Same-sex marriage: Isle bishop’s comments called ‘offensive’

Episcopal minister Elizabeth Ziva­nov of The Parish of St. Clement maintains that recent arguments made by the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hono­lulu against same-sex marriage are "incredibly offensive" in that they group homosexuals with the Bible’s sinners, who, unless they change their ways, face eternal damnation.

Bishop Larry Silva "lumps gay people in the same group as notorious sinners, such as prostitutes and tax collectors," Zivanov said in a sermon Sunday.

Zivanov’s rebuttal refers to Silva’s comments in a recent homily in which he said, "Jesus included prostitutes and tax collectors in his inner circle and loved them, but in no way did he condone or endorse prostitution or the exploitation of the vulnerable. His love for them called them to change their ways." He continued, "Even as we remember Jesus’ all-embracing love, we must also remember his separating the sheep from the goats, welcoming the sheep into the kingdom but sending the goats to eternal damnation." He pointed out in his message, "This is not very inclusive."

Silva has also tied gay marriage to a multitude of social ills, including poverty, divorce and juvenile suicide, and said that legalizing it would erode societal foundations long held sacred.

Zivanov counters that while she usually doesn’t get involved in public debate about gay rights, she decided to respond from her pulpit because she found his remarks to be "very hurtful." She noted that a loving gay couple with a young daugh­ter has attended services at her Makiki church.

"I have never heard a Catholic bishop use this kind of language and denigration of gay people, ever," Ziva­nov said in an interview following her sermon. Further describing Silva’s statements as "incredibly offensive," she added, "He just went to an all-time low with his comments about welcoming the sheep into the kingdom but sending the goats to eternal damnation. How dare he!"

Silva has told the Star-Advertiser that Jesus was not as "inclusive" as liberal, interfaith groups espouse, because on Judgment Day the sheep, or those who followed his teachings, would enter the Kingdom of God, while the goats, or those who did not change their sinful ways, would be turned away, however much Jesus may have embraced them in love.

Hawaii lawmakers might soon call a special session to determine whether to allow same-sex marriage in the state, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in June that enabled legally married gay couples to receive federal benefits. Currently, same-sex couples in Hawaii can enter into civil unions and receive the same rights and benefits as marriage under state law but are not entitled to federal benefits unless they can marry.

Until there are enough votes favoring the special session and a religious exemption is fine-tuned, both sides of the debate have been trying to drum up support in the Legislature.

The bishop’s comments were first made in an "urgent letter" telling parishioners to contact state legislators. Silva again urged Catholics to "mobilize into action" this week on www.catholichawaii.org.

In her sermon<$o($)> Ziva­nov said, "I challenge the bishop to show us the sociological studies that support his speculations about the corruption and undermining of society by gay marriage." She dismissed Silva’s comments as "nothing but scare tactics that would serve to escalate fears and negativity."

Zivanov continued, "Nowhere in the four accounts (the New Testament gospels) of Jesus does he condemn gay people. As Christians we’re to filter everything through the eyes of Jesus and his teachings." Scholars and theologians have long disputed passages in the Old Testament that condemn homosexuality, she said.

"Let me also remind the bishop and other conservative leaders that they do not represent all Christians. They. Do. Not. They are not better Christians than those of us who hold different beliefs," she said.

Silva has also warned that gay marriage could pose a threat to the civil rights of families supporting only heterosexual marriage, and that one day preachers who speak against homosexuality could be persecuted.

"Let me remind the bishop that each state that has passed a law opening marriage to gay couples has ensured that those who believe otherwise would not be forced to espouse different beliefs or to act against their beliefs," Ziva­nov said.

"Let me also suggest that we remember that by substituting the words‘race’ or‘women’or‘miscegenation'(marriage between races), many of the bishop’s arguments have been used to deny civil rights and human respect to other groups in our society."