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PDF versionPeople of faith should celebrate Hillary Clinton's statement
by Maureen Fiedler on Dec. 13, 2011
"Today, I want to talk about the work we have left to do to protect one group of people whose human rights are still denied in too many parts of the world today. In many ways, they are an invisible minority. They are arrested, beaten, terrorized, even executed. Many are treated with contempt and violence by their fellow citizens while authorities empowered to protect them look the other way or, too often, even join in the abuse. They are denied opportunities to work and learn, driven from their homes and countries, and forced to suppress or deny who they are to protect themselves from harm.
On Dec. 7, International Human Rights Day, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke to the United Nations in Geneva. That day, she made a statement defending universal human rights that should be celebrated by Catholics and all people of faith. Yet it has not gotten the media coverage nor the praise it deserves from the leaders of faith traditions, like, say, Catholic bishops.
In short, Secretary Clinton said the human rights and equality of all human persons include gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people. And she injected that sentiment directly into the foreign policy of the United States, saying that the U.S. will defend that principle with both foreign aid decisions and diplomacy. It was a breathtaking statement in many ways, but one that should be applauded by everyone concerned about universal human rights. I may be wrong, but I have yet to hear any Catholic bishop praise that statement. [The bishops oppose gay marriage, but they claim to defend the equal rights of LGBT people otherwise].
Here is the essence of what Clinton had to say:
I am talking about gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, human beings born free and given bestowed equality and dignity, who have a right to claim that, which is now one of the remaining human rights challenges of our time. I speak about this subject knowing that my own country's record on human rights for gay people is far from perfect. Until 2003, it was still a crime in parts of our country. Many LGBT Americans have endured violence and harassment in their own lives, and for some, including many young people, bullying and exclusion are daily experiences. So we, like all nations, have more work to do to protect human rights at home."
With the polls on this issue in the United States changing rapidly, we are in a new and positive moment for LGBT people. It's time for people of all faiths to join in the sentiments expressed by Hillary Clinton and push for truly universal human rights.
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Many thanks to Mrs. Clinton
Many thanks to Mrs. Clinton and the present administration for taking a stand.
"The bishops oppose gay marriage, but they claim to defend the equal rights of LGBT people otherwise."
In Florida, at least, the bishops have been silent or even hostile toward the fight for equal rights for GLBT folks, even in the arenas of housing and employment.
Thank you Maureen
Thank you Maureen Fielder
Thousands of NCR readers solidize with you in embracing Secreary Clinton's courageus engendering of the GLBT paradigm. We too intersectionaize it by empowering of the most personal and intimate modalities.
This will historicize our reference in deconstructing the homophobic and partiarchal methodology through a reflective and erotic inclusiveness and liberative self awareness.
Had a difficult time
Had a difficult time following your meaning - solidize - intersectionalize - erotic inclusiveness - empowering personal and intimate modalities. What do all of these words, expressions mean in plain English?
There are two
There are two possibilities.
1. The phenomenon "gay people" is so complex and hard to explain that it necessitates a vast quantity of pseudo-academic gobbledy-gook be invented to describe something which, we are simultaneously told, has existed in every culture and every age since the dawn of time. It's so complicated that only those super-brains, the modern psychologists can understand it. All previous generations in all previous cultures, who almost universally have held that the desire to have dirty sex with members of one's own sex is simply an ordinary wish to do something wrong, somehow missed the now supposedly self-evident fact that there are "gay people" who are "oriented" that way "from birth" and therefore unable to restrain themselves from acting on their disordered desires. However, people who wish to have dirty sex with animals, or machines, or other peoples' spouses, of course, are entirely different, somehow. They are expected to exercise self-control and not act on their disordered desires.
2. Plain old human cupidity. Society accords married couples (i.e., those consisting of a man and a woman) special privileges, including financial privileges, because most of them end up producing children, which is an immense benefit to everybody. Some unmarried people have dreamed up this thing about being "oriented" and "gay" to get their hands on some of these privileges, especially the financial ones, without having to do the hard work of marriage and procreation.
Either explanation fits the facts. But it's kind of obvious which Occam's Razor would indicate.
“There are two
“There are two possibilities.
1. The phenomenon "gay people" is so complex and hard to explain that it necessitates a vast quantity of pseudo-academic gobbledygook be invented to describe something which, we are simultaneously told, has existed in every culture and every age since the dawn of time. It's so complicated that only those super-brains, the modern psychologists can understand it. All previous generations in all previous cultures, who almost universally have held that the desire to have dirty sex with members of one's own sex is simply an ordinary wish to do something wrong, somehow missed the now supposedly self-evident fact that there are "gay people" who are "oriented" that way "from birth" and therefore unable to restrain themselves from acting on their disordered desires. However, people who wish to have dirty sex with animals, or machines, or other peoples' spouses, of course, are entirely different, somehow. They are expected to exercise self-control and not act on their disordered desires.
