Let's inspire each other!

[TuckandStuiesMom]

FINALLY! my Letter to the Editor made it into the online version of our local paper.Here is a link: http://www.wmicentral.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20162570&BRD=2264&PAG=461&dept_id=581906&rfi=6
It will be interesting to see if it makes it into the print edition too.

p.s. -- there's a place to post comments. Pls have at it.

OH MY GOSH!!! "THEY" took down my original letter (on the paper's website @ 5:30 am this morning) and reposted the print version that has been SO HEAVILY edited that it doesn't make any sense!!! I am SO UPSET. I feel like I've stepped into low rent episode of The Prisoner.

 

[dwheatl]

Wow. The letter isn't there at all when I click on the link. Scary.

Our newspaper comes out on the 16th, I think. Crossing my fingers my letter will be there.
Our last week's parish bulletin had a bunch of political stuff attached that I disagree with, including why parishioners should vote yes on 8 . I really feel they are pushing the limit between church and state. DH and I are talking about taking the sizable chunk of change we had promised to the diocese, and giving it to the local charity that manages a food pantry and emergency clothing and school supplies. I was really fuming on Sunday.

 

[OrlandoMike]

Wow, the letter was there earlier, strange. Let us know what happened....

And Danielle, your church bulliten contains political stuff? I would be speaking to my priest about that! But that is just me....

 

[dwheatl]

I know. I am ready to say something. We moved to a more liberal parish thinking we would be avoiding this, but there it was. It would not have surprised me in our old parish, but I was shocked to see it in our new one. I just have to think about how to say this without swearing or kicking anything.

 

[OrlandoMike]

Write out your thoughts, this will give you time to think about what you want to say.

I would also do a little research about separation of church and state, and the tax exempt status.

 

[kingLouiethe1]

Great job everyone! I am asking all my friends to put their money where my mouth is and actually make a contribution to to no on 8, and I encourage all of you to do the same! Even if you're not in California, this is going to be an important one, and we need your help to counteract all the fundraising the mormons have done

I've mentioned this guy on my blog, but he's a priest who is currently on suspension for coming out against prop 8, you should definitely check out Father Geoff Farrow's blog.

 

[TuckandStuiesMom]

Here is a link for the new and "improved" version

http://www.wmicentral.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20162762&BRD=2264&PAG=461&dept_id=581906&rfi=6

With the editing and the new title, it just sounds like I'm calling a bunch of people liars without any evidence. Even the lyrics to the hymn were removed. I was disappointed when the print version turned up hacked up like this -- but I thought: "well, newsprint's expensive and the paper has a right to edit for space and at least, they published my letter in its entirety online."

It's been sorta funny (in a sad way). It was clear from the start, the paper REALLY didn't want to have anything to do with my opinion AT ALL. First they told me they "lost" my letter. (I then took them a hard copy,) Then they told me they had rec'd soooooo many letters, that they just didn't know when they might possibly fit it in. (I told them that in all the many years I ever lived in the community, I have only ever sent them one letter -- unlike the regulars who are in there every week -- ragging on liberals, free trade, and the Supreme court circa 1975) That stopped'em cold and oddly, Friday's editions had NO letters. (That HAD to be an all time first.) I'll be calling them again today to try to find out what happened but it is so discouraging. I've known the folks at the paper just about forever -- and now, it's like I guess we didn't really know each other after all. Sad.

 

[TuckandStuiesMom]

Great job everyone! I am asking all my friends to put their money where my mouth is and actually make a contribution to to no on 8, and I encourage all of you to do the same! Even if you're not in California, this is going to be an important one, and we need your help to counteract all the fundraising the mormons have done

I've mentioned this guy on my blog, but he's a priest who is currently on suspension for coming out against prop 8, you should definitely check out Father Geoff Farrow's blog.

Thank you, Louie for posting the link to Father Geoff's blog. I read his most recent entry and actually felt a little better after reading his compassionate and rational words.

For what it's worth, I'd like to say not all Mormons feel/do as the church leaders direct on this issue. (Golly! This must be what it's like to be a Log Cabin Republican.) Free Agency is a fundamental tenet of the faith.

 

[TuckandStuiesMom]

Wow. The letter isn't there at all when I click on the link. Scary.

