Sins of thy Brethren

In October 2015, a group called The World Congress of Families (WCF) is hosting their conference in Salt Lake City, UT.  The World Congress of Families promotes the “natural family” and opposes gay-rights, including same-sex marriage.  Groups like this are not a new phenomenon.  The National Organization of Marriage is another anti-gay rights organization that has been around for a while (and is more well-known).  What makes the WCF stand-out is that they are so anti-gay that they make the National Organization of Marriage look pro-gay in comparison.  What is even more troubling is that many prominent Mormon, Catholic, and Jewish leaders have leant their names and their time to this far-right organization.

The World Congress of Families

The WCF has been labeled a “hate-group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center.  They have been given that label with good reason.  According to Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, the WCF and its allies have promoted anti-gay rhetoric on a consistent basis:

Scott Lively, a featured speaker for the WCF, has “proclaimed that LGBT people are responsible for the Holocaust, the Rwandan genocide and the spread of HIV/AIDS.”

Larry Jacobs, managing director of the WCF, thought that Russia’s new (and horrifying) anti-gay law was “a great idea.”  He even went further, and according to Griffin, released a public letter supporting the law.

Sharon Slater, another WCF ally and featured speaker, said in 2010 that "Iran is one of the strongest nations in standing up for family values at the UN."

You heard it right.  Prominent WCF speakers believe that gays caused the Holocaust and that Iran is wonderful because they support the family.  Iran is the same country that will execute gays, but yet, Ms. Slater is fan of their tremendous work in preserving the family.

And not to be out-done is WCF’s communications director, Don Feder.  Feder runs a paranoid, right-wing blog where he declares:

“You just trust Obama, and you go right on trusting him – until they shove you in a cattle car.”  (The insinuation is that Americans will find themselves locked-up in concentration camps because of President Obama).

In another posting, Feder writes:

“Pardon my hate-filled rhetoric, but when exactly did homosexuals become a division of humanity instead of a sorry collection of individuals (connected only by their carnal appetites) caught up in a perverted lifestyle?”

The Spin from Supporters

This organization that supports hate is coming to Salt Lake City.  But, it is coming to Salt Lake with open arms by the conservative think-tank, The Sutherland Institute, which insists that the WCF is a very benign organization.  The Sutherland Institute is trying to spin the WCF into a group that has family-values.  They released a list of participants on their website and wrote:

“...you can decide whether the WCF will be a gathering of ‘extremists’ and ‘very dangerous’ people, or simply will draw extraordinary people of faith and secular accomplishment who are similar in belief and thinking to the majority of Utahns.”

• Sheri Dew, Former second counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Elder Russell M. Nelson, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 
• Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Honorary Member, Board of Directors of the World Congress of Families 
• Elder Erich Kopischke, First Quorum of the Seventy, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Cardinal George Pell, Australian cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church
• Rabbi Binyomin Jacobs, Chief Rabbi of the Inter-Provincial Rabbinate in Holland 

According to the Sutherland Institute, WCF cannot be an “extremist” organization because of all the nice religious people that are associated with the group.  I actually think this is quite disturbing.  Sutherland does not dispute what critics like Chad Griffin has accused the organization of doing, trafficking in hate.  In a recent op-ed in the Salt Lake Tribune, Paul Mero, president of the Sutherland Institute, just re-iterates the point that the WCF is an “inclusive” organization.  He does not deal with the actual record of the WCF.  He just spins the group into a lovely gathering of people who are concerned about the family structure.

The Sins of thy Brethren

It is actually quite disgusting that religious leaders would take part in such a dangerous organization.  In fact, some religions relish in the idea of being connected with this group.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon Church) released this statement when Salt Lake City was chosen for the site of the WCF conference:

"Although the church wasn’t involved in the decision of the World Congress of Families to come to Salt Lake City we appreciate the efforts of organizations working to strengthen the family and society."

After the public relations nightmare that the Mormon Church found itself in with its support (and funding) of Proposition 8 in California, I am surprised that they would want to encourage a group with such a nefarious history.  Any religion should be ashamed of themselves for doing business with this group.  I say this because do they “appreciate the efforts of organizations” that try to harm an individual’s right to be with the person they love?  Do they “appreciate the efforts of organizations” that helped Russia enact laws that have led to an increase in violence and harassment against Russian LGBT individuals, as Human Rights Watch reports?  Do they “appreciate the efforts” of an organization that has been labeled as a “hate-group?”  Do they “appreciate the efforts of organizations” that have employees that call LGBT people “perverted” and being “a sorry collection of individuals?”   I guess the WCF is doing God’s work in the eyes of the Mormon Church?

I respect any person’s or organization’s right to free speech.  No one’s speech should ever be shut down.  However, the First Amendment does not give a person or organization immunity from their speech.  A person or group must deal with the consequences of their speech.  The consequence in this case is criticism.

Peace-loving religious leaders getting into a partnership with the WCF is exactly the opposite of what religions preach.  I thought religions preached peace, harmony, loving thy neighbors, etc.?  This group seems like the lowest common denominator when it comes to “protecting” the family.  Any religious person or group should be criticized for promoting this organization.  Fine, “protect” the family and children from those gays but to support a group that helped shape anti-gay legislation that has led to violence and harassment makes you just as guilty as the actual perpetrators.  A religious organization can oppose same-sex marriage by not recognizing a same-sex marriage and by not allowing same-sex wedding ceremonies to take place in their places of worship.  Many supporters of same-sex marriage, myself included, want religions to practice their religious freedom.  They have the right to reject same-sex marriage.  I want their rights to be respected, as they should respect my right to marry my partner.  We should respect each other's rights.  Once same-sex marriage is legalized in all 50 states, I will expose any person or group that tries to force religions to perform or recognize same-sex marriages.  There will be no hypocrisy on my part.  The only hypocrisy here lies in the religions and religious leaders that are aligning themselves with such a hateful group.

In my opinion, it is sinful behavior to partner up with such a hateful organization.  Am I wrong?  The WCF is the antithesis of peace, harmony, loving thy enemy, loving thy neighbor.  There should not be any doubt to what the WCF preaches.  For any religion or religious leader to be a part of it is disappointing and downright disgusting.

Some of you may disagree with this analysis.  The Sutherland Institute may disagree with this analysis.  The Mormon Church may disagree with this analysis.  The many other religious leaders and academics that ally with the WCF may disagree with this analysis.  I’d just ask them in regards to the WCF and their support:  What would Jesus do?