2. Plain old human cupidity. Society accords married couples (i.e., those consisting of a man and a woman) special privileges, including financial privileges, because most of them end up producing children, which is an immense benefit to everybody. Some unmarried people have dreamed up this thing about being "oriented" and "gay" to get their hands on some of these privileges, especially the financial ones, without having to do the hard work of marriage and procreation.
Either explanation fits the facts. But it's kind of obvious which Occam's Razor would indicate.”
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If there is one thing that is not very good about News blogs is that a person can say almost anything and not sign it with his or her own name. They can smear anyone or in a narrow minded attempt to be argumentative. Anonymous, Neither explanation possess the or simplicity of much truth, but both are inventions of intolerance, prejudice and pure hate! They are dogmatic projections of what is right and wrong but are of themselves disordered thought processes. The logic of Occam can not explain pure bigotry.
May you find you some how find peace in your life,
R. Dennis Porch, MD
anon, learn to recognize
anon, learn to recognize parody when you see it.
But the so-called "LGBT
But the so-called "LGBT people" are gravely disordered and are not equal to normal people!
Are you Christian? So God
Are you Christian? So God creates unequal and abnormal people....nice god you have. Sorry not my God.
God did not make so. This is
God did not make so. This is a temptation by satan, as all sin is.
if God did not create
if God did not create homosexuals, then where did they come from? if you suggest Satan then, you've just given the evil one the power to create, making evil as powerful as your god, if you say it's a choice then you need to research the instances of same sex behavior in the animal world. Like all things in life, education will enlighten you and then hopefully eliminate the bigotry and prejudice you now have, good luck!
You may be able to say, as a
You may be able to say, as a matter of your religious faith, that homosexual sex is "disordered," but the individuals themselves are children of God. They have feelings and hearts and minds; they bleed if pricked, they get hungry if they have no food. Medical science no longer finds that sexual attraction to the same sex is an illness, a "disorder" if you will. It is, actually, a natural expression of the sexuality of those who are not attracted to the same sex. Think of it as left-handedness, a condition not as prevalent as being right-handed, but not a disorder. Many of them are believers in the same Catholic faith I hold, although there are GLBT people of most faiths - there are Catholic gays, protestant gays, Muslim gays, Hindu gays, agnostic and atheist gays.
My faith follows what Jesus said about homosexuals. And that is ...
(I'm looking........ I'm still checking.......) hmmm .... Jesus said nothing about homosexuals ... nothing.
But Jesus did say we are to love one another. I'll go with that.
Time to celebrate?? As
Time to celebrate?? As Christians in Egypt, Iraq, and all over the middle east are beaten and killed, their homes, places of business, and Churches are burned down, the US Govt disbands the comission on Religious Freedom established to ensure individuals are protected in their freedom to worship. Instead the US Govt pays to promote Lady Gaga concerts and pays for propagation of immoral and perverse behavior!?
Can we really celebrate that the US will continue to promote the use of artificial birth control, sterilization, and abortion in third world countries? Can we celebrate when anyone who dares preach the Gospel truth is subsequently accused of hate crimes?
Instead of celebrations in front of the false god of political correctness, perhaps a more authentically Catholic approach would be to do penance, especially during this time of Advent. That and calling your senator and asking them to renew funding for the US Comission on Religious Freedom!
Thank you, Jesus, for letting
Thank you, Jesus, for letting me view this comment. I thank you for posting this and bringing some common sense to this website. I'm actually disgusted by some of the anti-Catholic articles and comments on here. While I believe that no person should be discriminated against, we should pray for the LGBT community and promote abstinence and therapy. Hilary Clinton is an advocate of forced sterilization and has never spoken out against coerced abortions or sex-selective abortions. Clinton has expressed her views that condoms should be distributed in Africa and that young people have a right to sexual reproductive freedom, meaning access to abortions and birth control at any age.
Well, we can celebrate at
Well, we can celebrate at least the realization that another groups of people who are treated as less than human, less than equal under the civil laws of this great nation, are being recognized. It took a long time for black people and women, too, to begin to redress the unequal treatment they received.
As for the U.S. Commission on Internation Religious Freedom, it was established in 1998 and was set to terminate on 9/30/ll. So far, legislation to renew it has stalled. Probably because the House, not likeing the fact that the President got to appoint some of the Commission members, redesigned the Commission to eliminate those appointed by the President. The President objected, probably because it is the office of the presidency that is responsible for international relations and he felt he ought to be able to have some voice in the Commission. So, of course, the bill stalled in the Senate. If the House really cared about the issue, they would not have played politics with it. That being said, I will send a letter to my Republican representative urging him to stop playing politics with an important voice for international religious freedom and urging him to renew the commission in a way that can be passed by the Senate and approved by the President.
