it is abomination
August 11, 2007 6:43 AM   Subscribe

"It’s not that we didn’t love the family." A Texas megachurch canceled a memorial service for a Navy veteran 24 hours before it was to start because the deceased was gay.
posted by four panels (43 comments total)

This post was deleted for the following reason: this is a "look at these assholes" post with extra outrage thrown in for good measure. -- jessamyn



 
Now we know. Years of military service, which they're all about, rah-rah, is trumped by a taint of The Gheyz.
posted by adipocere at 6:50 AM on August 11, 2007


We did decline to host the service — not based on hatred, not based on discrimination, but based on principle

Yeah, the principle of hatred and discrimination.
posted by slimepuppy at 6:53 AM on August 11, 2007 [21 favorites]


Surely this is what Jesus would've done.
posted by Poolio at 6:53 AM on August 11, 2007 [5 favorites]


Seems obligatory: Small Town Holds Annual Gay Shame Parade.
posted by Remy at 6:59 AM on August 11, 2007


That's sick.

If they canceled the memorial because gay sex is a sin, then they need to cancel all memorials, since no one is without sin.
posted by The Deej at 6:59 AM on August 11, 2007 [4 favorites]


If they didn't cancel the service than next thing you know the congregation will start thinking it's OK to come out of the closet or admit you have a meth addiction. I think they made the right call here.
posted by chunking express at 7:02 AM on August 11, 2007


What's that song we'd sing at Mass? "They'll Know We Are Chistians By Our Love"?
posted by paddbear at 7:02 AM on August 11, 2007


But The Deej, this sin is icky. As Jesus himself said, "Judge not lest ye be judging something that totally sicks you out, like two dudes macking. Yea verily."
posted by Riki tiki at 7:06 AM on August 11, 2007 [2 favorites]


"They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Strictly Heterosexual Love"?
posted by geos at 7:13 AM on August 11, 2007


Oh, ya... forgot about that. I stand corrected. So I wonder if they would cancel a lesbian memorial. "Two ladies? Now that's hot!"
posted by The Deej at 7:13 AM on August 11, 2007


That "Pastor Gary" in the second link looks like a real piece of work.
posted by creasy boy at 7:15 AM on August 11, 2007


Btw, this poor guy wasn't even a member of the church. And after he's dead they still disaprove of his "lifestyle".
posted by creasy boy at 7:16 AM on August 11, 2007


I'm sorry but that pastor guy looks gay!
posted by etaoin at 7:17 AM on August 11, 2007


???
posted by The Straightener at 7:23 AM on August 11, 2007


Simons (the church’s pastor) said the decision had nothing to do with the obituary. He said the church offered to pay for another site for the service, made the video and provided food for more than 100 relatives and friends.

relatives declined the church’s offer to hold the service at a community center because they felt it was an inappropriate venue. It ultimately was held at a funeral home

Although I don't share the church's beliefs on gay, they, as a religious community, have every right to believe that homosexuality is a sin. In the USA, people are allowed to assemble, freely speak, and practice their religious beliefs as they choose. They seem to have demonstrated some caring and assistance to the family and friends of the deceased who had been an employee and not a member of their community. Kathleen Wright is trying to impose her beliefs on a community of which she is not even a member. This is a complete non-issue. GYOB.
posted by sluglicker at 7:24 AM on August 11, 2007 [2 favorites]


How comforting this must be to the adolescents in this church currently struggling with their sexual orientation.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 7:27 AM on August 11, 2007


Religious people in the US uncompromising on sexual taboos.
News at, well, you know.
posted by signal at 7:27 AM on August 11, 2007


Geez Remy, I read through that entire link sinking deeper into shock and despair before I noticed who you were linking to.
Guess I am just gullible.
posted by Iron Rat at 7:28 AM on August 11, 2007


Do they also refuse the services of rich men? Because we know what Jesus thought about the rich.
posted by ColdChef at 7:29 AM on August 11, 2007


You forgot the LOLTXNS!!11! tag.
posted by Ufez Jones at 7:30 AM on August 11, 2007


By the way, based on the last few months, I'm pretty certain that this is just the prelude to Pastor Gary Simons being caught snorting meth and sucking cocks a few weeks from now.
posted by ColdChef at 7:32 AM on August 11, 2007 [1 favorite]


Sluglicker, they certainly have a legal right to not hold a funeral, and yes demonstrated some measure of care for the family until they released that the deceased was in their eyes a sinner. So either their care for the family is conditional upon all family members being immaculate of all sin, or else this particular 'sin' brings to light their hypocrisy; were the sin drug addiction they would probably stick to their message "love the sinner, hate the sin". Only with homosexuality do they decide to hate the actual person.
We don't have to like how they exercise their legal rights.

My question is: at what point does a church officially become a "megachurch"?
posted by creasy boy at 7:38 AM on August 11, 2007


We don't have to like how they exercise their legal rights.

Exactly. So why is this a FPP?
posted by sluglicker at 7:43 AM on August 11, 2007


The Megachurch. It looks like you need have a capacity of 2,000+ worshippers to qualify.
posted by fugitivefromchaingang at 7:46 AM on August 11, 2007


My question is: at what point does a church officially become a "megachurch"?

Stadium seating.
posted by Cyrano at 7:47 AM on August 11, 2007


Exactly. So why is this a FPP?

Well....how often do funerals get cancelled? It's a pretty drastic step.

