as part of the Scriptural canon by Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the Non-Chalcedonian Churches, also express a negative form of the golden rule:
"Do to no one what you yourself dislike."
—Tobit 4:15
"Recognize that your neighbor feels as you do, and keep in mind your own dislikes."
—Sirach 31:15
At the time of Hillel, an elder contemporary of Jesus of Nazareth, the negative form of the golden rule already must have been proverbial, perhaps because of Tobit 4:15. When asked to sum up the entire Torah concisely, he answered:
"That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation; go and learn."
—Talmud, Shabbat 31a
satan quoted the bible too
If one really wants to live by the Golden Rule they will inform someone when they are sinning against God. Obama should be telling it like it is, not placating gays and their advocates in order to, hopefully, get their vote.
BTW, if Obama keeps "evolving" on this issue will he eventually say beas ti ali ty is acceptable? Why not? Who has the right to draw the line besides the Creator who already spoke?
My God is better than your god, and he HATES Gays.
actually, you're god is just as made up as any other.
And I believe that dragons did exist once and Religious freaks killed them off because they were different
Al Sharpton supports Barack Obama. Breaking news: The ocean is wet.
Rich... black church vs gay marraige... gotta love the levels of hypocrisy here... please go at it while I eat my popcorn... see how the attack machine works gay people and black people? It is your turn now, so guess you do.
blacks are so stupid. they will cling to Affirmative Action and tell white people they are not as smart so they can't compete.
next obama is more white than black. carried in a womb of a white mother for 9 months what did dad do..9 seconds...ha
vote for him because he has done sooooo much for you...
Educated much?
seriously, leave the clan rally.
I find it hypocritical when an African-American denounces gay rights considering their own history of not just their struggle for civil rights, but also for the time when it was legally forbidden for an African-American man or woman to marry their opposite white-colored counterpart. Equal rights must apply to all of us....
Thats because many black people are inherently selfish and also bigoted and a non-public way.
How is gay marriage a civil right? It does not even begin to compare to what the blacks fought for, and continue to fight for. One does not choose whether they are black or white. So far, there is zero scientific evidence that people who are gay are such because of a biological factor. Until that biological factor is discovered, it remains a choice.
Paulie, you're a prejudiced moron.
blacks are christians and generally poor, that's why they're h.omophobic.
@Mary Graham
Do you read anything other than your bible or the propaganda your religion dishes-out? Just curious.
Christians are not generally poor where do you get your facts from? Most of them live in mcmansions and drive mercedes.
@Voice of Reason
Do you read anything other than the propaganda Athiests and gay rights advocates dig out? Just curious ; )
Hey Mary,
Until they find a "straight" gene
S T F U.
The government should NOT be involved in marriage at all. This should be a matter for individuals and religions, not a government.
the only smart person i've seen here. you nailed it withoeve, the gov. don't belong in student loans, contraceptives, gay rights, Gm, Citi Bank, and on and on and on.
AMEN!, (or aman or aman and aman. whatever)
What hypocrisy. Phonies. They're against something as fundamental as this but will sell-out for other things that 'are more important.' Time for a modern prophet to tell these phony-balonies off.
Its amazing how so many atheist hit these articles and make comments. I mean making comments on a god u dont bellieve in...what a waste of time. OR maybe there just being intolerant.....i dont know u decide.
if christians didn't try to shove their viewpoints down everyone else's throats, there would be much to complain about.
We understand you being uncomfortable when confronted with reality. But, honestly, you don't think that people following voices in their head, or others who are following those voices, isn't something worth commenting on?
Notice bootyfunk's Freudian slip?
"if christians didn't try to shove their viewpoints down everyone else's throats, there would be much to complain about."
Meaning: he and the other atheists would still kibitz.
The government should not be involved in marriage at all. Tradition or not, the matter is clearly a step or twenty over the line of religion. The matter should be a clear breach of church and state. No religion should be forced to accept what they government defines their belief to be.
@bigbang
riiiiiight. try using logic and reason when you post.
Not as big of a waste of time as believing in a god that doesn't exist.
@Bootyfunk
Ya got that right; that's why they are so vocal. They were quiet for too long and now there is a LOT to complain about.
Seriously, if someone doesn't step in and defend morality we will be far beyond the point of no return. The further we fall away from God's word the worse we are.
I don't know about marriage, but I like watching lesbians on video.
