this is something JamesB3 would be all over, but in his absence i will share this
article i found over at 365gay.com. while we lamented the ability of the piece to detract from the serious problem of GLBT hate crimes, anti-gay groups felt emboldened. so much so that " Focus on the Family is demanding an apology from NBC News "on behalf of Christians disparaged by Today show co-host Katie Couric's 1998 insinuation that biblical principles incited the murder"."
FOF, which condemns homosexuality, opposes same-sex marriage, and has worked to block the inclusion of gays and lesbians in hate-crimes laws nationwide, says it is making the demand "in light of Nov. 26's report on ABC's "20/20" debunking the longstanding characterization of the slaying as an anti-gay "hate crime." (story)
"When Katie Couric took to the air in the days after Matthew Shepard's tragic murder to suggest that groups like Focus on the Family were somehow responsible for the killing, it was religion- baiting at its worst," said Don Hodel, president of Focus on the Family. "There never was any evidence to support her outrageous implications -- in fact, there now seems to be evidence contradicting them.
"To suggest that the scriptural standard on homosexuality leads to murder was unconscionable then -- and it's all the more unconscionable now in light of the revelations of ABC's report."
In a letter to NBC News President Neal Shapiro, Hodel calls on the network to apologize
"Our faith tells us that same-sex marriage and other policies that tear down the traditional definition of the family undermine the fabric of our civilization," Hodel wrote. "But just because we are opposed to efforts to normalize homosexuality does not in any way mean we are antagonistic to the people involved in homosexuality -- or that we believe or encourage others to believe that violence against homosexuals is acceptable. Our Christian beliefs mandate a different response, one centered in love for the individual, as well as in moral truth."
An apology is in order, Hodel added, because "there are millions of Christians who watch NBC, and they deserve more than this network's reckless contempt."
i feel dirty now but i bravely went over to the Focus on the Family website to read their full press release. they also had a copy of the letter they sent to ABC. here are a couple paragraphs.
Our outrage over her bigoted mischaracterization of what our organization stands for was strong then -- and it remains strong today. While Ms. Couric's comments were certainly not the first (nor the last) time Christians have been attacked for their beliefs in the media, her words certainly were among the most reckless. To suggest that the scriptural standard on homosexuality leads to murder is unconscionable.
In fact, those who killed Mr. Shepard told "20/20" their attack was motivated solely by money -- which they needed to feed their drug habit. They singled out their victim, they said, not because he was gay, but because he was well-dressed and seemed like someone who would have the kind of cash they needed to buy more methamphetamine.
That is why we are asking NBC News to publicly apologize to Christians maligned by Ms. Couric's inflammatory remarks. Our faith tells us that same-sex marriage and other policies that tear down the traditional definition of the family undermine the fabric of our civilization. But just because we are opposed to efforts to normalize homosexuality does not in any way mean we are antagonistic to homosexuals themselves -- or that we believe or encourage others to believe that violence against homosexuals is acceptable. Our Christian beliefs mandate a different response, one centered in love for the individual, as well as in moral truth.
On election night, some network news anchors seemed to struggle to understand the moral groundswell so evident in the returns on Nov. 2. May I suggest that a reaction against the elites in our culture, especially the big media, had something to do with the forceful expression of traditional values that day? Media elites speak often about tolerance, but may not realize that they seldom seem to express tolerance toward those they don't understand, particularly conservative Christian people. Katie Couric's ugly insinuation is a good example.
basically their argument is Shepard was killed over drugs. their anti-gay rhetoric doesnt cause violence. and to top it off the media elites are actually the intolerent ones.
sigh