City Council Tackles 'Sin'
  by Jan Brazill

First there was the controversy creating Amendment Two. Now there is the decision that granted health care coverage for same-sex partners of city employees. This was deemed so terrible and so important to overturn that it became the first item of business for the newly-elected City Council.

Homosexuality seems to be the "Big Sin" for some in Colorado Springs and this viewpoint is based almost entirely on the religious sensitivities of certain groups.

It is difficult for others to understand how this can be such a critical issue. True, the Hebrew Bible calls it an "abomination." But that was a word used for many things the ancients wanted to ban in order to make their society function, five-thousand or so years ago. Today, it is no longer necessary to demand that every union produce children in order to insure the survival of the tribe. Modern society ignores the requirement for a man to impregnate his brother's widow so that the brother's line may continue. (Deut.25:5) Indeed, the word "abomination" is used for many things considered trivial nowadays. For example, the Bible forbids women to wear slacks: "A woman shall not wear that which pertaineth to a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination to the Lord thy God." (Deuteronomy 22:5)

Much of the hatred and misunderstanding about homosexuality seems to be based on Chapter 19 of Genesis, but perhaps instead of starting their next City Council meetings with a prayer, members who voted against the same-sex health coverage should dust off this book and really read that chapter. While it tells of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah because of the practice of homosexuality, take a look at the whole story.

A man named Lot was giving visiting male angels sanctuary from an angry mob that demanded that he turn over his visitors to them. Lot, in an attempt to deter the mob, went out to them and said: "Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes; only unto these men do nothing…" Now the City Council members should ask themselves this question -- would most citizens of Colorado Springs approve of such a trade? I personally find the picture of Lot's offering up his little girls for gang-rape at the hands of a vicious mob more revolting than the possibility of men attacking men, and I believe most of modern society would agree. This shows that morality has clearly evolved since the legends of biblical times were written, and this ancient book should not be used as a guide to moral living today.

If City Council insists on doing so, then let them read the words of David, who, in speaking of his friend Jonathan, said: "very pleasant hast thou been to me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women." (2 Samuel 1:26) These words leave no doubt that this biblical hero engaged in homosexual relations. Yet we read that he was later anointed as God's king. If City Council members want to prove their devotion to the Bible, they should use this verse to restore same-sex health care benefits.

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