This week I had sad news from two long time friends. One was a clergy colleague who lost his wife of 55 years to a long illness on New Year's Eve. The other was an ECW friend who lost her partner of 23 years on Christmas Day.
Both are now coping with their own grief and loss while planning services to celebrate the lives of their beloveds as they claim the resurrection promise that in death life is changed -- not ended -- and the sure and certain promise that God's love never ends.
And one of them is also having to deal with frozen assets in bank accounts while trying to pay funeral expenses; "proving" her next-of-kin status in order to carry out the last wishes of her beloved; facing the financial challenge of no "standing" in terms of Social Security survivor's benefits.
Meanwhile, in Iowa, the Republican presidential poster child for political homophobia Rick Santorum proclaims: "Ask me what motivates me, it's been the dignity of every human life."
Unless it's a gay or lesbian life. In which case, he argues that gay relationships “destabilize” society, wouldn’t offer any legal protections to gay relationships and has pledged to annul all same-sex marriages if elected president.
Seriously.
I know, I know. Everybody says the "Santorum Surge" is going to be short lived and he won't be able to stand the scrutiny of a front-runner and he's not electable ...and, and, and.
And yet as my friend prepares bury her partner of 23 years, the airwaves are full of Santorum's anti-gay messages that have nothing to do with human dignity and everything to do with homophobic bigotry masquerading as Christian Family Values.
No wonder Jesus wept.
9 comments:
My condolences to both of your friends, Susan. May their spouses rest in peace.
Liberating Lord Christ, Bring Justice to your LGBT children!!!
Keeping your friends in my thoughts and prayers. Please keep speaking truth to power in your strong voice. Your post illustrates why all of us straight allies need to keep fighting the good fight for our brothers and sisters. I read your blog often on my reader, but don't always have a chance to comment. Always enjoy it immensely, though. Thank you!
Thanks so much!
I hope it's okay, I quoted this (with credit) in full at Gay Married Californian. Awesome post.
So sorry to hear about it, sending my prayer for you for more strength.
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Lets Enjoy Philippines | Enjoy Philippines
Three cheers from Orange County!
http://episconixonian.blogspot.com/2012/01/dignity-of-certain-human-lives.html
Jesus wept many times because he was human.
He wept (over Jerusalem) because he knew what was coming to his own disobedient people who continued to put their own self serving spin on everything. (thinking they knew better than God).
Jesus said to the stubborn unbelievers, "The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."
We are watchful. God's Kingdom will come, the Son of Man will come in a cloud with power & glory.
LG, you never disappoint.
Ah! Thanks LG, for the Epiphany sermon from St. Loony-Up-the-Cream-Bun-With-Jam.
loo-loo-lah-loo-loo
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