Church cancels gay vet's memorial
Texas congregation acted out of principle, not malice, pastor says
The Associated Press
Updated: 2:19 p.m. ET Aug 11, 2007
ARLINGTON, Texas - A megachurch canceled a memorial service for a Navy veteran 24 hours before it was to start because the deceased was gay...
Wright said High Point offered to hold the service for Sinclair because their brother is a janitor there. Sinclair, who served in the first Gulf War, died Monday at age 46 from an infection after surgery to prepare him for a heart transplant.
The church's pastor, the Rev. Gary Simons, said no one knew Sinclair, who was not a church member, was gay until the day before the Thursday service, when staff members putting together his video tribute saw pictures of men "engaging in clear affection, kissing and embracing."
'It's not that we didn't love the family'
Simons said the church believes homosexuality is a sin, and it would have appeared to endorse that lifestyle if the service had been held there.
"We did decline to host the service — not based on hatred, not based on discrimination, but based on principle," Simons told The Associated Press. "Had we known it on the day they first spoke about it — yes, we would have declined then. It's not that we didn't love the family."...
"Even though we could not condone that lifestyle, we went above and beyond for the family through many acts of love and kindness," Simons said.
Wright called the church's claim about the pictures "a bold-faced lie." She said she provided numerous family pictures of Sinclair, including some with his partner, but said none showed men kissing or hugging...
Wright said relatives declined the church's offer to hold the service at a community center because they felt it was an inappropriate venue. It ultimately was held at a funeral home, but the cancellation still lingered in some minds, she said.
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20221295/?GT1=10252
I've written about this on my blog at www.skippingtothepiccolo.com and over at ClarksvilleOnline.com:
Church slams door on gay vet's funeral (http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2007/08/12/church-slams-door-on-gay-vets-funeral/)
The more I read about it, the angrier I got.
I wish I could find civil words to describe how this makes me feel. >:(
Hmmm..... I wonder what Christ would say about this. Would he welcome home his fallen son?
I think so.... with open arms.
This is a down right shame.
Cindi
Quote from: Wendy Kahr on August 12, 2007, 10:58:01 AM
"We did decline to host the service — not based on hatred, not based on discrimination, but based on principle," Simons told The Associated Press. "Had we known it on the day they first spoke about it — yes, we would have declined then. It's not that we didn't love the family."...
They meant to say "not based on hatred, not based on discrimination, but based on the
principle of hatred and discrimination".
Hopefully the family will leave that church and others who are closeted or have gay loved ones will leave too.
I've been wondering when and how these attitudes are going to have a backlash. It may take more than one incident, though.
i was speaking to a christian friend about homosexuals in christianity and he said that we may not practice it ourselves but we do not judge how other people live. he said that the church was in the wrong to not do the service. many churches welcome homosexuals.
in my eyes it was pure discrimination. how heartless can they be? they are a church, that is part of what they do. for god. only god has the right to judge others right? they shouldnt turn ANYONE away >:( and afterall we are all just people!
You will never stop narrow minded people. That is unfortunate.
Sarah L.
he died to make all men equal, not so that one group could look down on another...
R :police: