The current climate of opinion in the country seems testy at best and dangerous for many. In the latter category are our lesbian and gay brothers and sisters, especially the young ones. Perhaps not since the McCarthy era has so much hate fueled public speech, which barely lurches towards civility.
Hate the sin, love the sinner — the moral underpinning of the political campaign in Iowa against gay marriage — is not working. I have been making phone calls for a month to get folks to vote and what I am hearing is disturbing. Homophobia in the name of the Bible, in the name of the Catholic Church is being harvested this fall in Iowa. Until we can speak, as a Church, in a way that does not place folks at risk, and does not foster hate, perhaps we may want to remain silent.
We do not presently have the language to support this political agenda item. Our lesbian, gay, transgendered and bisexual sons and daughters, friends and neighbors are being put at physical risk this political season. That seems sinful to me and we should shut up and avoid being complicit in this disgrace.
Clara Oleson
West Branch
