Fighting the Phantom Fringe to End Gun Violence

post I just sent to the Huffington Post ... consider it a "preview."

 

President Obama made good his promise to address the pressing issue of gun violence reduction in our nation with a press conference that ended with his signature on twenty-three executive orders – and a call for Congress to step up and join him in providing the leadership the country is calling for. And the ink wasn’t dry on those executive orders before the conservative fringe was jumping and down about “the leftist gun grab.”

Never mind that the President specifically said he supports the 2^nd Amendment and the right of Americans to “keep and bear arms.” Never mind that in a recent poll 74% of NRA members said they support common sense measures like background checks for gun purchases. (I need to show ID to buy Sudafed but not a gun? Seriously?) And never mind that nobody –let me say that again – NOBODY is talking about “grabbing guns” from anybody. But never letting facts interfere with the story they want to tell, the headline still reads: “Obama Unveils Left’s Long-Held Plan to Grab Guns.”

I know. I know. It’s Rush Limbaugh. Why give him any more “ink?” Why not just “consider the source?” Why pay any attention to him whatsoever? Because other people do. Because if we don’t who will. And because I actually believe John 8:32 got it exactly right: “The truth will set you free.”

 And the truth that will set us free from the scourge of gun violence in our streets and our schools is that a majority of Americans support both the 2nd Amendment AND common sense measures on universal background checks and restrictions on assault weapons.

 The truth is that weapons designed for the theater of war do not belong in our movie theaters – or our classrooms, places of worship or streets.

The truth is the “leftist gun grab” is a figment of the imagination of a reactionary fringe looking for a way to mobilize their increasingly polarized base by giving them something to be more afraid of than they are that their kids will get shot in their classrooms. And what they’ve come up with is that the White House is after their deer rifle. 

Here’s some truth for you – call it “confessions of a bona fide leftist.” I’ve lobbied for a woman’s right to choose, marched for marriage equality, protested against torture at Guantanamo and the war in Iraq, and demonstrated for immigration reform and hotel workers rights. I support Planned Parenthood, the Affordable Healthcare Act and the ACLU. And I not only do not want to grab your deer rifle – I don’t know anybody who does. And trust me -- I know a LOT of liberal, leftist people.

The truth will set us free – but only if we tell it. Over and over. Again and again. In emails, voicemail and snail-mail. On Facebook and Twitter and YouTube and wherever and whenever anybody will listen to us. And even when they won’t.

We’ll just keep talking. We’ll just keep telling the truth.

Because the truth is that enough is enough. The truth is that with rights come responsibilities -- and the responsibility to keep our children safe from assault weapons trumps the right of fear mongers to manufacture a phantom fringe of leftist gun grabbers in order to scare responsible gun owners into rejecting common sense proposals to implement gun violence reduction.

And the truth is that our children are counting on us to tell the truth that will set them free to grow up in a world free of gun violence.  And if that isn’t truth enough to get us moving then the truth is we deserve what we get.

"What's happening?"

Facebook wants to know "What's happening, Susan?" Here you go ... THIS is "what's happening:"

Scripture tells us that "the truth will set you free" -- and the truth that will set us free from the scourge of gun violence in our streets and our schools is that a majority of Americans support BOTH the 2nd Amendment AND common sense measures on universal background checks and restrictions on assault weapons. Speak up. Step up. Enough is Enough. Call your representatives TODAY and tell them to support the White House gun violence reduction measures. Seriously. Do it. Right now.

Contact Congress

Celebrating MLK Day (a little early!)

So I didn't even know Forest Lawn HAD an MLK Day celebration ... much less that this was the "11th Annual" until I was invited to give the Benediction.

It was a lovely event ... with great music by the "Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles and Chorus" (what an inspiring bunch of young people!) and a whole big auditorium full up of people and I was honored to get to have the "last word" ... which was a few brief words linking the "arc of the moral universe bending toward justice" quote with Abraham Heschel's call for prophets to "comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable" and then ending with the BCP prayer for "the human family" -- with a little Amos thrown in at the end:

Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne so that justice may roll down like waters and righetousness like an ever flowing stream.

And then I finished with the "Newark Blessing" (which I inherited from Liz Habecker who inherited it from Jack Spong:)

Holy God, Send us anywhere you would have us go, only go there with us. Place upon us any burden you desire, only stand by us to sustain us. Break any tie that binds us, except the tie that binds us to you. And the blessing of God Almighty, Creating, Redeeming and Sustaining, be with you -- those you love, serve and challenge -- this day and forever. Amen.

And that was my Sunday night. Got home in time to watch the Golden Globes ... which turned out to be a good thing since our local KNBC news folks called this morning looking for reaction to Jodie Foster's "coming out" speech. But that's another blog! :)

Great News from Washington's National Cathedral

From the National Cathedral's Dean Gary Hall,

I am writing to announce that, effective immediately, same-sex weddings may be celebrated at Washington National Cathedral, which has a long history of advancing equality for people of all faiths and perspectives. The Cathedral is called to serve as a gathering place for the nation in times of significance, but it is also rooted in its role as the most visible faith community within the Episcopal Church. For more than 30 years, the Episcopal Church has prayed and studied to discern the evidence of God’s blessing in the lives of same-sex couples. It is now only fitting that the National Cathedral follow suit. We enthusiastically affirm each person as a beloved child of God—and doing so means including the full participation of gays and lesbians in the life of this spiritual home for the nation.

