One thing which I am very proud of is how so many of Western Europe’s states maintain a strict division between church and state. Even Italy, the country with the heart of Catholicism at its core, is taking great steps to make laws which match the modern world. So, I’m afraid that I got very, very angry when I read the following headline on Pink News:
US Christian fundamentalists attack gay rights measure at Euro Parliament
It seems that a homophobic religious group from the US, the Alliance Defence Fund has been lobbying the European Parliament to “vote against a resolution on social policy introduced by a communist member. ” The resolution by MEP Giusto Catania calls for legislation to introduce criminal offences for homophobic behaviour.
There’s what the Alliance Defence Fund said:
No one should have their beliefs marginalised or criminalised simply because they don’t agree with the far left.
This resolution would undermine the right to life, damage the institution of the family, and curtail freedom of expression. It does these things in violation of treaty law and member state autonomy.
The parliament should not allow itself to be used as a vehicle to further spread a damaging social agenda.
In essence, they are defending the right of people to hate other people. What a lovely bunch of people!
Now, whilst I am proud to say that the resolution was approved with 401 in favour, 220 against and 67 abstaining (in other words, a resounding win), I am absolutely furious that the hate-peddling Alliance Defence Fund is pushing it’s neanderthal views over here! This is simply not acceptable and I do not want to see organisations such as this doing to Europe what they have done to the US.
Such fundamentalist groups have caused deep damage to the US, once the land of the free and now a state where the rights of all sorts of people (mainstream and minority) are being trampled upon with easy disregard. I deeply hope that President Obama’s inauguration will mark a U-turn that will allow the US to be called the land of the free again (and not with sarcasm as it is done now).
In the mean-time, I hope that I will be standing with thousands of thousands of my fellow Europeans in saying that we will not let this happen here and that this meddling by these hate-filled organisations will not be tolerated in Europe.
I’m going to finish this with a quote from the Vice-President of the Intergroup for ALDE, Sophie in’t Veld which just about says it all:
All citizens are equally entitled to protection by the EU against discrimination, intolerance and violence. Political and religious leaders must use their influence on public opinion responsibly, and refrain from statements that may incite to hatred and violence.
Possibly Related Posts:
- It’s OK to be gay
- How’s this for romantic?
- Yu+Me Dream
- Quite lovely: Christian LGBTI affirmation
- Remembering those society allows to be killed
Tags: christian fundamentalism, Europe, European Union, Homophobia, LGBT, politics, religiou, separation of church and state
The far right does have a strange (and entirely too plastic) definition of “freedom”, don’t they?
A chap by the name of George Lakoff (he’s a professor of linguistics) has even managed to write a couple of books about the difference between their definition(s) and how the rest of the world views the same concepts. (The opponents of Prop 8 are doing the same thing: they’re arguing for one approach to the equal rights, while simultaneously arguing against that same approach when it comes to election disclosure laws.
The biggest problem such groups have is explaining how they should be “free from something”, while simultaneously avoiding saying how some group should be free of them. Strange doesn’t even begin to describe the far right (and the far left, I should add!): surreal is more like it.
I have some reservations on what Sophie in’t Veld said; but it would take too long to explain them, here! (Sorry.)
Thanks for the heads-up on the far right reaching across the Atlantic. It truly shows the depth of their homophobia. Irrational doesn’t even begin to describe them.
Carolyn Ann
Carolyn Ann’s last blog post..I’m only going to say this…
Sigh . . . If only they would accord everyone else the same freedom of expression that they have (and abuse). I think my first indication, many years ago, that there was something seriously wrong with some Christian fundamentalists was when I saw them praying to God to come down and kill anybody who didn’t believe in their brand of religion. Believe it or not, many fundamentalists pray for this — the battle of Armageddon — every day at suppertime.