Rep. Sally Kern's "Oklahoma Citizen's Proclamation for Morality"
blames many of the nation's problems on those involved in "abortion,
pornography, same sex marriage, sex trafficking, divorce and other
forms of debauchers."
Rep. Kern made international headlines last year when she compared homosexuality to terrorism.
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By Rusty Surette, NEWS 9
OKLAHOMA CITY -- An Oklahoma lawmaker is once again drawing criticism from gay and lesbian groups from across the nation.
State
Representative Sally Kern, and a host of other lawmakers, civic and
religious leaders, will gather at the State Capitol next month to sign
the "Oklahoma Citizen's Proclamation for Morality."
The
proclamation urges Oklahoma residents to acknowledge the need for a
national awakening of righteousness, but critics say Rep. Kern is again
mixing politics and religion.
Read the "Oklahoma Citizen's Proclamation for Morality"
"Instead
of dealing with issues that she ought to be dealing with, it seems
she's advocating her religious views once again which is not the proper
purview of an elected official," said Rev. Scott Jones, an openly gay
pastor in Oklahoma City.
The proclamation attacks President
Barack Obama for supporting the nationwide gay pride events that are
scheduled throughout the month of June.
It states: "Whereas,
deeply disturbed that the Office of the president of these United
States disregards the biblical admonitions to live clean and pure lives
by proclaiming an entire month to an immoral behavior."
Kern said the proclamation's timing has nothing to do with gay pride festivals happening this month, but many are not buying it.
"Yes,
I think it's a response to this celebration and I'm concerned about the
economic issues, particularly as they relate to moral and spiritual
issues as a pastor, but those issues are more people falling into
poverty, millions of Americans without health insurance, more people
going hungry, the exploitation of the environment. Representative Kern,
a public official doesn't address any of these moral issues," Jones
said.
In her proclamation, Kern also blames people outside of Wall Street and Washington for the national recession.
The
proclamation states: "Whereas, we believe our economic woes are
consequences of our greater national moral crisis; and Whereas, this
nation has become a world leader in promoting abortion, pornography,
same sex marriage, sex trafficking, divorce, illegitimate births, child
abuse ,and many other forms of debauchery."
"I think we all know why the economy collapsed and it didn't have anything to do with gay pride festivals," Rev. Scott said.
Oklahoma City's gay pride festival is scheduled for this upcoming weekend.
Rep.
Kern made international headlines last year when she compared
homosexuality to terrorism by saying, "I honestly think it's the
biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam -
which I think is a big threat, okay?"
The American Civil
Liberties Union will be investigating whether or not public funds will
be used for next week's signing of the proclamation at the state
capitol.
The ACLU released the following statement regarding Sally Kern's "Proclamation for Morality:"
"I
think it's very unfortunate, frankly, I haven't seen scapegoating like
this since pre-World War II Germany", said C.S. Thornton, the Deputy
Director of the ACLU Chapter of Oklahoma. "She blames all these things
upon a great moral crisis that has in fact caused our national economic
downtown, but nowhere in this parade of horribles does mention greedy
Wall Street executives or government regulators who were asleep at the
switch."
The Human Rights Campaign released the following statement in reaction to the proclamation:
"This
resolution is an affront to those who believe in America's
constitutional democracy and to people of all faiths who follow the
universal teaching to love their neighbors as themselves. In one long
diatribe, Rep. Kern manages to demean both the American founding
fathers she quotes and the faith she is asking the state of Oklahoma to
endorse. America's revolutionary leaders were about building a just
society where all could practice their own religion, or not, in peace.
Sally Kern is about tearing apart the diverse tapestry the founders
helped to form. Jesus Christ taught that we should tell the truth in
love and work together in community. Sally Kern makes the truth a
beggar on the way to dividing families and communities."
brigid
"Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action." - W.J. Cameron