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cimoreneEqual Partners in Faith Calls Alabama Justice Moore’s "Legal" Opinion Against Lesbian Mother Reprehensible
Alabama’s Chief Justice Uses Right-Wing Rhetoric and Far Right Religious Dogma to Justify Homophobia and Execution of Homosexuals
Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore issued an opinion in a
child-custody case recently calling for the state to use its power to prohibit
homosexuals from raising children through physical penalties, including
execution.
"The state carries the power of the sword, that is, the power to prohibit
conduct with physical penalties, such as confinement and even execution. It
must use that power to prevent the subversion of children toward this
lifestyle, to not encourage a criminal lifestyle," stated Moore in a long
decision based on religious rhetoric that cited passages from the biblical
books of Genesis and Leviticus.
****************************************
Press Release: February 21, 2002
For Immediate Release
Contact: Laura Montgomery Rutt
Cell: 717-278-0592
***********************************************
EPF JOINS WITH EQUALITY BEGINS AT HOME OF CENTRAL
ALABAMA AND LOCAL CLERGY TO SPONSOR PRESS CONFERENCE
FRIDAY AT 3PM TO DENOUNCE DECISION
(Washington DC) - Equal Partners in Faith (EPF), a national network of
religious leaders, is calling for Justice Roy Moore to resign or be removed
from the bench for not upholding his oath of office and for using his position
on the Alabama Supreme Court to undermine the U.S. Constitution and the
principle of church/state separation. A statement by Equal Partners in Faith
will be read at a press conference, which is taking place Friday, Feb. 22 at
3:00 p.m. in front of the Judiciary Building on Dexter Avenue in
Montgomery, Alabama.
Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore issued an opinion in a
child-custody case recently calling for the state to use its power to prohibit
homosexuals from raising children through physical penalties, including
execution.
"The state carries the power of the sword, that is, the power to prohibit
conduct with physical penalties, such as confinement and even execution. It
must use that power to prevent the subversion of children toward this
lifestyle, to not encourage a criminal lifestyle," stated Moore in a long
decision based on religious rhetoric that cited passages from the biblical
books of Genesis and Leviticus.
"As people of faith, we believe the rhetoric of Justice Moore is reprehensible
and totally unacceptable from a professional jurist. A Justice of the court is
supposed to hand down rulings based on the law and the US Constitution,
not on personal religious beliefs and biases, especially when those opinions
can be used to incite violence and cause harm, " declared Nadine Smith,
Co-Chair of Equal Partners in Faith and Executive Director of Equality
Florida.
"Justice Moore’s personal religious opinions should have no bearing on this
case," said Chris Purdom, member of the EPF Advisory Board and an Elder
in the Presbyterian Church. "As a person of faith, he certainly doesn’t
represent my beliefs. Personally, I am appalled that, in this day and age, a
Supreme Court Justice would base legal decisions on such divisive religious
teachings, especially when those beliefs run counter to scientific evidence
and the opinion of the medical community."
A recently published opinion of the American Academy of Pediatrics states
that, "the American Academy of Pediatrics recognizes that a considerable
body of professional literature provides evidence that children with parents
who are homosexual can have the same advantages and the same
expectations for health, adjustment, and development as can children
whose parents are heterosexual."
The Alabama Supreme Court unanimously rejected a lesbian mother's case
to obtain custody of the couple's three minor children. Justice Moore wrote a
separate concurring opinion, repudiating homosexuality on religious
grounds. Justice Moore called homosexuality "abhorrent, immoral,
detestable, a crime against nature, and a violation of the laws of nature and
of nature's God."
"Justice Moore's interpretation of the Bible and the family belong in our
history books, not in our law books," proclaimed Rev. Ken Brooker
Langston, co-chair of Equal Partners in Faith. "In 21st century America, the
Constitution--not Moore's fundamentalist interpretation of the Bible--is the
law of the land."
Equality Begins at Home of Central Alabama is a non-profit organization
working for equality for all Alabamians regardless of gender, gender
identity, or sexual orientation, and promoting communication between
LGBT groups and with other groups working for social justice. Equal
Partners in Faith is a is a multi-racial national network of religious leaders
and people of faith committed to equality and diversity, that actively
opposes the manipulation of religion to promote inequality and exclusion
# # #
EQUAL PARTNERS in FAITH is a multi-racial national network of religious
leaders and people of faith committed to equality and diversity. Our diverse
faith traditions and shared religious values lead us to affirm and defend the
equality of all people, regardless of religion, race, ability, gender, sexual
orientation or gender identity. As people of faith, we actively oppose the
manipulation of religion to promote inequality and exclusion.
Equal Partners in Faith
5 Thomas Circle
Washington DC 20005
1-888-304-5831
1-202-797-0111 (fax)
website: http://www.us.net/epf/index2.html
email: epfnational@aol.com
Circulated by Laura Montgomery Rutt, Director
article from my hometown newspaper
also: am not currently in alabama, but at college in new england. so. go me!
