Head-Spinning Political Shit!

[iamkeri1]

LOL Corkey, that is what the anti-gay rights, anti civil right folks are saying about the progress us queers are making!!!

This is my first visit to this thread. There is SO MUCH head spinning political shit going on right now that I feel like I have whip lash EVERY day! I am pretty old and have been interested in politics my whole life and can remember nothing like the shit that is going on now. Amazing! Horrifying! Head Spinning!
Smooches,
Keri

[Soon]

Mike Huckabee Says He Wants Americans To Be Indoctrinated At Gunpoint

[MsDemeanor]

Originally Posted by HowSoonIsNow

Mike Huckabee Says He Wants Americans To Be Indoctrinated At Gunpoint

I dunno, guns and America as a christian nation sounds to me like a recipe for sweeping the republican primaries - those folks love their guns and their god. The vision of liberals being forced to watch Barton at gunpoint is probably better than porn for some of them.

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by MsDemeanor

I dunno, guns and America as a christian nation sounds to me like a recipe for sweeping the republican primaries - those folks love their guns and their god. The vision of liberals being forced to watch Barton at gunpoint is probably better than porn for some of them.

And there is the Donald giving rise to a new definition of Birtherism. Seems like he always does a pre- primary look at me stint. The guy just loves the camera.

It will interesting to see who the GOP actually nominates to run against Obama from their field of idiots. There have got to be more moderate Republicans that are plain embarrassed by this group.

And there is always Newt to justify his passion for America by cheating on his wife!! Do people really buy what he says??? His ex-wife's book is a good, honest read.

[Greyson]

April 18, 2011

Vatican: Gay Rights Opponents are Real Victims Catholic bishop says the real victims are those who oppose the rights of LGBT people.

Archbishop Silvano Tomasi reveals his subtle theological mind.

Joseph M. Palacios


Dr. Joseph M. Palacios is an Adjunct Professor of Liberal and Latin American Studies at Georgetown University and is the director of Catholics for Equality Foundation.

Last month the Catholic Church voiced strong opposition to a UN Human Rights Council resolution naming the protection of LGBT persons against discrimination and violence an official human right. The reason, according to Vatican representative Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, is that ending discrimination against gays, lesbians, and transgender persons would make those who oppose such human rights the real victims.

During a debate on the resolution (officially called the “Joint Statement on Ending Violence and Related Human Rights Violations Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity”) Tomasi unequivocally stated that the Council, the UN, and other state bodies cannot base law on sexual orientation since “the ordinary meaning of ‘sexual orientation’ refers to feeling and thoughts, not to behavior.”

In clarifying this, he stressed that if sexual orientation were to carry a behavioral component it would be a false premise, because such a definition would be contrary to natural law morality. According to this logic the recognition of LGBT identity would “undermine his/her ontological dignity” — meaning that since gays, lesbians, and transgender persons are by their nature “intrinsically morally disordered” claiming sexual orientation identity is, by nature, false.

Tomasi then likened homosexual behavior to pedophilia and incest: “But states can, and must, regulate behaviors, including various sexual behaviors. Throughout the world, there is a consensus between societies that certain kinds of sexual behaviors must be forbidden by law. Pedophilia and incest are two examples.”

To add fuel to the fire, he turned the debate away from violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity to “a disturbing trend in some of these social debates: People are being attacked for taking positions that do not support sexual behavior between people of the same sex… they are stigmatized, and worse—they are vilified, and prosecuted.” He never addressed the reality of actual violence (killings, torture, rape, criminal sanctions, violence, bullying) against gays, lesbians, and transgender persons taking place around the world.

Natural Law vs. Social Justice

Given that Tomasi is the leading spokesperson for the Catholic Church in international bodies, his words take on significant weight regarding the Church’s refusal to accept sexual orientation and gender identity as human rights categories. Since the early 1980s and the ascendency of Cardinal Ratzinger as head of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), the moral theology of the Church has become increasingly locked into a framework of natural law anthropology, which is a logic based on male and female roles as pro-creators in the natural order of a biologistic social order emphasizing the nuclear family as the first cell of society.

This logic also simplistically views a natural order to the human body, meaning that each part of the body has a function that is connected to the whole person and humans cannot change these natural functions—particularly sexual functions. Natural law anthropology does not take into account anomalies in nature that might account for homosexuality and a variety of functional variations that can occur in different humans.

