Conservative Christians fear Hate Crimes Law

According to Catholic News Agency, something called the Family Research Council, headed by a man named Tony Perkins is afraid of a new hate crimes law, which makes violence against people who are confused about their sexuality and gender a federal offense.

It is hard to understand what a true christian would have to be afraid about in this law. But then the Evangelical movement, the christian fundamentalists, the fundies have never been about Christianity but about their socio-political agenda. This agenda includes saving and protecting "the family" by bashing, making fun of and generally promoting a hateful attitude toward those who are confused about their gender and sexuality.

Their slogan of course is love the sinner, and hate the sin, except being protestant they have no way to practice this slogan since they do not have the benefit of the grace that comes from regularly taking the sacraments.

To many, homosexual activity is so disgusting, that it is impossible to love homosexuals, without the grace that comes from regualarly going to confession and communion, praying the rosary and spending time in Eucharistic adoration. However if one is going to ignore the words of eteranl life, "unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood there is no life in you", as teh fundies do; how can they be expected to do the really difficult things that Jesus comanded -- like loving even one's enemies.

As Catholics of course, we do have the grace of the sacraments which allows us to love others, even while trying to help them overcome their disordered behavior. We can separte the behavior from the person, who like all of us is created in the image and likeness of our creator.

Jesus commanded us that whateevver we do to the least of those among us we do to Him. This begs the question, whom to us persoanally is least. If we do not see Christ in these people, then we are not followers of Jesus. He made this quite clear in Matt 25:31-46. This particualr piece of scripture is not a parable, nor was it directed only to the first bishops He was training to build the kingdom of God/Heaven on earth -- the Catholic Church. This passges represents one of the few times, He spoke directly to us all -- lambs, sheep, and shepards alike. And more than a vehicle of meditation, it is a way of life. It is "the way."

Without the sacraments and the grace that comes from them it is impossible to follow Jesus. And to follow Jesus as He himself told us is to keep His commandments, which includes loving our enemeies, and our neighbors as oursleves. To me fearing this law and turning it around as some how a censorship of Christianity is aking to walking by the Rabbi who was overcome by robbers and fell into the ditch. President Obama, in this case, may be the good Sameritian, who helped the Rabbi.

After all from what was this law begotten? The brutal murders of two transgendered individuals. Men confused about their gender, one was decapitated, the other was brutally beaten. How can anyone who calls themselves "christian" be against such a law? How can anyone who calls themselves "christian" do anything but applaud the President's action in signing this bill into law.

No, the opposition and fear of the Family Research Council and other fundamentalist organizations does not stem from "Christianity" a desire to love and serve God, by serving the least of those among us; but from a desire to see them punished on earth and indeed eradicated. It comes from playing God, the God of the old covenant. The desire to see sodomites punished on earth, and the support for violence against them. None of this has anything to do with Christianity, but more it has to do with a desire to bring about a new world order in which those confused about their sexuality and gender are given their just deserts, so that the rest of us are not inconvienced by behaviors which we find repulsive.

Let us also not forget, that were Mr. Perkins and his followers to really come into power, after their extermination of homosexuals, they would start in on we Catholics. In the bizarre socio-political foundation of their movement the pope is seen as the anti-Christ. And we Catholics only useful as the bible, and true religion are, in service to the socio-p0litical agenda of their misguided and misunderstood movement. This movement would replace the laws of man and the new covenant with the laws of Mosses as it serves their political ends -- a new world order -- in which those who are different instead of being healed are punished. And let us not forget the next group to be eradicated would be those men who wear the funny dresses and hats and encourage others to worship idols -- The Catholic Church.

As a Catholic I support neither homosexual activity, nor gay marriage, or President Obama's promotion of homosexuality by supporting "gay rights." Theses were two issues I had with President Obama's recent speech to the Equal Rights Commission.

But equally I see nothing to fear from the President's action in signing a bill that calls hate what it is.

Fear those who can kill the soul not those who can kill the body. The evangelicals, fundamentalists -- the fundies -- love to lead Catholics and others away from the truth of Jesus Christ. Their inclination to use the Bible and religion to do this does not change this fact.