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| Metropolitan Community Church founder Rev. Troy Perry received a letter from President Bush congratulating him on the church's 35th anniversary. (Photo by AP) |
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HOME > NEWS > NATIONAL NEWS
By: JOE CREA
COMMENTS |
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WASHINGTON — President Bush sent a letter on White House stationery enthusiastically
congratulating members of the Metropolitan Community Church for the 35th anniversary
of the predominantly gay Christian denomination, the same week he issued a proclamation
declaring Oct. 12-18 “Marriage Protection Week.”
Critics and supporters of the Bush administration say they don't know if the
letter is sincere or a possible political gaffe.
“By encouraging the celebration of faith and sharing the message of
God's love and boundless mercy, churches like yours put hope in people's hearts
and a sense of purpose in their lives,” read the letter received by the
MCC.
“This milestone provides an opportunity to reflect on your years of
service and to rejoice in God's faithfulness to your congregation. In the days
ahead, may your community continue to grow in faith and friendship. Laura joins
me in sending our best wishes for a memorable celebration,” the letter
said.
Gay Republicans welcomed the sentiments.
“I think it is a nice sign that the White House is recognizing these
churches, and I hope they are sincere,” said Mark Mead, political director
for the Log Cabin Republicans.
But Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, called the letter
an “apparent gaffe” since "MCC is one of the largest homosexual
church organizations in the country, and has openly criticized the president's
policies on same-sex ‘marriage’ and several other social issues,” he
wrote in an e-mail newsletter.
“Today I spoke with the White House about this matter,” Perkins
wrote. “While on its face this looks troubling, it appears to have been
a form letter which does not reflect the previously stated views of the administration
on the issue of marriage. We look forward to the White House's official response.”
The White House did not respond to questions about the letter by press time.
Rev. Troy Perry, founder of the MCC, said he doesn't think the letter was
a gaffe and added that it was not a form letter.
“While we appreciate him thinking of us on our anniversary, and we really
do, he knows we part company on the issue of marriage,” Perry said.
Perry added that he didn't want to seem like he was "pouncing on the
president,” but it seemed a bit hypocritical that Bush would congratulate
MCC the same week he declared “Marriage Protection Week.”
The president's proclamation coincided with a series of events last month
by 24 religious groups to keep same-sex marriage in the spotlight through the
2004 elections, conservative groups said.
In his proclamation, the president said that protecting marriage is "essential
to the continued strength of our society." He did not specifically reference
a proposed federal constitutional amendment that would define marriage as a
union between a man and a woman.
Rev. Neil Thomas, a senior pastor of MCC Los Angeles who also received the
letter, said in a recent press release he was “baffled” by the
conflicting messages.
“How does one denounce the right of gays and lesbians to marry in their
churches and suggest they are incapable of having healthy marriages in one
moment, and in the next rejoice in God's faithfulness to a gay and lesbian
congregation that performs such same-sex marriages?” he asked.
If the letter is indeed genuine and not a gaffe or a form letter, it represents
a tightrope that the administration continues to walk between “compassionate
conservatism” and placating the GOP's socially conservative base, said
Dave Noble, executive director of the National Stonewall Democrats, a gay partisan
group.
“The Republican Party is trying to walk a fine line and they can't get
away with both,” Noble said. “You either work with all members
of society or appease your right-wing base by having exclusionary policies
and sadly, the Republican Party is controlled by the extremists.”
8704 Santa Monica Blvd., Second Floor
West Hollywood, CA 90069
310-360-8640
www.MCCchurch.org
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