More problematic in Tomasi’s understanding of sexual orientation is the non-recognition of LGBT persons resulting in the Church’s negation of the social, psychological, cultural, and political realities in which they live. The fact is the perpetrators of violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity do recognize this identity and base their anger, rage, hate, and revenge on people’s external identity and not on the “feelings and thoughts” of the victims. For the Vatican to not acknowledge this is a denial of social reality and the behaviors and attitudes reflective of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Prior to Ratzinger’s emphasis on natural law anthropology as foundational to contemporary moral and social issues, the Church’s social justice doctrine might have had tremendous influence in the creation of a positive Catholic LGBT human rights agenda. Such an agenda might emphasize the following dimensions of human life and pertinent social justice doctrine that have been developed since the first social encyclical, Rerum Novarum, of 1891:

• Social-Psychological: Dignity of the human person; Human development of the whole person
• Social Rights: Option for the poor and marginalized in society
• Basic Human Needs: Right to employment, housing, health care
• Cultural: Freedom of participation and association in civil society
• Political: Human rights protections; Right to migrate
• Religious: Religious freedom; Separation of church and state
Because the Vatican denies sexual orientation and gender identity recognition the above tenets of Catholic social justice doctrine cannot be legitimately actualized by priests, religious, lay leaders, teachers, catechists, and others within the Church itself. The natural law arguments of sexual morality and ethics have long been discounted by clergy and laity—especially natural law deductive arguments against birth control, in vitro fertilization, masturbation, male sterilization, stem cell research, same-sex civil marriage and adoption. Yet the longer Catholic tradition of connecting faith with reason and the doctrine of primacy of conscience has empowered many Catholics to look at the social reality of gays, lesbians, and transgender persons and connect the more compassionate aspects of the biblical tradition and Catholic social justice teaching.

Through a more comprehensive inductive logic Catholics use reason to see and analyze empirical injustice and then apply biblical principles and social justice teaching to the social context of injustice—a bottom-up approach to justice in the world. Not surprisingly, the international scope of the clergy abuse scandal has diminished the teaching authority of the hierarchy on sexuality. Catholics recognize that they do have gay, lesbian, and transgender brothers and sisters in their families, among their friends, in their communities and workplaces. Many recognize their difference and accept it in the same positive way they accept ethnic, gender, cultural, and age difference—as part of one’s external identity that should be respected and accorded full human dignity, even if one doesn’t fully understand the difference in one’s life.

Faith that Does Justice

Social justice-oriented Catholics have been able to utilize the positive aspects of social justice doctrine as a “faith that does justice” in civil society and politics, particularly through organizations like Catholics for Equality, Catholics United, Dignity, and Call to Action—as well as in their local parish and diocesan social justice ministries and in faith-based community organizing. Recent polling by Public Religion Research Institute shows that U.S. Catholics are the most progressive Christian body with 63% supporting civil marriage for same-sex couples and 69% believing that homosexuality is not a moral issue. The Human Rights Council’s recent statement was signed by all of the Catholic countries of Europe and Latin America. Civil marriage for same-sex couples has been ratified in the Catholic countries of Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Argentina, and Mexico. Acceptance of LGBT persons is not just an American phenomenon, it’s a broadly international one with a strong Catholic character.

Of course, is precisely these trends that are most disturbing to the Vatican, especially as younger Catholics around the world are even more accepting of homosexuality and the legitimacy of sexual orientation and gender identity than their parents and grandparents. Sadly, in the fight against LGBT rights the Vatican and the U.S. hierarchy is throwing its hat in the ring with some of the most powerful and well-funded voices of religious fundamentalism in the U.S., Africa, and Latin America.

There is an easy solution to the hierarchy’s increasing distance from the laity and ordinary clergy: just as the Church finally acknowledged slavery and racial segregation to be wrong and finally recognized full equality for black people, it can acknowledge that homophobia and sexual orientation discrimination and violence are wrong and recognize that sexual orientation and gender identity are social realities in our complex world. Otherwise, the Church lends legitimacy to violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The Church is not the victim.

[iamkeri1]

Politics have always been intrinsic to the Catholic religion, but is no means exclusive to them. The truly dangerous part of any religious involvement is the ability of that institution to "evil-ize" that of which they do not approve.

Of the prohibitions in Leviticus (Old Testament of the Christian Bible) in which the prohibitions against homosexuality are included, many are no longer considered necessary or important. Pork is not prohibited to Christians, nor are shellfish. We are not restricted to a small number of steps to be taken on the sabbath, and no one has been stoned lately for adultery (well at least not in Christian oriented nations.)

Yet, selectively, for reasons more political than religious, the horror over the "abomination" of homosexuality is still in fashion. Persecution of homosexuals (and other sexual variants) is still justified by various religious institutions. "God hates homosexuality" is a phrase you will find written on protestors signs at any gay function. Many other groups; disables folks, welfare recipients, unemployed people, homeless people, and poor people in general face religious predjudice which seeks to marginalize them.

Religion as politics is dangerous, damaging, and destructive.