Amen to that
Blacks have earned the right to express their views about thier beliefs, and NO ONE IS FORCING ANYTHING. Romans 8:7 you either understand or you don't. Blacks don't follow anything blindly. Ask our president who found Bin Laden. BOTH EYES OPEN.
Our Intelligence on order from Former President Bush. You make love Obama, but underneath all this mumbo jumbo, he does not give a cent about America. Period, He wants a country like China, Venezuela, etc. Government should not dictate to us as Americans, We the people, not the government. He is going to keep us down, I don't care what color he is either, EVERY THING you think he is doing right is hurting us. Look at all that waste, oh wait he thinks the rich are the only ones who have to pay. I forget that solves everything, when he cant target them, and the lower income has not money who do you think is next.??? Nothing in life is free people. Open those eyes. Didn't your mom or grandmother, father ever teach you that as a young kid. NOTHING IS FREE.
*** Lisa
Our Intelligence on order from Former President Bush.
-------------------------
You would give credit to Bush for killing Osama Bin Laden
but you would blame President Obama for the financial mess.
The financial mess left by Bush.
You Repubs are pathetic.
After Prop 8 – As a GAY MAN and the INEFFECTIVENESS of the OBAMA ADMINISTRATION. I always empathized with the Black journey. NEVER NEVER NEVER AGAIN. I am VOTING REPUBLICAN. YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN. OBAMA IS A LIAR.
yeah, cause republicans will definitely support your cause - they're the ones putting in laws to keep you from marrying!!!
You are not gay.
I'm going to comment on these two...
Cathy S:
I think that gay people can have civil unions and still get rights.They don't have to get married to get rights.
JayNYC:
And Cathy, black people can use the other water fountain and still get water, right? And they'll still get to their destination in the back of the bus, right?
SEBASTIAN:
So gay marriage is a civil right issue as most people says it not.
"Gay rights are human rights and human rights are gay rights."
– Hillary Clinton
The Golden Rule also has roots in the two old testament edicts, found in Leviticus 19:18 ("Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself"; see also Great Commandment)
and Leviticus 19:34 ("But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God").
The Old Testament Deuterocanonical books of Tobit and Sirach, accepted as part of the Scriptural canon by Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the Non-Chalcedonian Churches, also express a negative form of the golden rule:
"Do to no one what you yourself dislike."
—Tobit 4:15
"Recognize that your neighbor feels as you do, and keep in mind your own dislikes."
—Sirach 31:15
At the time of Hillel, an elder contemporary of Jesus of Nazareth, the negative form of the golden rule already must have been proverbial, perhaps because of Tobit 4:15. When asked to sum up the entire Torah concisely, he answered:
"That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation; go and learn."
—Talmud, Shabbat 31a
"The Golden Rule also has roots in the two old testament edicts, found in Leviticus 19:18 ("Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself"; see also Great Commandment)"
LOL!!! sorry, you don't get credit. the golden rule was written about by Confucius and others thousands of years before christianity reared its ugly head. sowwy, christians plagiarized.
Hebrew Bible – circa 700 BCE “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against your countrymen. Love your fellow as yourself: I am the LORD
Confucianism.- circa 500 BCE “What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.” Analects of Confucius 15:24,
Serious question.. Is there some atheist rule that prohibits the use of Google to fact check?
They teach love but hate gays. Where's the logic in that. The real question is WWJD?
jesus supported slavery.
Jesus: Love thy neighbor.
Tea Party Jesus: If thy neighbor is different, hate them with all thy might.
jesus didn't like foreigners. here he makes a woman call her people "dogs" before he will heal her daughter. real loving.....
Mathew 15:21-28
21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”
23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
"The real question is WWJD?" He would love the person, but hate their sins. He hated sin so much that He died to defeat it...He won! Therefore, we can stand before a Holy God ….covered by the Righteousness of Christ Jesus.
he would likely want to put blacks back into slavery. he supported slavery:
Luke 12:37-38
37 "Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them.
38 "Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.”
@ Bootyfunk
You need to stop taking the scriptures out of context…. You really don’t know what you’re talking about. And as far as being a ‘slave’, you sound like you’re a real slave to sin. Your name says it all….
WWJD – This is what Jesus said about marriage
Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' 5 and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh' ? 6 So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." Matt 19:4-6
*** wisdom4u2
"The real question is WWJD?" He would love the person, but hate their sins. He hated sin so much that He died to defeat it...He won!
He didnt win, he is dead.
But somebody convinced you that he rose from the dead
and you fell for it.
Must be true, says so in your book.
Stupid Al Sharpton.