Church Refuses To Host Funeral Because the Deceased Was Gay

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Church Cancels Memorial for Gay Vet
By ANGELA K. BROWN,AP
Posted: 2007-08-11 18:24:38
Filed Under: Nation News
ARLINGTON, Texas (Aug. 10) - A megachurch canceled a memorial service for a Navy veteran 24 hours before it was to start because the deceased was gay.

Officials at the nondenominational High Point Church knew that Cecil Howard Sinclair was gay when they offered to host his service, said his sister, Kathleen Wright. But after his obituary listed his life partner as one of his survivors, she said, it was called off.

"It's a slap in the face. It's like, 'Oh, we're sorry he died, but he's gay so we can't help you,"' she said Friday.

Wright said High Point offered to hold the service for Sinclair because their brother is a janitor there. Sinclair, who served in the first Gulf War, died Monday at age 46 from an infection after surgery to prepare him for a heart transplant.

The church's pastor, the Rev. Gary Simons, said no one knew Sinclair, who was not a church member, was gay until the day before the Thursday service, when staff members putting together his video tribute saw pictures of men "engaging in clear affection, kissing and embracing."

Simons said the church believes homosexuality is a sin, and it would have appeared to endorse that lifestyle if the service had been held there.

"We did decline to host the service - not based on hatred, not based on discrimination, but based on principle," Simons told The Associated Press. "Had we known it on the day they first spoke about it - yes, we would have declined then. It's not that we didn't love the family."

Simons said the decision had nothing to do with the obituary. He said the church offered to pay for another site for the service, made the video and provided food for more than 100 relatives and friends.

"Even though we could not condone that lifestyle, we went above and beyond for the family through many acts of love and kindness," Simons said.

Wright called the church's claim about the pictures "a bold-faced lie." She said she provided numerous family pictures of Sinclair, including some with his partner, but said none showed men kissing or hugging.

The 5,000-member High Point Church was founded in 2000 by Simons and his wife, April, whose brother is Joel Osteen, well-known pastor of the 38,000-member Lakewood Church in Houston. Now High Point meets in a 432,000-square-foot facility in Arlington, near Dallas.

Wright said relatives declined the church's offer to hold the service at a community center because they felt it was an inappropriate venue. It ultimately was held at a funeral home, but the cancellation still lingered in some minds, she said.

http://news.aol.com/story/ar/_a/church-cancels-memorial-for-gay-vet/20070811110009990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

[Mister Sinister]

Fucking Fundies! This is why I quit going to church! Grah!

[Shaolin-Style]

That's a pretty fucked up church. I may not have a particular respect for gay people but I have respect for the deceased if they were innocent of harming another human being, because that's the kind of shit you forgive, not turn your back to.

[T Park]

While I disagree whole heartedly with the church, and their stance.

Its their right.

[BigBeezie]

That's pretty sad actually. They shouldn't refuse the funeral....

It's like refusing a funeral because someone comitted suicide or once had a child out of wedlock.

[missmyzte]

I agree with the church's decision, it was based on their principles and if they had held the service there, it would have been going against their own principles. You may not agree with their decision but as T Park said, it's their right.

[ALVAREZ6]

Word yo, it's their right.

As missmyzte said, it goes against their principles.

[NorCal510]

Word mang, it's their right.

As alvarez said, it goes against their principles.

[Last Comic Standing]

Maybe cuz he was a back slider?

[peewee's lovechild]

Jesus hung around with 12 guys all day and night, never got married and lived with his parents until the age of 30. All signs point to gayness.

Now the church is hating on gays.

I don't get these people.

[T Park]

sigh.....

[Mister Sinister]

Like I said in the thread about this in the political forum...Is God going to punish the deceased for loving, or them for hating?

[CuckingFunt]

While I disagree whole heartedly with the church, and their stance.

Its their right.Of course it's their right.

It's also my right to say that it's a completely backwards, bigoted, closed-minded, ignorant, fucked up and, frankly, Godless way of thinking.

[NorCal510]

Of course it's their right.

It's also my right to say that it's a completely backwards, bigoted, closed-minded, ignorant, fucked up and, frankly, Godless way of thinking.
If I was the owner of the church, I would have accepted the gay corpse. However, I would never accept a fake dyke fatass like you.

[CuckingFunt]

If I was the owner of the church, I would have accepted the gay corpse. However, I would never accept a fake dyke fatass like you.This really is getting tiresome.

