WE HAVE POSTED THIS OPINION ELSEWHERE ON THIS SITE BUT ARE POSTING IT HERE ALSO AS THE CONTENT AND OUR NEED TO POST IT GREATLY SADDENS US. WE DO HOPE THAT YOU WILL READ THIS CAREFULLY AND ALSO PERUSE MR. ARCHER'S ORIGINAL BLOG SO THAT YOU MAY, IN ALL FAIRNESS, HEAR AND SEE THE CONTEXT OUT OF WHICH THIS HAS GROWN.
GENTLEMEN: We would like to comment on your statements made thus far in this forum. To avoid any confusion to any reader please remember that the opinions following this preface are not our opinions. They are the opinions of Rev. Michael Luljak & Anthony Archer:
RE: " Whether socially accepted or not, same sex marriage is not a normal, average or typical lifestyle." (AA)
RE:" Their natural functionality does not encompass having relations in such a way that procreation is a natural function for them." (ML)
RE: " Should...ministers...advocate same sex co-parental adoption of children? " (AA)
NOW, OUR RESPONSE:
First, we would like to make very clear that we, as an interracial couple AND intercultural, interreligious family, are considered by many to be in a non-normal, non-average, non-typical and non-traditional marriage partnership and family. Please bear in mind that any statement which you make about non-traditional relationships also applys to us.
Secondly, we have met, both on a personal and professional basis over the years, many parents in heterosexual marriages incapable of raising the very children they procreated. We have also met many a fine adoptive parent, including those who adopted my mother and her brother, who did not accept their " lack of natural functionality ", i.e., infertility, as being God and society's way of telling them that they are unfit to be parents. As for any alleged "militancy" or rebelliousness on the part of the homosexual community is concerned, it should be understood that the stereotypical response to the "militant" African-American Civil Rights leaders and the alleged rebellion of those who enter into the traditionally taboo interracial relationship should be understood when one is under attack. If Father Leslie, a Blind and Black Male, becomes increasingly angry at being denied his employment, housing or accessibility rights, I would expect a fair amount of militancy and anger to be a NORMAL reaction to this type of treatment. GOD BLESS AMERICA.
Third, as far as advocating a homosexual lifestyle or its rainbow cousin, interracial marriage, is concerned, please note that ministers who advocate that we are ALL God's children would be a bit hypocritical, we believe, to say that they wish to be accepted for who they are and to tell GOD that someone else GOD made is not good enough to be a parent. Who are we as ministers of the Creator to tell God or our peers whom they should love or marry or to deny them the right to do so just because we do not "approve" of their "lifestyle".
We do not advocate for people to be anything but AT PEACE WITH GOD AND NEIGHBOR by accepting who God made them (note that traditional writing rules allow the use of CAPS for emphasis).
In closing may we bring to you our personal experience of heartache, pain and loss when confronted over the past 26 years of marriage with so-called religious ministers who felt that the VERY CHILDREN MOTHER NANHI gave birth to were not worthy to be called her own because she was not by racial appearance their "natural" mother. WE ASK THAT ALL WHO READ THIS walk in our shoes and ask themselves what it would feel like to be told you are not good enough to raise your own children just because you do not have the same hair color, skin color, height, weight or gender orientation. We PRAY and HOPE that all who read this will search their hearts to ask themselves whether they consider us to be worthy as parents and as marriage partners. And if not, please have the courage to tell us that specifically as you have already stated this openly in this forum to gays and lesbians whom you have never met saying that you would prejudge them to be unfit parents. Where do we stop with this? Should interracial children only be raised by the "ethnic" parent because this is "natural"? Is ADOPTION "unnatural" because the children are not being raised by their "natural" biological parents? Would you permit blind parents to raise and/or adopt children? They are not "naturally equipped" in some persons minds due to disability to be effective parents. Where does this stop...and when?
Such calloused judgement of others in our minds is PLAYING GOD with other people's lives. Do we, especially as ministers, have that right? We don't believe that we do.
Respectfully submitted,
Rev. Mother Nanhi & Rev. Father Leslie
Children of God & Partners in Faith