Rabbi Riled Because Bush Didn't Slam Door on Same-Sex Unions
by Bill Fancher and Fred Jackson
February 27, 2004
(AgapePress) - While many conservatives are praising President Bush for finally throwing his support behind a Federal Marriage Amendment, at least one rabbi in the Big Apple is upset with the president's apparent compromise on the issue of same-sex unions.
Jewish Orthodox Rabbi Yehuda Levin is with a New York City-based organization called Jews for Morality. Upon hearing President Bush announce support for a marriage amendment -- and at the same time give leaving it up to states to enact "other arrangements" for same-sex couples -- the rabbi offered his own interpretation of what the president said.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the United States," Levin said, paraphrasing the president's comments, "I'm here to announce that I've just lowered the dosage of poison which is affecting you and your children throughout this country and throughout the world. Instead of giving you a hundred percent poison, I've diluted [it] by fifty percent."
Obviously, the rabbi sees such a stance as a major compromise. Continuing his translation of the Chief Executive, Levin said:
"I will officially, on the record, oppose homosexual marriage -- but out of the other side of my mouth at the very same time, I will vigorously and fully support civil unions."
That, Levin says, is de facto homosexual "marriage," which is an affront to God, His Bible, and His values. "So how can I cheer for a president who does this and who allows what's going on in San Francisco for [the last two weeks]?" he asks.
Rabbi Levin says whatever one calls it, same-sex unions and homosexual marriages both are the opposite of God's morality and creative plan.
Bob Knight | |
A Backlash in Bay State?
Meanwhile, a new poll indicates that in the State of Massachusetts, there is growing opposition to efforts to legalize homosexual marriage.The battle over marriage and the defiance of California state law by homosexual advocates may be causing a backlash against their efforts to obtain governmental sanction of their relationships. Bob Knight of the Culture and Family Institute says a recent survey found that over the past four months, more people have decided to oppose homosexual marriage.
"The Boston Globe poll shows that as people understand more about what this will cost their communities and their children, they're turning against the idea of gay marriage," Knight says. "In fact, 14 percent more people oppose the ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court than did right after the ruling back on November 18."
The poll also found that only 35% of the Bay State's citizens favor giving governmental approval of the lifestyle by allowing homosexual couples to marry. "So even in liberal Massachusetts, you're seeing great movement toward protecting the institution of marriage," Knight observes.
The Massachusetts legislature resumes its debate on the issue on March 11.
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Dr. Richard Land |
Churches Should Be Wary
With the increasing reality that legalized homosexual marriages could be taking place in Massachusetts within a matter of weeks, some conservative leaders are bracing for what that may mean for the nation's churches.Dr. Richard Land, president and chief executive of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, tells Cybercast News that "if political correctness wins the struggle for hearts and minds, then you may see tremendous pressure to take away the tax-exempt status of churches and organizations that refuse to fully affirm and accept the homosexual lifestyle."
Allan Carlson of Focus on the Family agrees. He believes that if same-sex marriage is deemed a fundamental human right, churches might be penalized for refusing to recognize such a legal right.
The Boys Scouts of America provide a clear example of what can happen to non-profit groups targeted by homosexuals and their sympathizers. In recent years, the Scouts have suffered funding cuts and other sanctions for refusing to allow homosexual troop leaders.
