Today’s letter - the Christian thing to do

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger -

I know that you aren’t supposed to be mixing religion and government, but since this whole “Limit on Marriage” thing comes out of a strange interpretation of the bible and a government-sponsored intolerance for religious beliefs, I wish you would consider how the church is embracing this decision as it relates to your public policy. It is, as Rev. Mark Hallahan pointed out, “the most important issue to face the church since slavery.”

The Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, issued this unequivocal statement:

Today’s Supreme Court decision on same-gender relationships is important because it reflects our baptismal vow to “strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being” and our commitment to justice and mercy for all people.

I celebrate and give thanks for this decision of the court and look forward with joy and excitement to a future of justice and mercy for all people in the State of California and the Episcopal Church.

To paraphrase St. Paul, there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, gay nor straight in Jesus Christ our Lord.

J. Jon Bruno
Bishop of Los Angeles

Far from forcing churches to perform ceremonies, this decision lets churches that believe in the dignity of every human being exercise their religious freedom and perform the ceremonies. In a brilliant example of “practice what you preach” All Saints’ Pasadena is opening their doors to marriage and will perform their first same-sex wedding on June 18.

I wish you had signed AB 43, the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act, when it was on your desk. I hope now you understand why the courts are forcing you to do the American and Christian thing, and support the freedom to marry.

Sincerely,

Today’s stamp: “Iron Man” from the Marvel Comics Super Heroes Collection. Iron Man used an accident as an opportunity to don an impenetrable shell of iron and change from advocating injustice into a knight fighting against it.

Today’s letter - expel the intolerant, not the people

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger -

I bring to you a story of righteousness winning out. In 2006 the then-Bishop of San Joaquin, John-David Schofield, based on a slim majority of support from his parishioners, led his whole diocese out of the Episcopal Church in opposition to the consecration of women and homosexuals by the US division of the Anglican Church.

Yesterday the Episcopal House of Bishops officially deposed Schofield, blocking him from performing religious duties as an Episcopal and removing his title.

It is so wonderful to finally see a Church that kicks out the intolerant for their intolerance rather than kicking out the parishioners because of their gender, age or sexual orientation.

I wish you would do the same thing with the Republican party. Then your party could grow like the Episcopals instead of shrinking like the Catholics.

Yours,

Today’s letter - even Presbyterians can see the folly of exclusion

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger -

I have written to you before about the rift over homosexuals in the Episcopal Church, but now it seems as though the Presbyterians are headed towards similar turmoil.

Lisa Larges is a deacon in San Francisco who is seeking ordination as a minister in the Presbyterian Church. The constitution of the church limits its clergy, elders and deacons to people in man-woman marriages or who are sexually abstinent; but it also has a policy of allowing exceptions for conscientious objectors.

Larges has called the special ban on gay clergy a “mar upon the church and a stumbling block to its mission” with enough conviction that the regional body of 77 churches voted last week to allow her third application to proceed by 167 to 151, and she will be interviewed in April.

She says “The church is a beautiful, messy thing. It’s about loving the church in spite of the church. It’s about being part of a movement to call the church back to its best self.”

If the Presbyterians can make an exception to their special ban on same-sex marriage, can’t you?

To borrow Ms. Larges’ words, depriving just some people of the ability to participate fully in our economy and society is a mar upon the state and a stumbling block to its mission of ensuring life, liberty, property and happiness for all. Governor – it’s time to call your state and your party back to its best self and support the freedom to marry.

Yours,

Today’s letter - Let the Punishment Fit the Crime

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger -

As an American, I was taught that the freedom to express ones beliefs is fundamental to our society. But I was also taught that expression brings responsibility, and abuse brings consequences. Abraham Lincoln summed this up when he said “Those who deny freedom deserve it not for themselves.” This weekend, we got a real-life demonstration of what happens when people believe in denying freedom to others.

Episcopal Bishop John-David Schofield of San believes that gay people should be banned from performing sermons, confirmations and rites. He recently led his diocese away from the national church on this issue, to ally with an Anglican church based in Buenos Aires.

The Episcopal Church responded by, appropriately, banning him from performing sermons, confirmations and rites.

I wish you would stand up for freedom, Governor, by identifying the Republicans who want to block lesbian and gay couples from marriage, and proclaim that their marriages are annulled. It would be no more arbitrary than annulling my marriage, which you did in 2004, and certainly teach a better lesson about commitment than banning committed relationships.

As Lincoln realized, the consequence of “doing unto others” is to be “done unto.” Won’t you see to it that justice is done?

