Cheney's Daughter

Is it out of line to ask Dick Cheney what he thinks of conservatives who are outspoken against gay marriage and believe his daughter's choice to have a child while in a gay relationship is sinful and morally wrong? I don't think so. His administration has not hesitated to use other people's children in their arguments against stem cell research and even gay marriage.

My religious denomination, the United Church of Christ, has voted to endorse gay marriage, to be a welcoming and inclusive church. Because of this decision, we have lost some congregations and we have gained others. The Episcopal church in America is facing the same divisive struggle. It baffles me that people can use God's word (regardless of what God you believe in) to hurt others when almost every world religion I know has love and acceptance at its basic core.

Christians who preach against homosexuality often quote Leviticus as their reason for knowing that God condemns homosexuality. Leviticus was written as a way to illustrate to the Jews that they were a separate people, a chosen people, and to stay separate and pure, they needed to follow specific rules about the Sabbath, their diet, and circumcision. Those who quote Leviticus often pick out the sections of the book that they believe to be absolute and true. They quote Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13

"You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination."

and

"If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death; their blood be upon them."

(Note: the Bible says little, if anything, about lesbianism. Does that mean only homosexual males are to be condemned?)

What about Leviticus 19:19?
"Do not mate different kinds of animals. Do not plant your fields with two kinds of seed. Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material."

or Leviticus 19:26?
"Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it."

or Leviticus 19:27?
"Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard."

or Leviticus 19:33-34?
"When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God."

If we still practiced Leviticus 20:9, there wouldn't be too many of us who make it through childhood:

"If anyone curses their father or mother, he must be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother and his blood will be on his own head."

The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is often quoted as well. From what I understand of that time period, travelers needed to gain protection from a citizen of a city to be safe during their travels. If they were not given hospitality and protection by a citizen, they were often raped by the townsmen. Once Lot offers his hospitality to the two strangers (angels), he is honor-bound to protect them. Instead he offers his virgin daughters to the mob - women at that time were considered to be property of their fathers or husbands. Not satisfied with Lot's offer of his daughters, the mob breaks into the house to get the visitors. The angels protect the family by blinding the men of the city. How does an angry mob of rapists compare to a loving homosexual relationship?

The writings of Paul are also used to condemn homosexuality. I often feel that Paul was a tortured unhappy man - like many of the fundamentalists that focus on sin and following specific rules for gaining salvation. Paul implies that homosexuality is a punishment for not following God's rules closely enough, for not worshipping correctly.

Why do we hurt each other so willingly when the basic commandment of most world religions is

"Do onto others as you would have done to you" ?