Preachers, the President, and the Pope Make Strange Bedfellows

Some very diverse leaders have spoken out against legalization of gay relationships recently. One is Pat Robertson who speaks in tongues and says he hears words from God about people being healed of ailments while watching his television program. Another is Jerry Falwell who thinks these ideas of Robertson are at best foolish and at worst satanic. Yet Falwell is foolish enough to slide down a water slide on national TV raising funds to take over another evangelist’s television network. Both Robertson and Falwell think it is heresy that the Pope believes dead saints can intercede to God for live saints. The Pope believes he sits on the throne at the Vatican in place of Christ and rules the one true apostolic church. Yet they all agree on one big lie – that gay marriage is a threat to society.

President Bush has also decided this week to take an anti-gay marriage position and get his administration’s lawyers to block attempts at legalizing same-sex relationships. It is difficult to find a religious ideology or ethical position of the President’s to compare with that of the other leaders who believe the same lie. I don’t think anyone really believes that legalizing gay marriage is going to turn heterosexuals into homosexuals, so I can only understand the President’s position in terms of his need for a domestic enemy to scapegoat to gain votes next election. However, most Americans have come to expect our politicians to be scoundrels so it’s no surprise.

Similarly, the Vatican, Falwell, and Robertson need a common danger to preach against so they can scare people and gain power and wealth. Robertson has been asking people to call in to his television program and pledge prayer to replace the Supreme Court, even though this is the conservative court he helped get there. When you call to pledge, you will begin getting mail asking you to give money so he can continue the fight against the threat of gays and lesbians. The truth is there is no threat, marriage is in enough trouble from heterosexuals, homosexuals will not change that fact. Falwell is famous for sometimes sending mass mailings as much as three times a week pleading for money to fight such things as the little purple dolls on TV. They must be gay you see because Falwell said so.

The problem is that all of these leaders claim to be followers of Jesus. Interestingly, the Gospel tells of a Roman Centurion coming to Jesus because he was concerned about his young lover. His lover was sick and near death. (Most modern Bibles translate the word servant but scholars agree that lover is more appropriate.) Jesus simply did as the man requested. He saved the Centurion’s lover’s life. No fire fell from heaven. No earthquakes came. No scare tactics or mass mailings were printed. All Jesus did was bring healing and blessing to this couple. He didn’t condemn their relationship or try to warn anyone against such a relationship. He simply brought wellness and blessing into their lives. Why can’t church and government leaders today do likewise?

Robert Buchanan is a minister of the Ecumenical Catholic Church and a psychotherapist who lives with his partner of many years in Durham North Carolina.  He is the author of  Love, Honor & Respect: How to Confront Homosexual Bias in Christian Culture and serves as director of the Institute for Inclusive Christianity. a training program for ministers and clergy who do not discriminate against gays, lesbians, bisexuals, or because of financial, familial or social status.  Additional resources for inclusive Christians can be found at our Resources page.

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Last modified: 07/09/05