Vatican Urges Israel To Ban Gay Parade
Robert Paul Reyes
November 09, 2006
Religion should be an expression and celebration of the human spirit, but alas it is frequently just the opposite.
Case in point: The Vatican urged Israel to ban a gay parade this week in Jerusalem, saying the march in the city considered holy to Jews, Muslims and Christians would offend the faithful.
Thousands of gay activists and their supporters are expected to march in Jerusalem on Friday -- in a non-violent expression of freedom.
Instead of seeking to ban the parade, the Vatican should send a cardinal or two to march with the gay activists to show that they are in solidarity with their campaign for equal rights.
From the Associated Press:
It is clear that the gay parade scheduled to take place in Jerusalem will prove offensive to the great majority of Jews, Muslims and Christians, given the sacred character of the city of Jerusalem,' the Vatican said."
There is something horribly amiss with a religion that finds it offensive when a minority is seeking equal rights. This is not the Christianity of the Rev. Martin Luther King, whose belief in the teachings and spirit of Jesus Christ is what compelled him to fight for civil rights.
If Christians, Muslims, or Jews find homosexuals marching in a parade offensive -- to hell with them. Gays and lesbians have every right to march in Jerusalem.
The Vatican is demonstrating that its sensibilities are almost as sensitive as those of the adherents of the "Religion of Peace".
Fortunately, it looks like the Israeli courts won't cave in to religious fascism. From Ynetnews.com:
"The High Court of Justice will rule Thursday regarding whether the Jerusalem gay pride parade will go on as planned, but already Wednesday night the court hinted that petitions against the rally would be rejected.
Justice Ayala Procaccia noted that warnings the parade would spark violence must by all means be dropped: “The police won’t surrender, the court won’t surrender, and threats of violence won’t induce the decision,” she declared."
I hope that the High Court will rule in favor of human rights and allow the gays to hold their parade in the "City of Peace."
Case in point: The Vatican urged Israel to ban a gay parade this week in Jerusalem, saying the march in the city considered holy to Jews, Muslims and Christians would offend the faithful.
Thousands of gay activists and their supporters are expected to march in Jerusalem on Friday -- in a non-violent expression of freedom.
Instead of seeking to ban the parade, the Vatican should send a cardinal or two to march with the gay activists to show that they are in solidarity with their campaign for equal rights.
From the Associated Press:
It is clear that the gay parade scheduled to take place in Jerusalem will prove offensive to the great majority of Jews, Muslims and Christians, given the sacred character of the city of Jerusalem,' the Vatican said."
There is something horribly amiss with a religion that finds it offensive when a minority is seeking equal rights. This is not the Christianity of the Rev. Martin Luther King, whose belief in the teachings and spirit of Jesus Christ is what compelled him to fight for civil rights.
If Christians, Muslims, or Jews find homosexuals marching in a parade offensive -- to hell with them. Gays and lesbians have every right to march in Jerusalem.
The Vatican is demonstrating that its sensibilities are almost as sensitive as those of the adherents of the "Religion of Peace".
Fortunately, it looks like the Israeli courts won't cave in to religious fascism. From Ynetnews.com:
"The High Court of Justice will rule Thursday regarding whether the Jerusalem gay pride parade will go on as planned, but already Wednesday night the court hinted that petitions against the rally would be rejected.
Justice Ayala Procaccia noted that warnings the parade would spark violence must by all means be dropped: “The police won’t surrender, the court won’t surrender, and threats of violence won’t induce the decision,” she declared."
I hope that the High Court will rule in favor of human rights and allow the gays to hold their parade in the "City of Peace."
Print
Email
