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Presbyterian Layman Committee Calls MN Paper “Intolerant” For Refusing Discriminatory Religious Ad

May 31, 2011

by:Jamie Clark

Minneapolis- Something is happening in Minnesota and certain religious entities are refusing to take the hint. So, Minnesota’s largest newspaper thought they would clear things up with a little stand that says a lot by doing what other papers around the country didn’t do. Now the Star Tribune is in the religious hot seat for their committed support of same sex marriage.

The Presbyterian Layman Committee recently launched an ad asking congregations to end their support of the Presbyterian Church (USA) for adopting an Amendment that allows gay clergy in their parishes. The Los Angeles Times and Wall Street Journal printed it so Layman Committee President Carmen Fowler LaBerge thought the Star Tribune would follow the leader. After all, they have let her run her God fearing Christian ranting words before. No such luck Carmen. Not this time. The MN paper sent the Lay Committee a letter stating that upon review by their advocacy specialist they would not run their ad as it was written. They told LaBerge to remove two lines and they would see what they could do for her.

The two lines are the second and third ones in the ad, which can be found on the Layman Online. (line 2) “Why does the PC(USA) no longer require its ordained leaders to limit their sexual activity to Christian marriage?” (line 3) “Why has the PC(USA) abandoned Scripture and 2,000 years of Christian faith and moral teachings?”

So, instead of simply removing these lines so their ad could run, LaBerge instead launched a ‘smear the Star Tribune campaign’ on the Layman Online, Friday May 27. The article is titled “Psst… your bias is showing” and complains that the Star Tribune “vaunts the First Amendment as its guiding light and tolerance as its north star” yet seems to be “unashamedly intolerant” of others views.  After all they won’t print the Layman Committee’s ad but ran a recent article stating that a marriage amendment here would “wrongly enshrine bigotry and discrimination in the state Constitution.” LaBerge needs to wake up and look at it this way.

Those pesky devils at the Star Tribune just know what Minnesotans want and anti gay rights propaganda rooted in religion is not it. I’m not saying that MN is not a religious state, trust me it is. My town on the Iron Range (with a population of about 20,000) has 28 churches of different faiths in it. I will also admit that we too have our fair share of religious fanatics that would love to see our rights be demolished. In my experience however, we have more Christians that know Christianity was founded on the morals of Jesus Christ and America was founded on freedom. We also have many that actually follow the concept of “hate the sin, love the sinner” and that means that the “sinner” is no more and no less than anyone else. To make it more clear. We have a lot of good and loving Christians in this state that do not want to use their savior to harm others.

The fact is that the “Christian right” and the GOP quit paying attention to the people of MN a long time ago. They don’t know what the people here want any more than the Star Tribune wants to run ads that spread religious based discrimination. They haven’t been listening  America, and that’s why Minnesota is a new start in the movement for our rights.  The people here are a quiet, mostly uncontroversial  bunch that don’t want our state to be a stomping ground for hate from either side of the movement. Tell yourselves, ‘handle Minnesota with care’ and keep that thought in your mind no matter what. We can win here, just remember that Minnesotan’s are watching.

Related articles

• Majority of Minnesotans Oppose Marriage Ban (advocate.com)
• Minnesotans Opposed To Anti-Marriage Amendment, Bigots Continue To March Forward (lezgetreal.com)
• Minnesota Paper Comes Out For Marriage (joemygod.blogspot.com)