When an idea has lost its power, it is like a fatally injured bear caught in a trap: It roars loudly and makes its fi ercest, most absolute claims, even as it is dying.
By the late 19th century, the notion truth is passed down by infallible external authorities was no longer persuasive. The Age of Enlightenment had established the fruitfulness of the scientifi c method.
Only in 1870 did the Vatican declare a doctrine of papal infallibility.
Soon thereafter, Biblical literalists published “The Fundamentals,” asserting the idea of absolute Scriptural inerrancy. When the idea a human being or a document can be infallible was no longer self-evident or even believable, adherents to that dying idea made their most absolute claims.
In the mid-1800s, as ournational consciousness was recognizing that to enslave another human being is a fundamental injustice, eleven of our states were willing to secede and fi ght a war for a dying principle.
A century later in 1963, as our nation moved to open restaurants, motels, water fountains, restrooms, and voting equally to black people, Alabama Gov. George Wallace cried, “Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever!”
And today, it is becoming evident to people everywhere loving gayrelationships have the same fundamental qualities as loving heterosexual relationships. Old ideas and prejudices are being transcended as we begin recognizing the full humanity of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
Almost 17 years ago, as the last gasp of a dying idea, Congress passed DOMA - the Defense of Marriage Act. DOMA declares marriage is the legal union of one man and one woman and codifi es in federal law the nonrecognition of same-sex marriage, prohibiting spousal insurance benefi ts, filing joint returns, and Social Security survivors’ benefi ts.
DOMA is a lot like the Jim Crow laws and the old anti-miscegenation statutes prohibiting marriage between people of diff erent colors. It is a violation of our American tradition of liberty and justice for all.
California’s Proposition 8 is the voter-initiated version of a similarprejudice. Last week the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments challenging the constitutionality of both DOMA and Proposition 8.
As an American citizen, I pray the court will continue to extend the rights of freedom and will overturn these discriminatory laws.
As a Christian, I pray more and more people will recognize the gifts of the Spirit manifested in our GLBT neighbors.
My wife and I will celebrate 38 years of marriage this June. We’ll get an anniversary greeting from old friends, a gay couple who have been together almost 40 years.
They always send us congratulations. I know gay couples who have celebrated their 50th anniversary together. That is a noble achievement of love and fi delity.
More and more Christians are recognizing the fruits of the Spirit in the lives and relationships of our GLBT neighbors: “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,gentleness and temperance.” St. Paul tells us, “There is no law against such things.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
Jesus summarized the law with the simple instruction: Love God, and love your neighbor as yourself.
One of my neighbors and parishioners is Dave Williams. Dave and his life-partner Carl Allen were married in California during the brief window when that was legal. Carl spent his life in government service as a Russian language expert with the National Security Agency.
When Carl died, he left his home and belongings to Dave as his spouse. But Dave was prohibited from inheriting Carl’s Social Security benefi ts. That’s not what Carl wanted. (See a YouTube video about their marriage at http://bit.
ly/16hIKZb)
As Carl’s beloved spouse, Dave deserves what my wife Kathy deserves, the benefits we’ve earned to support our families after we die. It is only fair and just.
It takes a while for old ideas to die completely.
Racial prejudice still abounds 50 years after the Civil Rights movement.
But our laws are more just than they used to be.
Loving couples of diff erent races can marry. They can eat at the same restaurant, and expect the backing of the law if they are threatened because of their race and their love.
Love and justice demand the same for our gay neighbors.
Easter is the Christian celebration of new life, the victory of resurrection life over all of the powers of death. Christians believe that Jesus bore the deadly consequences of sin - our pride and prejudice, our violence and hatred. He took all that is evil in our humanity and returned only love. His resurrection is God’s vindication - love is more powerful than death;
love overcomes all.
LOWELL GRISHAM IS AN EPISCOPAL PRIEST WHO LIVES IN FAYETTEVILLE.
Opinion, Pages 11 on 03/31/2013