As for the U.S. continuing to promote artificial birth control overseas, it would be odd, I would think, if the U.S. did not. After all, more than 90% of U.S. women use artificial birth control during their child bearing years; that includes more than 90% of Catholic women, too. And sterilization? - that probably saved the life of both my Catholic mother and Catholic grandmother, who were warned by their doctors after repeated, frequent pregnancies, that they were ruining their health. So, sterilization for older women who have had all the children they want, or dare have for health reasons, is something that is often practiced in this country, seen as normal and reasonable. That includes Catholic women, by the way, who actually use sterilization as a form of permanent birth control somewhat more frequently than non-Catholic women.
I think the President is reflecting actual American experience in promiting contraceptives and sterilizations as a normal part of women's health care, both here and abroad. Good for him. His attitudes reflect what this country actually believes in and practices.
And what about talking with
And what about talking with your senator to ask the end of arms proliferation and to fight the National Rifle Association lobby, among others who promote the true culture of death? Take a look:
Crime Statistics > Murders with firearms (most recent) by country
Showing latest available data.
Rank Countries Amount
# 1 South Africa: 31,918
Crime in South Africa
# 2 Colombia: 21,898
Crime in Colombia
# 3 Thailand: 20,032
Crime in Thailand
# 4 United States: 9,369
Crime in United States
# 5 Philippines: 7,708
Crime in Philippines
# 6 Mexico: 2,606
Crime in Mexico
# 7 Slovakia: 2,356
Crime in Slovakia
# 8 El Salvador: 1,441
Crime in El Salvador
# 9 Zimbabwe: 598
Crime in Zimbabwe
# 10 Peru: 442
Crime in Peru
# 11 Germany: 269
Crime in Germany
# 12 Czech Republic: 181
Crime in Czech Republic
# 13 Ukraine: 173
Crime in Ukraine
# 14 Canada: 144
Crime in Canada
# 15 Albania: 135
Crime in Albania
# 16 Costa Rica: 131
Crime in Costa Rica
# 17 Azerbaijan: 120
Crime in Azerbaijan
# 18 Poland: 111
Crime in Poland
# 19 Uruguay: 109
Crime in Uruguay
# 20 Spain: 97
Crime in Spain
# 21 Portugal: 90
Crime in Portugal
# 22 Croatia: 76
Crime in Croatia
# 23 Switzerland: 68
Crime in Switzerland
# 24 Bulgaria: 63
Crime in Bulgaria
# 25 Australia: 59
Crime in Australia
# 26 Sweden: 58
Crime in Sweden
# 27 Bolivia: 52
Crime in Bolivia
# 28 Japan: 47
Crime in Japan
# 29 Slovenia: 39
Crime in Slovenia
= 30 Belarus: 38
Crime in Belarus
= 30 Hungary: 38
Crime in Hungary
# 32 Latvia: 28
Crime in Latvia
# 33 Burma: 27
Crime in Burma
# 34 Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of: 26
Crime in Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
# 35 Austria: 25
Crime in Austria
# 36 Estonia: 21
Crime in Estonia
# 37 Moldova: 20
Crime in Moldova
# 38 Lithuania: 16
Crime in Lithuania
= 39 United Kingdom: 14
Crime in United Kingdom
= 39 Denmark: 14
Crime in Denmark
# 41 Ireland: 12
Crime in Ireland
# 42 New Zealand: 10
Crime in New Zealand
# 43 Chile: 9
Crime in Chile
# 44 Cyprus: 4
Crime in Cyprus
# 45 Morocco: 1
Crime in Morocco
= 46 Oman: 0
Crime in Oman
= 46 Luxembourg: 0
Crime in Luxembourg
= 46 Iceland: 0
Crime in Iceland
Total: 100,693
Weighted average: 2,097.8
too bad these interesting
too bad these interesting statistics do not show us as well the numbers as percentage of population, nor separate countries in which firearms are illegal. For instance, in Mexico it is illegal to possess such weaponry, yet our own government through Operation Fast and Furious floods Mexico with guns. Notice as a result the great number of violent killings by firearms.
Notice our traditional allies El Salvador and Colombia as well.
Clinton's appalling statement
Clinton's appalling statement should not be "celebrated" by anyone (and I speak as a Democrat who voted for her for Senator).That she even phrases things in terms of "rights of gay people" shows her lack of understanding.