Our newspaper comes out on the 16th, I think. Crossing my fingers my letter will be there.
Our last week's parish bulletin had a bunch of political stuff attached that I disagree with, including why parishioners should vote yes on 8 . I really feel they are pushing the limit between church and state. DH and I are talking about taking the sizable chunk of change we had promised to the diocese, and giving it to the local charity that manages a food pantry and emergency clothing and school supplies. I was really fuming on Sunday.

I hope your letter makes it into your newspaper too -- complete and unedited.
Your point about making a donation to a local charity that manages a food pantry and emergency clothing and school supplies is an AWESOME idea. Louie pointed out the obscene amount of money (millions in AZ alone ) donated to further these propositions in the political arena. Even setting aside for a minute the issue of how wrong-headed, mean, and hateful these propositions are, THAT IS JUST PLAIN WRONG when there are so many people in this world without food to eat, decent water to drink, shoes to wear, schools to go to, and on and on... Our Heavenly Father/Mother surely must be shaking his/her head in sadness and wonder at our priorities.

 

[rpmdfw]

Great job everyone! I am asking all my friends to put their money where my mouth is and actually make a contribution to to no on 8, and I encourage all of you to do the same! Even if you're not in California, this is going to be an important one, and we need your help to counteract all the fundraising the mormons have done

I've mentioned this guy on my blog, but he's a priest who is currently on suspension for coming out against prop 8, you should definitely check out Father Geoff Farrow's blog.

Thank you for posting Father Farrow's blog.

As a former Catholic, I am inspired by his fight. As a human being, I am encouraged by his perseverence in doing what is right. The world needs more men of faith like him.

I've forwarded his blog on to all of my Catholic relatives.

 

[kingLouiethe1]

Thank you, Louie for posting the link to Father Geoff's blog. I read his most recent entry and actually felt a little better after reading his compassionate and rational words.

For what it's worth, I'd like to say not all Mormons feel/do as the church leaders direct on this issue. (Golly! This must be what it's like to be a Log Cabin Republican.) Free Agency is a fundamental tenet of the faith.

I would never dream of holding all of mormon-hood responsible for the stance the leadership has taken. I think it's really sad the way the mormon church has come down against dissenting voices in their rank.

 

[TuckandStuiesMom]

I would never dream of holding all of mormon-hood responsible for the stance the leadership has taken. I think it's really sad the way the mormon church has come down against dissenting voices in their rank.

Oh Sweetie, I never thought you meant all of them/us... BTW -- I've never seen or heard the term "Mormon-hood" before... Kinda reminds me of the theme song of a TV show I absolutely loved when I was a teensy little thing back in the Pleistocene era:

Mormon-hood, Mormon-hood -- Brave adventurous and bold... (OK -- it was a show about Robin Hood for all you youngsters out there...)

 

[dwheatl]

Well, bad news and good news. My letter did not make it, but the one that did was more eloquent and powerful than mine. The author made many wonderful points, including the fact that the $20 million in contributions from Catholics supporting Prop 8 would have been put to better use in research and education for better, lasting, life-giving marriages and families.

I am happy that the paper published such a well-written "no on 8" letter, and it is only my pride that is wounded in not getting published.

TandSmom, glad you got published, sorry they hacked you up. It was still an important message for the readers. Maybe some will wake up to the lying, mean-spirited behavior of the opposing side. We can only hope, and keep speaking up.


Thanks for the link to Fr. Geoff, KingLoui. DH and I led a marriage prep retreat last month (as we do a few times a year), and the priest on the weekend (Fr. Dan) was such a blessing. He preached on the need to treat all of our brothers and sisters with kindness and compassion, and said that he believes one day the Church will come to realize that they have been wrong about homosexuality. I thanked him privately and let him know that our son is gay, and he was so sweet. He said that his nephew is as well, and that "He's the best of the bunch!" (meaning of their large family). Fr. Dan is one of the people who gives me hope for my faith.

Mike, I am going to write out what I have to say to my pastor. I know the church has ways of getting around the separation thing, because they always say things like, "vote your conscience", and "you must vote for laws that support the family." I threw away the papers in a fit of pique, but I know they are covering their . I just find it unconscionable for Fr. Wally to attach that to the bulletin knowing full well that their are at least two gay couples in the congregation (it's a small parish). I know how hurt I was; I can only imagine how those couples felt.

 

[Salinger]

dwheatl, funny you should mention about the millions spent by the Catholic church on this issue. Here in Canada, the U.S. Knights of Columbus and American Focus on Family sent hundreds of thousands of dollars across the border in supporting the anti-equality forces here as parliament was preparing to vote.

