CHICAGO — Chicago-area black clergy amped up opposition to a measure that would legalize same-sex marriage in Illinois, airing radio ads and “robo-calling” residents in black communities urging them to ask their representatives to vote against the bill.
The state Senate last month approved legislation allowing same-sex couples to marry; it awaits a floor vote in the House, where Speaker Michael Madigan has said passing it will be “very difficult.”
A new group called the African American Clergy Coalition said it began airing 60-second commercials Tuesday on black radio stations and also plans a “street campaign” to supplement the telephone campaign. The phone messages feature the voice of former state Sen. James Meeks, who is senior pastor of Chicago’s Salem Baptist Church.
The campaign comes as supporters of gay marriage have increased pressure on lawmakers to pass the measure. Last week, seven Democratic Illinois congressmen urged supp ort of the bill in a letter calling for “basic legal protections to all Illinois families.”
Some business leaders and religious groups also have voiced support for making Illinois the 10th state to allow same-sex marriage, two years after the state approved civil unions. And Gov. Pat Quinn has said he would approve gay marriage if it comes to his desk.But black pastors are joined in their opposition by other religious leaders, including Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, the Catholic Conference of Illinois and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
“We stand united with our brothers and sisters of the Catholic faith and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in our joint opposition to any deviation from traditional marriages of male and female,” said Bishop Larry Trotter, senior pastor of the Sweet Holy Spirit Church of Chicago and presiding bishop of the New Century Fellowship Churches International.
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Such short memories. Disgraceful.
Well then, since the clergy want to meddle in politics, let’s take away the benefits they receive due to “separation of church and state.”
So soon they forget what its like to not have rights. If anyone should understand this — it should be the black commuity.
geesh
boooooo! Everyone should have the right to marry whom they love, but it still doesnt solve the constant hatred and harrassment faced by the LGBTQ communites. One step at a time.
Funny how peope who know what it’s like to be discriminated against, go and do the same fucking thing to a different minority.
May God slap them with the 7 deadly Sins.
Should we roll back to the 50s and 60s and remind them of their fight for civil rights…?
Can you imagine the outrage if the LGBT community took out ads requesting the repeal of equal rights for other minorities?
cute.
Because they’re ignorant Toms. Ugh…
Who cares…they will never get it together. But we will;)
It s a matter of human rights … Did Martin Luther die for nothing?
Just because someone is religious does not mean they are not evil.
and I am sure their Hell has a very special place for hypocrites
maybe these people should listen to their pope who said the church shouldn’t play politics.
DUMB AZZ’s
And this is why Black folks like me have no use for religion. Remember the time when our people were denied our civil rights???
Painfully hypocritical… but let’s not forget that most clergy oppose Marriage Equality
Epic facepalm…
If these were white clergy would we say “white clergy” did this? The clergy who did this are dumbass haters, but I don’t think that all clergy of a certain ethnicity have to be singled out.
I believe these same clergy members would call foul if they were told they could no longer marry someone of a different race… That nonsense ended, and this rhetoric about denying marriage rights to two consenting adults needs to end too.
This is all about showing our elected officials that they are ‘safe’ in voting for marriage equality. Haters are going to hate no matter their color, political party or religious beliefs. We have to show our representatives that equality needs and will prevail
Basically they are saying, “screw you LGBT’s…we got our equality and don’t give a shit about yours.” But what do you expect from bigoted, hypocritical, so-called Christians? They come in every color.
SMFH
Yeah, Rachel, that’s a trend for most minority groups that gain equal rights, they tend to fallout after the main goal is reached. Of course it doesn’t help that America’s “black community” has been hijacked by a bunch of crooked charlatans who are treated like they speak for all people of color. To Hell with them, they’re liars, thieves, and will likely burn in their metaphorical Hell for the sins committed against their brothers and sisters.
dislike
not liking
Still living in the PAST and telling LIES to justify it!!
church and politics? no-no
There’s no such list called “Seven Deadly Sins” in the Bible. ;)
If you want to take literally what Jesus said about divorce, remarriage, and adultery, you can also say that divorced and remarried people are living in the sinful state of adultery.
Black and white should stand together to let the Black Clergy know to go think back (racist prejudice). c est ridicule
Another christian preach hate, while their god, Jesus, teaches “love thy neighbor as thyself”. This is another demon possessed christian. In fact many of them are.
Hypocritical doesn’t EVEN begin to describe that.
How ironic! The black man got his freedom and civil rights so he can keep others from having the same rights. The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. would be so proud. Man, people make me sick.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=152758568218640&set=a.125501227611041.24751.125177484310082&type=1&relevant_count=1 keep writing your senators!
why would the black clergy care about marriage, only 47% of blacks are married. what do they know about marriage of any kind. not ones to give advice about marriage. what a joke!
Everyone should have marriage equality. These BIGOTS will hate it when the whole world has HUMAN RIGHTS and Equality….