Engaging in same-sex sexual activity should never,whether or not it is legal,be characterized in terms of a "right",since it is by nature always wrong to do.It is the misfortune of some people to have an inclination toward doing it,but they are harmed,not served,by any encouragement to call themselves "gay" or feel entitled to gratify their disordered attractions.
This is one issue on which the oft-misguided Catholic magisterium has absolutely hit the nail on the head,and they deserve credit for it and our Secretary of State deserves shame.The complete dissolution of any "LGBT community" and the unanimous dismissal of all claims that homosexual orientation offers the slightest excuse for homosexual activity are the goals we should be striving toward,and the real best course for helping those afflicted by that orientation.
If only Clinton would defend
If only Clinton would defend the unborn with such stubbornness.
The unborn can't vote, you
The unborn can't vote, you see. And they never contribute to campaigns. And the pornography industry doesn't fund their cause for them.
Ms. Fiedler is obsessed with
Ms. Fiedler is obsessed with gay rights. Catholics are being slaughtered in the Middle East. Where are their rights? Defenseless babies are being killed in the womb. Where are their rights?
Is this blog a joke?
Is this blog a joke? Catholics are supposed to be celebrating a sinful lifestyle? Give me a break. I guess soon this so-called "Sister" Maureen Fiedler will be asking people to celebrate the lifestyle of pedophiles and bigamists. I mean why stop at people with the LGBT community. Why can't pedophiles and bigamists also have equality of rights? Don't you see what a slippery slope this blogger is treading?
homosexuality is not illegal
homosexuality is not illegal in this country, bigamy is and pedophilia is a mental illness....now try educating yourself about their differences rather than just demonstrating your fears and prejudices about homosexuality
Do you have a brain (not
Do you have a brain (not mentioning a heart)?
Those who speak NOW about forced sterilization don’t know history. Old times are always the "good old times". Haven't you heard about the TRUE forced sterilizations that happened in 30 states of the US, until the 70's? And afected, at least, 6.000 persons? Indeed, what a golden age.
http://civilliberty.about.com/od/gendersexuality/tp/Forced-Sterilization...
P.S. Treating Sister as "sister" is truly Catholic?
This is an excellent article
This is an excellent article but some of the comments here are sobering. Some people still don't get it. I don't see the Bishops making positive comments about this. They don't want to irritate Catholics that dislike gay people. Most may agree with her but they will stay silent I think.
Odd the cleavage between NCR
Odd the cleavage between NCR columnists, for the most part sensible and humane people, and the fanaticism of the combox contributors -- I suppose they love to have NCR to hate. I am sure if demonized theologians like Charles Curran and Richard McBrien had websites the main combox writers would be the ever-noisy, ever-unteachable stick-in-the-muds who have done all they can to make the Catholic Church a bizarre and somewhat insane environment.
Odd the cleavage between NCR
Odd the cleavage between NCR columnists, for the most part sensible and humane people, and the fanaticism of the combox contributors.
_______________________________________________________________
Dear Sir, you have expressed my own thoughts. For some time, I've been noticing the growing numbers of fanatic contributors. I wonder: has some conection with the next elections, or is it a poisoned fruit of the sound byte "war on religious freedom", one of the most inane slogans I've heard in all my life as a Catholic? What these kind of contributors are obviously doing is taking part in a crusade against human rights, the rights inscribed in the US's Constitution, informed thought and, even, common sense.
This is not to be celebrated
This is not to be celebrated because this is just absurd and against God’s natural law. It is true the we must try homosexual people with respect and we must protect them from violence, etc. That is true because all humans deserve respect and love. But homosexuality in itself, sodomy, etc, are grave sin against God natural law and natural order. Are mortal sins and unnatural acts against human nature and God than can NEVER EVER be allowed! The best thing we can do for homosexuals is REJECT their sinful and disordered lifestyle and with love, psychiatric help an religious support remove them away from their tendencies, conduct and lifestyle. We must use psychiatric, medical, theological way to transform homosexuals into heterosexuals. Hundreds of thousands of homosexuals had been transformed into healthy heterosexuals using these methods! We must keep at all times present the Natural Law, the God given plan for a man a woman, and what the Catechism teaches:
2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of GRAVE DEPRAVITY, tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are INTRINSICALLY disordered." They are contrary to the NATURAL law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under NO circumstances can they be approved.
We must use psychiatric,
We must use psychiatric, medical, theological way to transform homosexuals into heterosexuals.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Have you tried to transform a cat into a dog? It would be easier than transform you into a humane, thinking person - and a true Christian.
We are all celibate by
We are all celibate by default.A humane,thinking person understands this and that only an opposite-sex attraction can rise to the level of a valid reason to depart from the celibate state.Those who insist same-sex sexual attraction can deserve gratification are "thinking" with their hormones,or a misguided determination to avoid admitting lust can lead one astray.
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