| Show Former President Criticizes Political Reprinted from The Los Angeles Angeles' Times Feb 24 1996 It is admirable for Americans to promote our personal beliefs through either religious or political processes But when we attempt to force others to worship as we do or treat those who differ as secondary citizens then we violate the basic tenets of a democracy As a conservative Baptist I 1 am deeply concerned about divisive arguments that have driven wedges between people We Christians can buttress our arguments on almost any subject with Bible scriptures and then claim that our conclusions should be applied universally These at attitudes tudes can lead to condemnation or even persecution of those who are different Beginning about 20 years ago some Christian leaders concluded a union with the more conservative wing of the Republican an party Even if the political marriage of fundamentalist fundamentalist Christians h had d been with Democrats it would have been in conflict with my own belief in separation separation sepa sepa- ra ration on of church and state Now leaders of the highly organized organized orga orga- Christian right have successfully successfully successfully success success- fully injected into Americas America's political debate some diverse religious ques- ques The most vivid examples involve sexual preferences ces which obviously have highly personal and emotional overtones Tragically these issues have moved to the fore fore- front of the 1996 presidential election scene Since almost all Protestants now condone divorce as an acceptable way of life and rarely mention fornication fornication fornication forni forni- cation or adultery it is much easier and more convenient for heterosexual al Christians to focus on homosexuality homosexuality homosexuality refusing to acknowledge that this is a sin never mentioned by Jesus From the New Testament it is clear that leaders of the early church treated homosexual acts the same as fornication adultery and many other transgressions The apostle Paul makes it plain that homosexual tendencies tendencies tendencies ten ten- along with many other temptations should be resisted Be Benot Benot Benot not deceived neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor effeminate effeminate effeminate nate nor abusers of themselves with mankind nor nor covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor shall inherit the kingdom kingdom kingdom king king- dom of God 1 Corinthians Corinthians' 69 Then he goes on to say that all these acts have been totally forgiven And such were some of you but you are washed but you are sanctified but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God These driving issues in the early Republican primary contests have made a strange and disturbing shift from economic and budget items to divisive social issues notably abortion abortion abortion abor abor- tion and homosexuality In the early caucus contests pressures from the themore themore themore more extreme religious activists have pushed almost every candidate to emphasizing vicious attacks on gay men and women ostensibly based on the teachings of Jesus Christ An even more disquieting claim is that AIDS is Gods God's punishment on someone who has sinned and that the sufferers should be treated accordingly Jesus had similar encounters with lepers who were also looked upon as condemned by God and capable of contaminating their neighbors Christ set an example example example exam exam- for us by reaching out to them loving them and healing them Other Christians and the general public must not condone even by silence these obnoxious attitudes increasingly promoted among a few religious and political leaders In addition to the direct punishment punishment punishment pun pun- of many American citizens undisputed of a premise that originates within the religious community tends to authenticate it among those who have their own personal person personal per per- son a prejudices We must make it clear that a platform platform platform plat plat- form of I hate gay men and women is not a way to become President of the United States Jimmy Carter Former Fonner President of the United States s |
