Oakland Stake and Prop 8
I am really hoping that this article captures (perhaps poorly) a real attempt to reach out and sincerely address the needs of people with same-sex attraction without being untrue to ourselves and teachings.
If you can see past the SLtrib intentional spin, it seems like we might have a story here of some very productive approaches to how to better integrate our teachings and a more Christ-like and emphathetic approach to those with same-sex attraction.
The problem is that the SLtrib puts so much emphasis on certain things that (I assume) fit their political point of view, that it’s hard to tell. But in general this approach sounds wonderful, at least as I’m imagining it in my head. I wish I had been there to see it.
Vader
February 5, 2010
It’s a bit spun, of course, as when you see statements like:
This is not an accurate description of what I’ve seen in the Church over the last few years.
Christ warned us not to confound our feelings about certain actions with our feelings about the actors, an attitude captured in the popular phrase “Hate the sin, love the sinner.” We acknowledge that we must guard against letting hatred for sin become hatred for sinners or potential sinners. This story, under the spin, illustrates this principle in action.
Likewise, it would be well for all concerned to not confuse hatred for sin with hatred for the sinners. I saw a lot of that in the aftermath of Proposition 8.
Bruce Nielson
February 5, 2010
Insightful, Vader. I was put off by that comment and by the myriad of references to people leaving the church, disbelieving the church, etc. It was a definite emphasis for the article even though it seems to have represented a very minority view overall. They call this ‘balance’ (i.e. all sides get equal mention even when non-representative of the truth) when it’s in their favor and ‘reality’ when it’s not.
Johnna
February 28, 2010
I hadn’t seen this article. I’m in the region with Oakland and I remember hearing about this meeting, but not in the way the newspaper is presenting it.
Bruce Nielson
February 28, 2010
What did you hear about it different from the newspaper? I felt like I was attempting to read between the lines.