The god I knew as a young Southern Baptist didn't have much interest in the pursuit of petty politics. He - and this particular god was most definitely a
he - seemed pretty comfortable with the rendering-unto-Caesar model, which seemed about right to me.
Today that good-old god is dead, replaced by an angry patriarch hell-bent on punishing some of his children because they don't happen to be heterosexual. At least that's what you'd have to believe if you want to join his North Carolina band of homophobes named Called 2 Action. According to the organization's own website, its roots are firmly planted in overt discrimination.
In the spring of 2004, the Human Relations Commission of the Raleigh city council proposed adding "sexual orientation" to its list of protected classes, effectively putting homosexual behavior on equal footing with race, gender, age, nationality, and creed. A few people felt called to support the stand Councilman Regan had taken against this proposal and to get other concerned citizens involved. More than 400 citizens - people of different color, denomination, socioeconomic level and political affiliation - turned out for the key vote. The vote did not go the way the crowd wanted, but this event was telling: if godly people are informed, educated and called2action, they will respond.
Our primary mission is to mobilize and utilize the passion of like-minded citizens in Wake County to promote and defend our shared family and social values. Our area has a rich heritage of faith: hundreds of churches, ministries and Bible studies. We have thousands of residents with strong moral convictions. And yet these entities and individuals are often disconnected and limited in their approach to public policy and broad cultural issues. C2A aims to unify and enlarge their voice, build their collective voting strength and enable citizens to enter the political process knowledgeably, prayerfully and strategically.
From its genesis in hate for gays and lesbians, C2A expanded its agenda with the Trojan Horse Pledge of Allegiance. Using a focused campaign to press god into public schools, the organization lobbied like-minded legislators with a handful of emails, and 'bingo,' they snuck Jehovah into classrooms on the backs of patriotic zeal. Now North Carolina schools will spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to put American flags in every classroom, effectively forcing students to say the pledge in honor of freedom and democracy. The irony is breathtaking.
In its latest piece of acting up, C2A is now attempting to subvert the management of public schools with another religious agenda: Vacation Bible Schools. You see, the poor, abused religious right doesn't think VBS programs can survive if kids have to go to real school on a year-round calendar. The story shows up on the N&O blogs.
The conservative Christian activist group is warning that the year-round calendar could have a devastating toll on summer camps such as New Life Camp in North Raleigh. The group also says the calendar "make it almost impossible for churches all over Wake County to run Vacation Bible Schools."
"This issue will hurt families in Wake County more than any other issue Called2Action has faced," according to the group's latest actiongram.
Oh. My. Goodness. A shift to year-round schools will hurt families in Wake County more than any other issue the C2A crazies have faced. Yikes! That means ...
Year-round schools are worse than gay sex!
Given the ascendant power of right-wing gods, there's no telling what impact zealots might have on public policy here in North Carolina. But given how quickly the state legislature caved on the pledge issue this summer, it's not hard to imagine that Wake County policy-makers might do the same. After all, what's more important? Bible drills and gluing popsicle sticks together during the dog days of summer? Or responsible stewardship of public schools? I know it's a tough choice.
It's hard to know what to think about C2A when they spout such nonsense, but don't underestimate their potential for damage. Especially when they sugar-coat their hate with talking points like this:
Most importantly, Called2Action humbly acknowledges the sovereignty of God, seeking to do His will in a prayerful, loving and compassionate way.
So listen up, all you homosexual perverts. It is god's will that you don't exist. He wants his disciples in C2A to lovingly and compassionately ensure that you do NOT have the same rights as breeders. God also doesn't want kids to go to school in summer, unless it's Bible school. And if you happen to be gay and Christian and want your kids to go to one of their summer camps, you are probably sh*t out of luck.
It's enough to make a good god cry.