[SpursWoman]

If I was the owner of the church, I would have accepted the gay corpse. However, I would never accept a fake dyke fatass like you.

I know you got the memo, but I highly recommend you READ the memo.

[peewee's lovechild]

If I was the owner of the church, I would have accepted the gay corpse. However, I would never accept a fake dyke fatass like you.

And yet Kori and Timvp still keep you around.

Do me a favor and say the "C" word.

I just want to know if anything happens to you.

[T Park]

I know you got the memo, but I highly recommend you READ the memo



yeahhhhh

ill make sure you get a copy of that memo mkay?

grrrrreeeaaaatttt

[PersonalAttackPolice]

If I was the owner of the church, I would have accepted the gay corpse. However, I would never accept a fake dyke fatass like you.

THIS IS A PERSONAL ATTACK AND WILL BE HANDLED ACCORDINGLY. YOUR INFORMATION HAS BEEN FORWARDED TO THE AUTHORITIES.

[peewee's lovechild]

I'm going to be needing those TPS reports by the afternoon, mmkay?.

Grrrreeeaaattt.

Thanks.

[peewee's lovechild]

THIS IS A PERSONAL ATTACK AND WILL BE HANDLED ACCORDINGLY. YOUR INFORMATION HAS BEEN FORWARDED TO THE AUTHORITIES.

I'm beginning to think you're all bark and no bite.

[CuckingFunt]

I watched Office Space just the other day. I love that movie.

[peewee's lovechild]

I watched Office Space just the other day. I love that movie.

One of the best movies of all time!!!


Michael Bolton: I told those fudge-packers I liked Michael Bolton's music.
Peter Gibbons: Oh. That is not right, Michael.

[Condemned 2 HelLA]

Of course it's their right.

It's also my right to say that it's a completely backwards, bigoted, closed-minded, ignorant, fucked up and, frankly, Godless way of thinking.

Hypocricy, thy name is religion.

[PM5K]

Seems strange, if you aren't going to host his funeral, why provide the food, video, and pay for another venue?

[PixelPusher]

I watched Office Space just the other day. I love that movie.

Michael Bolton is indeed a no-talent assclown.

[ploto]

Let me preface my statement by saying that I am a regular church attender-- multiple times per week...

The problem I have is that churches do not screen for other "sinful" behaviors in making these decisions. Everyone is a sinner, but why is this the one they simply can not forgive? I assume they have held funerals for people who had affairs or pre-marital sex- who have lied or cheated on their taxes- who have used God's name in vain or not kept Holy the Sabbath. Surely, there have been funerals there for people who did not particularly honor their parents or who coveted their neighbor's wife. Why is the focus ALWAYS on this one sin?

[ggoose25]

Let me preface my statement by saying that I am a regular church attender-- multiple times per week...

The problem I have is that churches do not regulate for other "sinful" behaviors in making these decisions. Everyone is a sinner, but why is this the one they simply can not forgive? I assume they have held funerals for people who had affairs or pre-marital sex- who have lied or cheated on their taxes- who have used God's name in vain or not kept Holy the Sabbath. Surely, there have been funerals there for people who did not particularly honor their parents or who coveted their neighbor's wife. Why is the focus ALWAYS on this one sin?

If there was a slow clap emoticon... this would be the time

[CuckingFunt]

Let me preface my statement by saying that I am a regular church attender-- multiple times per week...

The problem I have is that churches do not screen for other "sinful" behaviors in making these decisions. Everyone is a sinner, but why is this the one they simply can not forgive? I assume they have held funerals for people who had affairs or pre-marital sex- who have lied or cheated on their taxes- who have used God's name in vain or not kept Holy the Sabbath. Surely, there have been funerals there for people who did not particularly honor their parents or who coveted their neighbor's wife. Why is the focus ALWAYS on this one sin?Because this one sin is even more eviler than all the others.

It's scary.

And threatening.

And may bring about the end of the world as we know it.

Duh. :dramaquee












:clap to your post, by the way.

[peewee's lovechild]

Because this one sin is even more eviler than all the others.

It's scary.

And threatening.

And may bring about the end of the world as we know it.

Duh. :dramaquee












:clap to your post, by the way.


But they still have funeral for priests that love to love little boys??

[Mister Sinister]

Everyone knows gay marriage killed the dinosaurs. Fucking faggots with their buttsex and faggotry.

[conversekid]

Good.