As you know, it didn't work. We've had equal marriage here for years now, and as mentioned, the country hasn't imploded. If anything, Canada seems to have been more blessed since in any number of ways.

Just a suggestion, instead of referring to it as "same-sex marriage" we in the fight here, always referred to our goal as "Equal Marriage". It's a much more accurate description, and paints opponents of the concept as what they are, against equality.

Keep up the good fight!

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Thank you, Salinger. That is an excellent point.

Any room up there in Cananda for two more?

 

[TuckandStuiesMom]

There appears to be growing dissent (small but significant) in my former church on it's position on Equal marriage (Love that term! )

Recent AP article:
Mormon group protests church's gay marriage stance

By JENNIFER DOBNER – 11 hours ago

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A group of Mormons who support gay marriage delivered protest letters and bundles of carnations to church headquarters Friday in an appeal to end the church's support of a ballot initiative to ban same-sex marriage in California.

The group, called Sign for Something, disagrees with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' opposition to gay marriage and its efforts to boost Mormon involvement before the Nov. 4 election.

The church is part of a coalition of conservative groups backing Proposition 8, which would amend the state constitution to limit marriage to a man and a woman and thereby overturn the California Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage.

More than 40 people sang hymns as they made the delivery, which was accepted by a church spokeswoman.

Included in the packet is a petition signed by more than 400 people, including church members from around the world. It asks the church to "stop political organizing efforts and financial support of attempts to use government to restrict the secular and religious rights of gay and lesbian individuals."

Andrew Callahan, of Hastings, Neb., helped lead Friday's delivery. He said many Mormons with gay and lesbian loved ones are torn over the gay marriage issue and want very much to be heard by leadership.

"They feel like (the loved ones) should be treated fairly and evenly and equally, just like you and me, but their church tells them 'no, they can't be,'" he said before handing over the letters.

Steve and Linda Stay drove more than 300 miles from southern Utah to be among the protesters. Two of the nine children in the Stays' blended family are gay. Their son, Tyler Barrick, married his partner, Spencer Jones, in San Francisco, Linda Stay said.

"This is a huge issue for us. For us, it's a civil rights issue, not just a religious issue," said Linda Stay. "It's taking away their right to have the same benefits that I do."

Church spokeswoman Kim Farah said the church understands that some members disagree with its stance.

"It also understands that this issue affects people in very private, individual ways," Farah said. "However, the church does have a moral obligation to speak out on issues that affect the moral fabric of society as it has in this case."

Officially, the Mormon church is politically neutral and does not endorse individual candidates or political parties. The church does, however, weigh in on issues it considers morally important. The church holds traditional marriage as a sacred institution ordained by God.

Church members are taught that gay sex is a sin. Gays can continue to hold church callings if they remain celibate, however. Those who act on what the church calls "same-gender attraction" have sometimes been excommunicated.

Mormons have given $8.4 million to the Proposition 8 campaign, according to the Web site mormonsfor8.com.

 

[TuckandStuiesMom]

LDS Members in Support of Equal Marriage Website URL:

http://signingforsomething.org/blog/

Well, I spent a little more time on this site after I posted the URL. Andrew Callaghan is a dead ringer for Tommy Chong before he cut his hair. He's apparently facing excommunication because of his beliefs. When I first saw part one of his video -- I'm thinkin "OH MAN -- I wish he'd cut his hair and stay on message better. By Part 2, I'm thinkin "whoda thunk we'd up and grow a Holy Fool?" Remarkable development, really.

If you don't know what a Holy Fool is, Wiki has a wonderfully concise description:

Foolishness for Christ refers to behavior motivated by real or assumed craziness, to serve a religious purpose of Christianity. The term fools for Christ is attributed to Saint Paul. Saint Francis of Assisi and other saints acted the part of Holy Fools, as have the yurodivy of Eastern Orthodox asceticism. Fools for Christ often employ shocking, unconventional behavior to challenge accepted norms, deliver prophecies or to mask their piety.[1] There are also parallels in non-Christian Oriental religion, notably amongst Zen monks, and the Mahasiddhas traditions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yurodivy

 

[OrlandoMike]

Could you explain the pic in your post to me?

 

[TuckandStuiesMom]

Could you explain the pic in your post to me?

Hi Mike -- it is a graphic from the site that I posted above. It represents 11 scriptural (LDS primarily -- I'd say) reasons to support equal marriage.

 

[OrlandoMike]

Oh OK, now it makes sense. Thanks!