High Point Church, in Arlington, TX, has refused to hold a funeral for 46 year old Navy vet, Cecil Sinclair, after discovering that he was gay. The church initially agreed to hold the service, but reversed their decision after staff came across photos of Sinclair embracing men as they were putting together a video tribute. That’s the churches story at least. Sinclair’s sister says it was called off after the church saw his life partner listed in the obituary.
While I think it’s disgusting and stupid that the church would deny a funeral to someone because they’re gay, it doesn’t really surprise me. A church discriminating against people who aren’t like them isn’t exactly new. What I do find interesting, however, is the church’s response. Says pastor Gary Simons:
“We did decline to host the service — not based on hatred, not based on discrimination, but based on principle”
Is that what the kids are calling it now days? Principle? In case Simons doesn’t have a dictionary handy, let me help him out by providing the definition of discrimination. According to dictionary.com, to “discriminate” is:
“to make a distinction in favor of or against a person or thing on the basis of the group, class, or category to which the person or thing belongs rather than according to actual merit”
Let’s see…refusing to hold a funeral service upon finding out that said dead man is homosexual? Hmm…that sounds a bit like…what’s the word? Discrimination! I mean, who are these people kidding? Are they lying to themselves by calling it “principle” so they can feel better about their beliefs? Just because their holy book might condone it (which is probably debatable), doesn’t make it less an act of discrimination. Take out the word “gay” and substitute some other category to see how it sounds – black, hispanic, jewish. Or how about substituting what someone does, rather than what they “are”. Doesn’t it sound ridiculous if the headline was “Church refuses funeral upon discovering deceased was a construction worker”? It really amazes me sometimes that people still hold these views. I can only hope that, as my generation gets older, these discriminatory beliefs will become more and more the minority.
To read the MSNBC article , click here.
Via Pharyngula
