Jim Johnson at the excellent Straight, Not Narrow blogsite has recently posted thoughts from around the nation on the passing of Rev. Jerry Falwell.
Falwell, as founder of the Moral Majority and a leading figure of the religious right, was one of the staunchest opponents of GLBT rights and acceptance in society. He once remarked that "AIDS is the wrath of a just God against homosexuals," and, in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, he expressed the belief that "the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians . . . helped this happen."
In addition to Johnson's collection of responses, you may also be interested in reading Truth Wins Out founder Wayne Besen's reflection on the death of Falwell.
David Shelton has also posted a very thoughtful and honest reflection here, while David Walsh shares his thoughts here.
And finally, A. McEwen has posted an insightful commentary entitled, "Jerry Falwell's Legacy? Just Ask Paul Cameron or Peter LaBarbera."
"So rather than vilifying those of us who dance on Falwell's grave as part of the cost of healing from wounds he helped inflict, please consider praying for us instead, that we might step deeper into grace and finally into forgiveness, of ourselves, and ultimately of Jerry."
ReplyDeleteVery powerful and very honest.