[Condemned 2 HelLA]

Anyone think that if religion as a whole has a problem with homosexuality and homosexuals attending their churches that as a show of their disdain that they'd return all the tithes and offerings given to them by homosexuals?



Neither do I.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Everyone knows gay marriage killed the dinosaurs. Fucking faggots with their buttsex and faggotry.
:lmao

[marini*martini]

I think Buddah knows and forgives all

[peewee's lovechild]

I think Buddah knows and forgives all

I'd like to have a drink with that guy.

[E20]

I'm suprised they tried to attempt to have service at a church. I mean the guy was gay, of course there is gonna bea good chance he's gonna get rejected.

[ggoose25]

I think the church volunteered cause he was a janitor there

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

Let me preface my statement by saying that I am a regular church attender-- multiple times per week...

The problem I have is that churches do not screen for other "sinful" behaviors in making these decisions. Everyone is a sinner, but why is this the one they simply can not forgive? I assume they have held funerals for people who had affairs or pre-marital sex- who have lied or cheated on their taxes- who have used God's name in vain or not kept Holy the Sabbath. Surely, there have been funerals there for people who did not particularly honor their parents or who coveted their neighbor's wife. Why is the focus ALWAYS on this one sin?

I normally give ploto a bunch of shit, but this is a damn spot-on post.

[cornbread]

This is a hypocrisy and it seems more politically motivated than spiritually motivated. A calculated move by a "mega-church" that doesn't want to lose its customers...errr, I mean parishioners.

[BeerIsGood!]

Why did they refuse the funeral? Because gayness is the hot button, politically charged, headline making topic of the day. It's the Lindsey Lohan and Paris Hilton rolled into one of sins. Sorry other sins, you just don't get enough publicity.

[Slomo]

Let me preface my statement by saying that I am a regular church attender-- multiple times per week...

The problem I have is that churches do not screen for other "sinful" behaviors in making these decisions. Everyone is a sinner, but why is this the one they simply can not forgive? I assume they have held funerals for people who had affairs or pre-marital sex- who have lied or cheated on their taxes- who have used God's name in vain or not kept Holy the Sabbath. Surely, there have been funerals there for people who did not particularly honor their parents or who coveted their neighbor's wife. Why is the focus ALWAYS on this one sin?I guess the Catholic church stance on gays is not only well publicized but is also currently in the middle of several controversy.

I'll go further and say that I have the impression lately that the Vatican is making their "fight" against homosexuals a priority and use it as "cry to arms" to their followers.

Of course the hypocrisy of such behavior is blatantly obvious and I agree with every point in your post. But...

I have the distinct impression it's working. Never underestimate the capability of the Vatican to manipulate emotions and history shows they never do anything without a clear motive and good planning.

[JoeChalupa]

I actually agree with TPark on this one.

I don't like it, don't really understand it...but it is their Church.

Just like the Catholic Church is mine.

[Kori Ellis]

I actually agree with Ploto.

Every church I have ever attended stresses that all sins are equal in the eyes of God. So if they are going to be embarrassed or feel hypocritical for holding a service someone who was gay. Then they shouldn't hold services for anyone who lies, cheats, steals or anything else.

For all they know, he asked for the forgiveness of God for his sin (homosexuality) which makes him no different than anyone else who asks forgiveness for their sins.

[ploto]

I actually agree with Ploto.

Every church I have ever attended stresses that all sins are equal in the eyes of God. So if they are going to be embarrassed or feel hypocritical for holding a service someone who was gay. Then they shouldn't hold services for anyone who lies, cheats, steals or anything else.

For all they know, he asked for the forgiveness of God for his sin (homosexuality) which makes him no different than anyone else who asks forgiveness for their sins.
Exactly. And if we did somehow attempt to rank sins on a scale from worst to least bad, I simply do not see being gay as the worst thing a person can do or be. The conduct between two consenting, homosexual adults causes much less damage in my view than being abused in a heterosexual relationship. If the Pope can forgive the guy who tried to kill him, can't we forgive someone who is gay? I know it is the hot button issue today and the rallying cry, but my faith does not need a crusade against anyone. I truly believe if Jesus were alive today, that people would be scandalized at his being around gay people- just like the Pharisees were scandalized by his spending time with lepers and prostitutes.

[ObiwanGinobili]

Seems strange, if you aren't going to host his funeral, why provide the food, video, and pay for another venue?


ITA.


to me thier actions speak more to a concern about ho thier members and evangelical peers would view them, and not to taking a stance on a belief.