Methodist Court Removes Openly Lesbian Minister - New York Times

Methodist Court Removes Openly Lesbian Minister - New York Times:
"In a pair of decisions that bolstered conservatives, the highest court of the United Methodist Church defrocked an openly lesbian minister yesterday and reinstated a pastor who had been suspended for refusing to allow a gay man to become a member of his congregation."

Gays have become the last minority, the last "acceptable" target of bigotry and fear. It's very sad that the churches, who claim to follow the teachings of a man who embraced the outcasts of his society, participate in this frenzy of hate. Just as people of "faith" cheerlead for war and promote the death penalty, they single out gays as being unclean. It's as bad as shooting doctors to stop abortions. It's totally irrational, and totally wrong, and yet somehow these fundamentals think it's moral.

Simple common sense would suffice to tell you that people don't choose their sexuality any more than they choose the color of skin or eyes they are born with. People don't choose to be poor, or alcoholic, or diabetic. They don't choose where and when to be born or to whom.

But they do choose to be socially responsible or morally compromised. They choose whether to be greedy or generous. They choose whether to help others or look the other way.

People probably don't choose to be homophobic or racist or bigoted. I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt. But to use the trappings of religion or patriotism to excuse such behavior is reprehensible. Hate is a learned behavior. No one is born a hater. This would indicate it can be unlearned, though I'm beginning to have my doubts this is true in all cases.