Of course I should've taken my megachurch question to wikipedia.
posted by creasy boy at 7:50 AM on August 11, 2007


The website says this about the church's pastor: "Originally, [Pastor Gary Simons] wanted to be a musician. He had a musical ear and talent that surpassed anyone’s expectations. Tragically, that dream had to be abandoned when during a routine oral surgery; (sic) Simons had a severe immune system reaction that would force him to live in a 'boy in a bubble' type environment for many months."
posted by fugitivefromchaingang at 7:52 AM on August 11, 2007


Exactly. So why is this a FPP?

For the same reason this was.
posted by Pope Guilty at 7:52 AM on August 11, 2007


For the same reason this was.

Because a U.S. congressman introduced a bill to abolish the Federal Reserve? Sorry. I missed that part in the linked article.
posted by sluglicker at 7:57 AM on August 11, 2007


Anyway, I had my say, flagged it. Moving on.
posted by sluglicker at 8:00 AM on August 11, 2007


Let he who is without sin cancel the first funeral.
posted by Soliloquy at 8:03 AM on August 11, 2007 [1 favorite]


The Megachurch. It looks like you need have a capacity of 2,000+ worshippers to qualify.

Actually, a megachurch technically is made up of 1,024 kilochurches.
posted by HeroZero at 8:06 AM on August 11, 2007 [5 favorites]


Tragically, that dream had to be abandoned...

This confirms my suspicion that all these megachurch pastor dudes really wanted a technicolor dreamcoat but wound up doing jazz hands for Jesus instead.
posted by The Straightener at 8:19 AM on August 11, 2007 [1 favorite]


In the USA, people are allowed to assemble, freely speak, and practice their religious beliefs as they choose....This is a complete non-issue. GYOB.

You know, ordinarily I would agree with this sentiment.

But churches enjoy extraordinary privilege in this country. We have witnessed the rise of the megachurch and the uberrich pastors who live like kings while paying no taxes. We've seen them conflate politics and religion under the rubric of "God's Way" and do their damnedest to create as close to a theocracy as they can get away with. And, time and time again, we see that the leaders of these "churches" preach love and practice hate.

IOW, they get lots of benefits but no responsibility. If they want to make money, then call them corporations and make them pay taxes. If they want to participate in, or influence, politics, then call them PACS, and make them pay taxes.

I'm sure there are plenty of legitimate churches and honest preachers, but megachurches are an in-your-face con job. Dancing around the issue only emboldens them.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 8:21 AM on August 11, 2007 [3 favorites]


Although I don't share the church's beliefs on niggers, they, as a religious community, have every right to believe that negroes are the inferior race and they don't have to welcome them into their community. In the USA, people are allowed to assemble, freely speak, and practice their religious beliefs as they choose. They seem to have demonstrated some caring and assistance to the blah blah blah whatever-the-fuck rationalizing blah blah. This is a complete non-issue. GYOB.

Yeah, no. You have the right to be a racist, a homophobe, and a bigot, but you can expect to be treated accordingly. There are hate crime laws for a reason. I think you are saying that they didn't commit a crime by denying a gay man dignity, but it is still a moral outrage.
posted by mattbucher at 8:32 AM on August 11, 2007 [2 favorites]


Discriminate against your brother as you would have him discriminate against you.
posted by mattbucher at 8:33 AM on August 11, 2007


Yeah, generally speaking, replacing all instances of "gay" with "black" makes it easier to notice where the speaker's coming from.
posted by Pope Guilty at 8:34 AM on August 11, 2007


I'm sorry but that pastor guy looks gay!
posted by etaoin at 10:17 AM on August 11 [+] [!]


It certainly wouldn't be the first time.
posted by caddis at 8:35 AM on August 11, 2007


Hey I came here to make fun of the christians too, but I have to agree that there's nothing particularly shocking or hypocritical about this church refusing to memorialize a man who wasn't a member of their community and who didn't reflect their values. Who was the dumbass who wanted to hold a gay man's funeral in a Texas Megachurch?

It's like expecting the KKK to eulogize Rosa Parks.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 8:38 AM on August 11, 2007


My partner asked me if there were more of these sorts of homophobic incidents these days. Seems like we're getting them one after another. (as with the guys in Indy I posted about the other day).

My answer to him was that we're standing up for ourselves more now than we used to, and the resistance and backlash gets more publicity. Twenty years ago this story, coming from Arlington, and the other from Indianapolis, would have been unthinkable. Now the controversies that used to be seen only on the coasts are taking place in heartland America. Even though I'm heartsick about these specific cases, I think that the tide of history is on our side.

I'm planning to look for an address or contact info for Kathleen Wright. We'd like to send her a card to express support and sympathy.
posted by Robert Angelo at 8:41 AM on August 11, 2007 [1 favorite]


Exactly. So why is this a FPP?

Because the megachurch doesn't want us to think they are all closeted gays too.
posted by Brian B. at 8:53 AM on August 11, 2007


I would want them to cancel my funeral as well. Not because I am gay, but because I plan to never die.
posted by Astro Zombie at 8:55 AM on August 11, 2007


...I'm pretty certain that this is just the prelude to Pastor Gary Simons being caught ...

Yea, verily! Whenever I see a young pastor who looks a little too with-it and stylish, I wonder the same thing. Goes double for youth pastors -- a little too eager to hang out with teens, some of 'em.

(And I'm entertaining fantasies of cheerfully, riotously violating the living daylights out of the Seventh Commandment with April Simons. "Let My People Come!")
posted by pax digita at 8:57 AM on August 11, 2007


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