Consistent with the canons of the Episcopal Church, the Cathedral will begin celebrating same-sex marriage ceremonies using a rite adapted from an existing blessing ceremony approved in August 2012 by the Church at its General Convention. That approval allowed for the bishops who oversee each diocese within the Church to decide whether or not to allow the rite’s use or to allow celebration of same-sex marriage. In light of the legality of civil marriage for same-sex couples in the District of Columbia and Maryland, Bishop Mariann Budde announced last month that the diocese would now allow this expansion of the sacrament, which then led to my decision for the Cathedral’s adaptation of the same-sex rite.

In my 35 years of ordained ministry, some of the most personally inspiring work I have witnessed has been among gay and lesbian communities where I have served. I consider it a great honor to lead this Cathedral as it takes another historic step toward greater equality—and I am pleased that this step follows the results made clear in this past November’s election, when three states voted to allow same-sex marriage.

Matters of human sexual identity and questions about the Church’s role in blessing lifelong, committed relationships between its members are serious issues around which feelings run high and people of good will can often disagree. It is my hope and prayer that, if all of us open ourselves to the fullness and diversity of our nation’s many voices, we will learn to walk together in a new way as we listen for God’s call to us to be faithful to each other and to God.

I must also take this opportunity to stress that the same guidelines for couples eligible to be married at the Cathedral stay in effect. All weddings at the Cathedral are conducted as Christian marriages in which the couple commits to lifelong faithfulness, love, forbearance, and mutual comfort. At least one person in the couple, therefore, must have been baptized. Only couples directly affiliated with the life of the Cathedral—as active, contributing members of the congregation; as alumni or alumnae of the Cathedral schools; as individuals who have made significant volunteer or donor contributions over a period of time; or those judged to have played an exceptional role in the life of the nation—are eligible to be married at the Cathedral.

The Episcopal Church has shown faithfulness and courage in the long discernment process that led to the development and approval of this rite. The Diocese of Washington has similarly been a leader in the implementation of marriage equality. I have shared this decision with the Chapter and staff prior to this announcement, and I am proud that Washington National Cathedral will be among the first Episcopal institutions to adopt and implement a rite that will enable our faithful LGBT members to share in the sacramental blessings of Christian marriage.

News reports:
New York Times
Associated Press
Religion News Service

Bishop of Chicago Steps Up for Marriage Equality

This should probably be titled "Bishop of Chicago CONTINUES to Step Up for Marriage Equality" because +Jeff Lee has been such a valiant ally but this particular moment was one that came out of his willingness to step up with a Letter of Support for Marriage Equality as it wends its way through the legislative process in Illinois.

And so I was SOOOO delighted on Friday morning as I sat on my day off happily having my second cup of day-off coffee and watching a second-hour of day-off morning news to see this quote from his letter pop up on MSNBC. And thanks to the "rewind/pause" feature on my remote control and an iPhone camera hard-by ... VOILA! The moment is "screen captured!"

My actual favorite quote from the letter was this one:

As a Christian, I believe that our society needs all of the sources and signs of grace that we can get. As a citizen of the United States, I believe in equal protection under the law. I believe that both ends will be served when marriage equality is the law of the land in Illinois, and I am grateful to be bishop in a church that offers all couples a community of faith, love, support and accountability.

But let's not quibble. Getting the voice of witness of an Episcopal Bishop willing to stand up for civil marriage equality into the mix early-and-often in the political process has SUCH an important impact in neutralizing the voices of those who presume to speak for "people of faith" when they're really just speaking out of their own bias against gay and lesbian couples.

Does it matter if a bishop speaks out on the issue of civil marriage equality? You bet it does. It matters to those in Illinois who will be speaking to their representatives in letters, calls and emails that they can say their faith tradition stands for equality for all. And it matters for fair-minded legislators who will be able to say they have had input from folks of faith on both sides of the marriage equality issue -- and at the end of the day make their decision based not on what some constituents think the Bible says about homosexuality but about what the Constitution says about equal protection.

Bravo, Bishop Lee. Bravo!

"Can they sink any lower?" turns out to be a rhetorical question

Of course I'm talking about the 112th Congress -- which, it turns out, has done less than the famous "Do Nothing" Congress of 1947-1949 -- and is (TBTG!) done, done, DONE tomorrow -- and not a minute too soon!

But wait ... it turns out they actually DID do something. No, it wasn't work to find bipartisan compromise on the issues that challenge this nation, it wasn't figure out a deal that would keep us from going over the #fiscalcliff until we were actually over it, it wasn't passing the Violence Against Women Act or -- shockingly and as hard as it is to imagine -- it wans't disaster relief for the victims of Hurrican Sandy.

No -- they didn't do any of THOSE things.

Here's what they DID do. (Are you ready???)

From the Huffington Post:

WASHINGTON -- House Republicans may have complained loudly during the "fiscal cliff" debate about the need to rein in government spending, but that didn't stop them from agreeing Wednesday night to sink even more money into defending the federal ban on recognizing gay marriage.

A GOP source told The Huffington Post that, during a closed-door meeting of the House Republican Conference, lawmakers gave a green light to including language in the 113th Congress rules package that authorizes the House legal team, known as the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group (BLAG), to keep paying outside counsel to defend the Defense of Marriage Act in court. The proposed House rules package also states that BLAG continues to "speak for" the House in its defense of DOMA.

No, I am not making this up. This is what passes for leadership in the GOP House: finding funding to pay for legal defense of the indefensible (so called) "Defense of Marriage Act" which makes a mockery of the 14th Amendment by putting the equal protection guaranteed all Americans out of reach of gay and lesbian couples who have been lawfully married in one of the nine states or the District of Columbia.

Seriously. Bring on the 113th. It can't some soon enough.

And the Word Became Flesh -- Christmas Day 2012

Here's my Christmas 2012 sermon on YouTube