Black clergy says stay home on election day

[315bride]

I can't get over the people who decide to just not vote. It's so privileged. I mean, here we are just decades later from getting women the right to vote. I cannot imagine not exercising that right.

I am so embarrassed by the number of Americans who feel that not voting is the answer.

I am even more embarrassed by religious leaders who feel it is their right to dictate how their congregants should or should not vote. It's like when some Catholic churches told congregants who voted for Obama that they were not allowed to receive communion.

Um, WTF.

[cookiemdough]

How completely irresponsible. And I better not see Jamal Bryant questioning anything. Didn't he get in trouble for impregnating someone from his congregation? And yes he was married.

[thejackpot]

I loathe this practice. The pulpit has had such an important role in the civil rights movement this line of thinking is just irresponsible and disgusting.

[heightsyankee]

Ugh. "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

[Deleted]

Sept 17, 2012 8:48:24 GMT -5 pennypenny said:

Yeah, I don't know if I could attend a church that was advising its congregants to stay home. I understand that selecting between Romney and Obama may not be the easiest choice for a black Christian, but we fought for our right to vote. Its just nonsense.

I think we can all understand the "turd sandwich vs. giant douche" dilemma. I'm tempted to abstain from voting for my MO senator. I will probably write in.

However, even as someone unlikely to vote for Obama myself, I judge the shit out of their reasons for withholding support for Obama. Nothing says Christian love like discrimination. 8-D

[orangeblossom]

Sept 17, 2012 8:11:29 GMT -5 cookiemdough said:

How completely irresponsible. And I better not see Jamal Bryant questioning anything. Didn't he get in trouble for impregnating someone from his congregation? And yes he was married.

Yes, and so much more. He is just so arrogant, I can hardly stand it.

As to the story, why must people be so short sided. Not voting is not answer. I also totally agree with these who said too many have sufferered and died for people not to exercise their right to vote.

[karinothing]

Well, even if you don't want to vote for either of those candidates there are other things on the ballot! So I don't get why people would stay home?

[NitaX]

Sept 17, 2012 9:38:48 GMT -5 orangeblossom said:

Sept 17, 2012 8:11:29 GMT -5 cookiemdough said:

How completely irresponsible. And I better not see Jamal Bryant questioning anything. Didn't he get in trouble for impregnating someone from his congregation? And yes he was married.

Yes, and so much more. He is just so arrogant, I can hardly stand it.

As to the story, why must people be so short sided. Not voting is not answer. I also totally agree with these who said too many have sufferered and died for people not to exercise their right to vote.

Slide over. I'm right there with ya'll.

The other thing that always cracks me up when black church folks get pissy about gay marriage is that err'body and their momma knows full and well you have some gay members in your church. Running joke is that you know good and well that somebody has the gay minister or music, choir director and organist in your music ministry. So, how do you just openly bash people like that who are serious, committed members of your congregation? Boggles the mind I tell you.

[cookiemdough]

Sept 17, 2012 9:47:31 GMT -5 NitaX said:

Sept 17, 2012 9:38:48 GMT -5 orangeblossom said:

The other thing that always cracks me up when black church folks get pissy about gay marriage is that err'body and their momma knows full and well you have some gay members in your church. Running joke is that you know good and well that somebody has the gay minister or music, choir director and organist in your music ministry. So, how do you just openly bash people like that who are serious, committed members of your congregation? Boggles the mind I tell you.

Yes!!

[Deleted]

Those churches whose pastors got up on the pulpit and said this should lose their tax-exempt status.

[ttt]

Is gay marriage really the most important issue facing the black community in this country?

[meshaliuknits]

Sept 17, 2012 9:42:49 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Well, even if you don't want to vote for either of those candidates there are other things on the ballot! So I don't get why people would stay home?

That's what I was thinking. There are going to be local and state stuff on the ballot as well and that stuff affects you more directly than the presidential election does. Don't stay home! Write in or vote third party or skip that part of the ballot entirely, but don't not vote!

[NitaX]

Sept 17, 2012 10:00:48 GMT -5 ttt said:

Is gay marriage really the most important issue facing the black community in this country?

No. What they should be focusing on is trying to make sure their members have a valid ID. My church has been pretty vocal about telling people that the voter requirements have changed and they need to make sure they have a valid state or federal ID.