Sending the wrong message

Raised in the deep, dirty South, in the same town that is home to Billy Graham, I have always held my head high as a Christian. I have done so even if some might consider my denomination, Southern Baptist, a little too radical and fanatical for Christ himself.\nBut today, with word of another ridiculous statement from Rev. Louis Sheldon, founder of the Traditional Values Coalition, I hang my head low and in disgust of the indecency of Sheldon in this time of American brotherhood.\nSheldon, whose TVC identifies itself as a grassroots lobbying group, stepped over the line of simple respect and basic decency in his statements to various news services that money donated for Sept. 11 should be prioritized and allocated to "one woman and one man in a marital relationship." \nTo Sheldon, if someone is gay, they don't deserve any blood from Red Cross, or at least they shouldn't get it until every heterosexual does.\nForget love for all Americans and the spirit that is supposed to be so high in this time of national crisis.\nForget that we just got hijacked, attacked and are now in the middle of an anthrax scare and air warfare. \nRemember to discriminate when deciding who gets the relief funds and make sure it's not those damn homosexuals.\nHow sick is that mentality?\nAfter reading a transcript of his interviews, I am convinced he might rather provide relief to Osama bin Laden than help homosexuals, with whom he is convinced are all the epitome of sin.\nTVC is often outspoken about their disgust with homosexuality and abortion and the need to abolish both practices and to turn the sinners to the love of God. \nWhile I definitely don't agree with their lobbying against homosexuals and the right to have abortions, I believe they are entitled to their opinions and beliefs, the same as any other child of God.\nBut these statements stepped over that right to advocate a belief system. \nTo insinuate that homosexuals shouldn't receive relief and support after Sept. 11 is not only disgusting but also un-Christian. And although I am sure I could never convince Sheldon of that, I think his statements are despicable. \nThere is something terribly wrong that in a time of national tragedy and terror, when the unity of our nation is a must, some make their compassion toward one another contingent upon sexual orientation.\nIf Sheldon wants to be outspoken about beliefs he feels are Christian in his heart, no one should deny him that right. But if he wants to make Sept. 11 and all it immortalizes for all Americans an issue about sexual orientation, I think he needs to take a hard look at the morality he claims to speak for. Hopefully then he would realize the sinner in the situation is the one who is casting a seriously disgusting stone of prejudice at the heart of America.