December 07, 2007

Rhode Island Clergy Supporting Same-Sex Marriage

From the Providence Journal:



Religious leaders from several denominations reaffirmed their support for
same-gender marriage today and announced an advertising campaign intended to get
that word out and to dispel any impression that religion doesn’t support the
policy change.

"We wanted to make the point that there are religious folks who are in
favor of same-gender marriage," said the Rev. Eugene T. Dyszlewski, pastor of
the Riverside Congregational United Church of Christ and chairman of the Rhode
Island Religious Coalition for Same-Gender Marriage.

"It’s a different kind of pulpit," Dyszlewski said of the advertising
campaign. "We want to put a public face on it."

A dozen religious leaders and supporters showed off their signs on buses at
the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority headquarters on Elmwood Avenue this
afternoon. The advertisements will run on 10 RIPTA buses for a month, the agency
said. The advertisements depict two dozen religious leaders and carry the
message, "Rhode Island Religious Leaders Supporting Same-Gender
Marriages."

He and other religious leaders said that they wanted to dispel any
impression that religion opposes same-sex marriage and is "anti-gay."

"That’s not true," he said.

More than 100 Rhode Island religious leaders from several denominations
have signed a declaration in favor of permitting same-gender marriage, he
said.


What is troubling are some of the comments at the end of the story. If they are anywhere near an accurate cross-section of opinions in the state, that could be one ugly battle.

No comments:

Post a Comment