Jewish Leaders Upset With Marriage Group’s Nazi References
Several Jewish and Christian leaders intensified criticism of the group opposed to same-sex marriage Friday for using Nazi references in their effort.
“It’s shocking and appalling and deeply unMinnesotan,” said Rabbi Michael Adam Latz, with Shir Tikvah in south Minneapolis. He accused Minnesota for Marriage of using the Bible and Torah and other religious texts to espouse their views against homosexuality.”When did you decide to use a sacred text as a weapon of mass destruction?”
A dozen religious leaders gathered at Shir Tikvah to ask the group trying to block same-sex marriage in the state to apologize and withdraw material that accused same-sex marriage advocates of using the propaganda techniques similar to Nazis during the holocaust. The group was most critical of Minnesota for Marriage for describing the issue as a diversion and a “smoke screen,” which they saw as a thinly-veiled reference to the gas chambers used in Nazi Germany.
Autumn Leva, a spokeswoman for Minnesota for Marriage, said the statements in question came from a separate, affiliate group.
“Minnesota for Marriage regrets that statements considered by many to be offensive appeared on the website of a separate organization, Minnesota Pastors for Marriage,” the statement read. “The aim of Minnesota for Marriage has always been to promote a civil and respectful debate about the nature of marriage.”
That’s a marked change from the day before when the group said Minnesotans United, which is pushing to legalize same-sex marriage in the state, was raising the issue in a “desperate attempt” to divert people from the fact that most Minnesotans don’t want to legalize gay marriage.
A link to the pastors’ group remained atop Minnesota for Marriage’s website Friday afternoon.
Minnesota for Marriage’s affiliate is urging pastors to preach against same-sex marriage this weekend. The group prepared a “sermon starter” help religious leaders touch on key arguments against same-sex marriage.
The material tries to debunk a body of medical and scientific research that shows gay and lesbian people are born that way.
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