Yours,

ATTACHMENT: Public Officials who have endorsed a ban on my marriage

Public Officials to be Banned from Marriage

State Senators
Senator Dick Ackerman (R-Tustin) – http://www.senate.ca.gov/Ackerman
Senator Sam Aanestad (R-Redding) - http://www.senate.ca.gov/Aanestad
Senator Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield ) - http://www.senate.ca.gov/Ashburn
Senator James Battin, Jr. (R-La Quinta) - http://www.senate.ca.gov/Battin
Senator John Campbell (R-Irvine) - http://www.senate.ca.gov/Campbell
Senator Dave Cox (R-Fair Oaks) - http://www.senate.ca.gov/Cox
Senator Jeff Denham (R-Merced) - http://www.senate.ca.gov/Denham
Senator Bob Dutton (R-San Bernadino) - http://www.senate.ca.gov/Dutton
Senator Dennis Hollingsworth (R- El Cajon) - http://www.senate.ca.gov/Hollingsworth
Senator Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria) - http://www.senate.ca.gov/Maldonado
Senator Bob Margett (R-Arcadia) - http://www.senate.ca.gov/Margett
Senator Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) - http://www.senate.ca.gov/McClintock
Senator Bill Morrow (R-Oceanside) - http://www.senate.ca.gov/Morrow
Senator Charles Poochigian (R-Fresno) - http://www.senate.ca.gov/Poochigian
Senator George Runner (R-Antelope Valley) - http://www.senate.ca.gov/Runner
Senator Mark Wyland (R-Carlsbad) - http://www.assembly.ca.gov/Wyland

Assembly Members
Assemblyman Greg Aghzarian (R-Stockton) - http://www.assembly.ca.gov/Aghazarian
Assemblyman John Benoit (R-Palm Desert) - http://www.assembly.ca.gov/Benoit
Assemblyman Russ Bogh (R-Yucaipa) - http://www.assembly.ca.gov/Bogh
Assemblyman Dave Cogdill (R-Modesto) - http://www.assembly.ca.gov/Cogdill
Assemblyman Chuck Devore (R-Irvine) - http://www.assembly.ca.gov/DeVore
Assemblyman Bill Emmerson (R-Redlands) - http://www.assembly.ca.gov/Emmerson
Assemblyman Tom Harman (R-Huntington Beach) - http://www.assembly.ca.gov/Harman
Assemblyman Guy Houston (R-San Ramon) - http://www.assembly.ca.gov/Houston
Assemblyman Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar) - http://www.assembly.ca.gov/Huff
Assemblyman Rick Keene (R-Chico) - http://www.assembly.ca.gov/Keene
Assemblyman Doug LaMalfa (R-Biggs) - http://www.assembly.ca.gov/LaMalfa
Assemblyman Jay LaSuer (R-LaMesa) - http://www.assembly.ca.gov/LaSuer
Assemblyman Bill Maze (R-Visalia) - http://www.assembly.ca.gov/Maze
Assemblyman Dennis Mountjoy (R-Monrovia) - http://www.assembly.ca.gov/Mountjoy
Assemblyman Alan Nakanishi (R-Lodi) - http://www.assembly.ca.gov/Nakanishi
Assemblyman Roger Niello (R-Sacramento) - http://www.assembly.ca.gov/Niello
Assemblyman George Plescia (R-San Diego) - http://www.assembly.ca.gov/Plescia
Assemblywoman Sharon Runner (R-Lancaster) - http://www.assembly.ca.gov/Runner
Assemblywoman Audra Strickland (R-Camarillo) - http://www.assembly.ca.gov/Strickland
Assemblyman Van Tran (R-Costa Mesa) - http://www.assembly.ca.gov/Tran
Assemblyman Michael Villines (R-Clovis) - http://www.assembly.ca.gov/Villines
Assemblywoman Mimi Walters (R-Laguna Niguel) - http://www.assembly.ca.gov/Walters

Today’s letter - Do Good Work

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger -

Like many Californians, I’m not profoundly religious, and the Bible is a big puzzle. So I rely on people of faith to help me interpret that book.

The Most Reverend Jefferts Schori, a bishop of the Episcopal Church, told a congregation confused about the role of homosexuality in scripture that “Jesus didn’t say, ‘Sit there and throw words at each other,’ He said, ‘Get out there and heal the sick and help the poor.’ “

You know, she is right. You don’t get into heaven by punishing people here on earth. You get there by helping them.

I wish you and your Government would help couples like us get married, instead of punishing us for doing nothing wrong. Then you could focus on your budget and the churches could concentrate on helping people.

Yours,

Today’s letter - Not every Church hates the gays

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger -

I am so proud of the Episcopal Church. In 2003, to underscore its belief that biblical teachings of tolerance and acceptance are paramount, they consecrated an openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire. Now, the 2.2 million-member Episcopal Church may separate from the global Anglican community over the issue.

I am really touched that the Episcopal Church would risk so much for me when they don’t have to; I am thoroughly embarrassed that my Governor won’t lift a finger to protect me when it is arguably his Constitutional responsibility.

I think it is pathetic that you would use a seven-year-old law about states rights as an excuse to block my access to the same security and simplicity of marriage that you so blithely enjoy. Please sign AB 43 and show that you do in fact believe in the dignity and freedom of all Californians.

Sincerely,