Alabama’s Chief Justice Uses Right-Wing Rhetoric and Far Right Religious Dogma to Justify Homophobia and Execution of Homosexuals
Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore issued an opinion in a
child-custody case recently calling for the state to use its power to prohibit
homosexuals from raising children through physical penalties, including
execution.
"The state carries the power of the sword, that is, the power to prohibit
conduct with physical penalties, such as confinement and even execution. It
must use that power to prevent the subversion of children toward this
lifestyle, to not encourage a criminal lifestyle," stated Moore in a long
decision based on religious rhetoric that cited passages from the biblical
books of Genesis and Leviticus.
****************************************
Press Release: February 21, 2002
For Immediate Release
Contact: Laura Montgomery Rutt
Cell: 717-278-0592
***********************************************
EPF JOINS WITH EQUALITY BEGINS AT HOME OF CENTRAL
ALABAMA AND LOCAL CLERGY TO SPONSOR PRESS CONFERENCE
FRIDAY AT 3PM TO DENOUNCE DECISION
(Washington DC) - Equal Partners in Faith (EPF), a national network of
religious leaders, is calling for Justice Roy Moore to resign or be removed
from the bench for not upholding his oath of office and for using his position
on the Alabama Supreme Court to undermine the U.S. Constitution and the
principle of church/state separation. A statement by Equal Partners in Faith
will be read at a press conference, which is taking place Friday, Feb. 22 at
3:00 p.m. in front of the Judiciary Building on Dexter Avenue in
Montgomery, Alabama.
Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore issued an opinion in a
child-custody case recently calling for the state to use its power to prohibit
homosexuals from raising children through physical penalties, including
execution.
"The state carries the power of the sword, that is, the power to prohibit
conduct with physical penalties, such as confinement and even execution. It
must use that power to prevent the subversion of children toward this
lifestyle, to not encourage a criminal lifestyle," stated Moore in a long
decision based on religious rhetoric that cited passages from the biblical
books of Genesis and Leviticus.
"As people of faith, we believe the rhetoric of Justice Moore is reprehensible
and totally unacceptable from a professional jurist. A Justice of the court is
supposed to hand down rulings based on the law and the US Constitution,
not on personal religious beliefs and biases, especially when those opinions
can be used to incite violence and cause harm, " declared Nadine Smith,
Co-Chair of Equal Partners in Faith and Executive Director of Equality
Florida.
"Justice Moore’s personal religious opinions should have no bearing on this
case," said Chris Purdom, member of the EPF Advisory Board and an Elder
in the Presbyterian Church. "As a person of faith, he certainly doesn’t
represent my beliefs. Personally, I am appalled that, in this day and age, a
Supreme Court Justice would base legal decisions on such divisive religious
teachings, especially when those beliefs run counter to scientific evidence
and the opinion of the medical community."
A recently published opinion of the American Academy of Pediatrics states
that, "the American Academy of Pediatrics recognizes that a considerable
body of professional literature provides evidence that children with parents
who are homosexual can have the same advantages and the same
expectations for health, adjustment, and development as can children
whose parents are heterosexual."
The Alabama Supreme Court unanimously rejected a lesbian mother's case
to obtain custody of the couple's three minor children. Justice Moore wrote a
separate concurring opinion, repudiating homosexuality on religious
grounds. Justice Moore called homosexuality "abhorrent, immoral,
detestable, a crime against nature, and a violation of the laws of nature and
of nature's God."
"Justice Moore's interpretation of the Bible and the family belong in our
history books, not in our law books," proclaimed Rev. Ken Brooker
Langston, co-chair of Equal Partners in Faith. "In 21st century America, the
Constitution--not Moore's fundamentalist interpretation of the Bible--is the
law of the land."
Equality Begins at Home of Central Alabama is a non-profit organization
working for equality for all Alabamians regardless of gender, gender
identity, or sexual orientation, and promoting communication between
LGBT groups and with other groups working for social justice. Equal
Partners in Faith is a is a multi-racial national network of religious leaders
and people of faith committed to equality and diversity, that actively
opposes the manipulation of religion to promote inequality and exclusion
# # #
EQUAL PARTNERS in FAITH is a multi-racial national network of religious
leaders and people of faith committed to equality and diversity. Our diverse
faith traditions and shared religious values lead us to affirm and defend the
equality of all people, regardless of religion, race, ability, gender, sexual
orientation or gender identity. As people of faith, we actively oppose the
manipulation of religion to promote inequality and exclusion.
Equal Partners in Faith
5 Thomas Circle
Washington DC 20005
1-888-304-5831
1-202-797-0111 (fax)
website: http://www.us.net/epf/index2.html
email: epfnational@aol.com
Circulated by Laura Montgomery Rutt, Director
article from my hometown newspaper
also: am not currently in alabama, but at college in new england. so. go me!
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(no subject)
Date: 25 Feb 2002 04:35 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 26 Feb 2002 06:13 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 26 Feb 2002 07:38 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 26 Feb 2002 08:20 am (UTC)good things about alabama:
1. the weather
2. the pretty trees beside the road
3. the presence of the beach
...and that's about it.