This is just stupid:
Jana Jacobson said she was banned from a local church softball league for being gay, reports The Commercial Appeal in Memphis.
Jacobson says the Bellevue Baptist Church disqualified her team from competing in their adult women’s softball league because of what they called her “deviant” lifestyle.
The coach registered, paid the league’s entry fee and attended the preseason organizational meeting, where the rules were made clear: no alcohol, smoking or cursing and no offensive terms on uniforms.
No one said anything about sexual orientation.
But Jacobson says she was later singled out and asked to come back for a followup meeting, where she was told the league also restricted “public displays of affection” and that the church had received information about her lifestyle.
“Finally, in my frustration, I said that I am going to be clear,” Jacobson told the Appeal. “I am gay, and I find all of this to be absurd and against the word of God as I know it.”
According to Jacobson, the church’s recreation minister told her that because she was gay, her team could not play since the team’s participation would send a message to Bellevue members that the church condoned her lifestyle.
“I continued with … ‘This is silly, we’re simply here to play ball,’” the coach told the Appeal in an e-mail.
A representative for the church said Tuesday it had “no plans to comment” on the situation.
Richard Fields, a longtime local civil rights lawyer, said that Bellevue’s decision did not appear to be illegal. “I don’t think it’s ever been challenged,” he told the Appeal. “This is the first time I’ve ever heard of anything like this.”
Nevertheless, he was outraged by the church’s decision. “This is totally insane, and the gay community of Memphis should protest it, as well as the straight community. None of us should have to put up with that.”
Do they have a right to do this ? Yes
Do I have a right to ridicule them for being bigoted rednecks ? You sure as hell bet I do.
If you let homosexuals into women’s sports, next they’ll be in entertainment or interior decorating or the Republican Senate Committee. And then where will we be?
I think that the church has a right to ban whomever they wish. It’s called freedom of choice, but now they are being forced to accept homosexuals that is against their religious beliefs. They will also going against their religion by loving all. I support their right, but I don’t have to support their decision. It’s their church so let them do as they please. We should still have freedom of choice in this country. The church’s freedom to decide who they want & my choice to decide not to join their church.
Good article & I might mention a good book that’s about a small town in America who is fed up with govt. forcing People to go against their beliefs & ends up uniting the people. It’s a great read for what each of us have to be forced to do against our Will. I recommend it cause it could be ur town or mine one day.
http://www.booksbyoliver.com
The case is not whether a church has a right to include or exclude anyone , but don’t invite ANYONE and then have a stooge report that someone is Gay.
This blog has been following Steve Gaines as he driven out members and then come up with ideas to fill the empty seats and offering plates as this coach and team paid a $350 registration fee for which they are awaiting a refund for.
http://newbbcopenforum.blogspot.com/
Do not confuse bigotry for morality. Like it or not, many Christians believe homosexuality to be a sin. By allowing this woman to play on their softball team, they were saying that they reject their own beliefs.
There’s a discussion of the Locals here
http://newbbcopenforum.blogspot.com/
or a video
http://www.veoh.com/browse/videos/category/lifestyle/watch/v201960779fM8SHHf
Funny, Jesus used to break bread with sinners, now “Christians” can’t play softball with them.