Smooches,
Keri

[iamkeri1]

My head has been spinning again over this Congressman Weiner sex scandal (if you can dignify it with that name.) I have always liked the congressman. He is pretty liberal, and her doesn't mind getting into it with conservatives. When the story first broke I was pissed at his stupidity. And of course I figured his first version was a lie, so I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. So far the only thing to drop has been more like a fuzzy sock. The worst they have on him so far is the belief that he sent a picture of his pee pee out on the internet to adult women with whom he was already being overly friendly. He will neither confirm or deny, because it is rumored to be the picture of a rather large (and attractive?) peepee, and he doesn't want to give up the "rep". The Democrats are calling loud and long for his resignation (Of course the Republicans are doing the same, but they are the opposition, that makes sense.)

What the man did was stupid, but certainly not unusual. (nor illegal per se) Almost all of my straight women friends have received an unsolicited pee pee picture from some man they are communicating with online.

Personally I think he should not resign. We need the liberal vote in congress, and I don't want to lose this representative who can push the Republicans around (a little anyway.)

Anyone else have a take on this subject?
Smooches,
Keri

[dreadgeek]

Watching the Republican Presidential Debate on CNN. It's like watching some strange cult in action. The answer to every economic question is "get the government out". Romney, in response to the question of whether the government should be doing catastrophic disaster relief is talking about the private sector doing disaster relief. Imagine that. Disaster relief as a product.

Cheers
Aj

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by dreadgeek

Watching the Republican Presidential Debate on CNN. It's like watching some strange cult in action. The answer to every economic question is "get the government out". Romney, in response to the question of whether the government should be doing catastrophic disaster relief is talking about the private sector doing disaster relief. Imagine that. Disaster relief as a product.

Cheers
Aj

I like your use of cult here- they all are under a form of hypnosis, I think. Oh yeah, private sector disaster relief, Uh, huh....

The unemployment rate has got to fall during the next year. Just has to- and Obama's re-election people need to find a way to demonstrate how his policies have been responsible for what recovery we have had. I believe in the need for building our infra-structure for long-term economic stability, but see why so many people just can't wrap their heads around this when they have been out of work for months and months. At a certain point with so much distrust of all politicians no matter the party, I think many people will vote more about what they see as not working than future ideological policies that fit for them.

And those young college student voters that helped get him elected are now among the many that have degrees and can't jobs and owe student loans. Hopefully, the younger of this population will support him- I think there could be a high level of dissention among voters 18-22 during his 2008 election and his re-election.

Although, among POC I think he will carry a majority, especially Latino voters. But, I really see that this will be no shoe-in re-election for Obama. Which makes me nuts in some ways as he has gotten some very important policies through Congress that have had little or no movement for decades and decades.

The communication gap has got to change. I am just not as confident about his re-election as I once was. Bring on the "pictures of a thousand words" Re-Elect Obama people- bring it on NOW!!

[dreadgeek]

Originally Posted by AtLastHome

I like your use of cult here- they all are under a form of hypnosis, I think. Oh yeah, private sector disaster relief, Uh, huh....

It's bizarre. I understand that politicians speak in generalities but this has gotten elevated to something creepy. It's not quite as bad as what's below but I'm not really stretching things too badly:

Moderator: So, Ms GOP candidate, do you think that hospitals should be able to turn away the same-sex partner of a patient because that doctor or nurse doesn't consider them family?

GOP candidate: I believe in strengthening the traditional family which is a man and a woman.

Moderator: What specific proposals do you have for ameliorating the trouble in the housing market?

GOP candidate: We don't need government in the housing business. If we let the free market drive the housing business then it will work out the best solution.

Moderator: Do you support non-discrimination laws in housing or employment?

GOP candidate: I believe that the free market will reward companies that behave well and punish companies that behave badly.

Moderator: Are there any military bases you would close or weapon systems you would like to see the Pentagon not purchase?

GOP candidate: America is free because we have the best and strongest military in the world. I support our troops.

Moderator: Are there any non-military functions you think the government should be involved in?

GOP candidate: Throughout American history we've seen that we do best when we embrace free market principles.

Moderator: What place do you think religion should have on public policy and law?

GOP candidate: America was founded as a Christian nation and our rights come from God.

Now, is there anything above that you think is too over-the-top to come out of the mouth of some GOP pol when asked one of those questions? I took some of those answers, nearly verbatim, from the GOP presidential debate last night. Those answers are empty. They are mantras not responses. One would not be stretching the matter too much if you were to imagine a GOP call and response chorus

"Jobs?" "Free market!" "Pollution?" "Free market!" You get the idea. The GOP has become a party of theology. By that I mean that they have completely divorced their ideology from the real world. It simply does not *matter* what the empirical facts are any longer. All that matters is that they believe it to be true and that is enough for them. Anyone who does not believe is an infidel.

Cheers
Aj