Politics
Tuesday March 4, 2008
Obama says Sermon on the Mount Supports Same-Sex Unions
Also Argues that Support for Abortion is Consistent with his Christian faith
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By Michael Baggot
Nelsonville, OH, March 4, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Presidential hopeful Barack Obama argued Sunday at Hocking College in Ohio that the Sermon on the Mount supports same-sex unions.
Obama claimed that same-sex unions are "a legal right that they [homosexuals] should have that is recognized by the state." He referred critics of his position to the Sermon on the Mount.
Obama said that he did not believe in homosexual "marriage," but added that he did "believe in civil unions that allow a same-sex couple to visit each other in a hospital or transfer property to each other."
Obama was recently much more explicit about the rights to be afforded to homosexual couples in an open letter concerning LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) equality in America.
"As your President, I will use the bully pulpit to urge states to treat same-sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws. I personally believe that civil unions represent the best way to secure that equal treatment," wrote Obama. He added that he would not oppose states that chose to protect the equality of homosexual couples through civil "marriage."
Obama dismissed passages from St. Paul's letter to the Romans relating to homosexuality as "obscure."
In the first chapter of his letter, St. Paul called homosexual practices "unnatural" and as arising from "dishonorable passions." He described sexual relations between the same sex as "shameful acts."
The presidential candidate also spoke to the Ohio crowd about his view of abortion. He said that abortion was always "tragic and painful" and that "we should prevent it as much as possible."
Obama argued that he would not outlaw abortions because "women, in consultation with their pastors, and their doctors, and their family, are in a better position to make these decisions than some bureaucrat in Washington."
In 2002, Obama voted against the Born Alive Infants Protection Act that protects the rights of children who survived failed abortion attempts. Obama has argued that recognizing the rights of born children under the 14th amendment would lead to the equal protection of the unborn and would thus legally forbid abortion.
Regarding his views on abortion, Obama added, "I respect people who may disagree, but I certainly don't think it makes me less Christian." Obama insisted that he is a devout Christian who tries to go to church when work permits and prays to Jesus every night.
In 2004, Alan Keyes, Obama's opponent in the Illinois Senate race, stated that Jesus Christ would not vote for Obama due to his support for abortion and same-sex unions.
See other related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
"Philosopher of Abortion Movement" Says Obama A Better Choice than Hillary
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/feb/08021910.html
Read a transcript from Obama's Ohio talk on abortion and homosexual unions
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPolitics.asp?Page=/Politics/archive/200803/POL2008030...
Read Obama's letter on LGBT equality
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/alexokrent/gGggJS
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