© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com
Not long after he endorsed "Marriage Protection
Week," President Bush sent a letter of congratulations to a denomination
founded by homosexual activists that performs more than 6,000 same-sex
"weddings" each year.
The president wrote to the founding congregation in Los Angeles of the Metropolitan Community Churches, led
by leading homosexual activist Rev. Troy D. Perry, on the occasion of its
35th anniversary.
![]()
Rev. Troy Perry, left, and
partner Phillip De Blieck were granted a marriage license in Toronto
in July (Photo: Toronto Star) |
"By encouraging the celebration of faith and sharing of God's love and
boundless mercy, churches like yours put hope in people's hearts and a sense
of purpose in their lives," Bush said in his Oct. 14 missive. "This
milestone provides an opportunity to reflect on your years of service and to
rejoice in God's faithfulness to your congregation."
Just prior to sending that letter, however, Bush issued a proclamation
endorsing an effort to defend the traditional family in response to an
increasingly powerful homosexual lobby intent on establishing a right to
same-sex "marriage."
The president wrote in his proclamation,
"Marriage is a sacred institution, and its protection is essential to the
continued strength of our society. Marriage Protection Week provides an
opportunity to focus our efforts on preserving the sanctity of marriage and
on building strong and healthy marriages in America."
![]()
President Bush at forum yesterday
in Greer, S.C. (White House photo) |
The president further stated: "Marriage is a union between a man and a
woman.
"
Marriage Protection Week was promoted by groups such as the Southern
Baptist Convention, Focus on the Family
and the American Family Association.
The Metropolitan Community Churches' Perry said he was alarmed at Bush's
proclamation.
"President Bush was wrong in his endorsement of a week dedicated to
denying equal rights to gays and lesbians," he said, according to the
website 365gay.com. "And while we appreciate the sentiments he expressed on
MCC's anniversary, the president has sent a very mixed message that makes
his effusive praise of MCC's 35th anniversary all the more puzzling."
As WorldNetDaily
reported, Perry is challenging U.S. courts to recognize his same-sex
"marriage," which was granted in Ontario in July after a provincial court
ruled Canada's ban is unconstitutional.
He has launched a campaign to ensure the bond is recognized in his home
country.
"I don't care what the U.S. government says. My partner, Phillip, and I
are legally married under Canadian law," Perry said after his ceremony.
"We've put our nation on notice: We're coming home and we are legally
married," he added.
![]()
Rev. Troy Perry, left, and Rev.
Neil Thomas with letter from President Bush (Photo:
365gay.com) |
Perry, who says he and his partner are "missionaries for marriage
equality," is encouraging thousands of same-sex couples to follow their lead
and head to Canada.
The president's marriage proclamation also was rebuked by the leading
homosexual-advocacy group, the Human Rights
Campaign.
"It is reprehensible for a president who claims to be compassionate to
pander to a coalition of extremist groups by joining their assault on gay
families," said Elizabeth Birch, HRC's executive director.
"The American people want to see politicians in Washington concentrating
on the real threats to our families an unstable economy, high unemployment
rates and uncertainty in Iraq not guaranteeing that same-sex couples are
left without more than 1,000 rights, responsibilities and protections under
federal law."
Rev. Neil Thomas, senior pastor of Metropolitan Community Church of Los
Angeles, said the president's letter baffled him.
"How does one denounce the right of gays and lesbians to marry in their
churches and suggest they are incapable of having healthy marriages in one
moment, and in the next rejoice in God's faithfulness to a gay and lesbian
congregation that performs such same-sex marriages?" Thomas asked.
Ed Vitagliano, spokesman for the American Family Association, had the
same question.
"I'm disappointed, because this is politics as usual," he told
WorldNetDaily. "This is speaking out of both sides of your mouth. This is
playing to two groups at the same time who are really after two different
things who uphold two completely different worldviews."
Vitagliano said he understands the pressure President Bush is under,
recognizing he has to be the president for everybody, but believes he could
fulfill his responsibilities without sanctioning a church like Perry's.
"The MCC is evidence of a growing apostasy within Christianity and our
culture and Western civilization, and to applaud what is essentially an
apostate denomination is disappointing from a Christian standpoint," he
said.
"It may be something we would expect from a politician," Vitagliano
added, "but I guess there were some of us who would hope the president was
not simply a politician."
The White House did not respond to calls from WND seeking comment.
