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Says Court Decision Corrupts the Sanctity of Marriage December National Liberty Journal Devoted to Gays |
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Compiled By GayToday
Lynchburg, Virginia—After promising at his October Photo-Op with
Rev. Mel White to tone down his anti-gay rhetoric, the Rev. Jerry Falwell's
Christmas Eve message, dated December 23 and e-mailed to recipients the next
day, said that the "traditional values" of Western civilization had come under
assault as a result of Vermont's recent court ruling granting equal rights with
married heterosexuals to both gay and lesbian couples.
"Many individuals - including me," said the fundamentalist Baptist, "See this decision as opening the door to the ultimate annihilation of the traditional view of marriage that has defined Western civilization. "This decision is a continuation of an ongoing battle to eradicate the impact of traditional Judeo-Christian morality from our nation's legal and social doctrines. Thankfully, 30 states have now passed laws protecting traditional marriage.
Calling the Vermont court decision "an affront to the founding principles of our nation" Falwell continued to place homosexuality at the forefront of his lament about what he calls the nation's decline: " While I do not believe that homosexuality is single-handedly destroying our nation, I do believe it is part of an assault on the morality that once defined this land." The December issue of Falwell's National Liberty Journal, purportedly celebrating "the 1999th Birthday of Jesus Christ" was chock full of articles about homosexuality, a total of nine, including Bob Kunst's article "Falwell's Fears and Hates" which was first published in GayToday. Participants at October's Lynchburg gathering of gays and Baptists were each given space to say what they felt about the proceedings. Falwell himself, in an essay titled "Why did I do it?" excused himself as best he could for doing what he describes as "It". His editor, J.M. Smith tells in a front page article, "Scenes from an Unlikely Summit," about meeting with both Miami gay activist Bob Kunst and the Rev. Fred Phelps.
"He accused Falwell and his supporters of having a dangerous 'political' agenda. I countered that our agenda was spiritual, rather than political. " 'My hope is one day to see you in heaven, Bob' I said, underscoring the spiritual foundation of our efforts. "He laughed. " 'That's never going to happen,' he replied calmly before quickly changing the subject." Underscoring the political side of the December issue of Falwell's National Liberty Journal, in spite of its editor's protestations to the contrary, are articles titled: "Gore's Feminist Savior", "Congress to Double Spending on Sexual Abstinence Programs," "Mr. Smith returns to the GOP," "Are Clinton Investigations Dead?", "Court Negates White House Claims Against Starr," "Bradley Gains Support from Ex-Jock Pals," "Bush, Gore and the Haunting Future of Judicial Activism," "Worshiping at the Feet of the Red Dragon," and "The Truth about Hanoi Jane." Finally, contradicting the supposed spirit of October's Falwell-White summit, an entire page is devoted in the Journal to "Aggressive Homosexual Activists" who "Portray Themselves as Victims." |
