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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2015)
FAITH Friday, May 1, 2015 East Oregonian AP Poll: Nuanced views on gay marriage Associated Press WASHINGTON — Most Americans think the govern- ment should protect religious liberties over gay rights when WKHWZRFRPHLQWRFRQÀLFWD new Associated Press-GfK SROO¿QGVWKRXJKIHZHUWKLQN most businesses should be allowed to turn away gay couples because of religious beliefs. The survey uncovered nuanced views on gay rights as the Supreme Court considers, in a case heard this week, whether the Constitu- tion gives same-sex couples the right to marry. Americans are more likely to say that religious liberties are more important for the government to protect than the rights of gays and lesbians, by a 56 percent to 40 percent margin, the poll found. Just a quarter of Amer- icans call gay rights a very or extremely important issue to them personally, while half call religious liberties a very or extremely important issue. But fewer Americans — just 40 percent — think most business owners should be allowed to refuse service to gays and lesbians on religious grounds. 7KDW ¿QGLQJ JRHV WR WKH KHDUW RI WKH VLJQL¿FDQW political fallout over Indi- ana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which critics charged was intended to allow businesses discriminate against gays and lesbians. With public opinion apparently split, it’s an open question how gay rights will play in the 2016 campaign. Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Leadership Confer- ence, said Republicans would be wise to make religious freedom a central AP Photo/Rick Bowmer Opponents of same-sex marriage hold a rally at the Utah State Capitol Tuesday in Salt Lake City. issue because the broad debate highlights intolerance against Christians. “Religious freedom will emerge as a centerpiece, and Democrats will have an impossible time defending against it,” said Rodriguez, whose organiza- tion aligns with conservative Republicans on this issue. Others think the issue could be perilous for the GOP. “Religious liberty works well with religious people, which is the GOP’s base, but the argument is easily turned on its head when the issue is discrimination against gay people,” said veteran Repub- lican strategist John Feehery. “I think the GOP is better off talking about economic security and national security, while leaving this particular issue to the courts to decide.” Although only a minority of poll respondents thought businesses generally should be able to discriminate against gays or lesbians, support was stronger for letting wedding-related businesses in particular refuse service to same-sex couples — 52 percent said so. That was down slightly since the beginning of February, when 57 percent said so in an earlier AP-GfK poll. The new poll found a distinct split between Repub- licans and Democrats on the issue. Most Democrats opposed any such discrim- ination by businesses; most Republicans thought busi- nesses should have the right to refuse service, whether generally or for wedding matters. On marriage, just under half of Americans want it to HERMISTON — A fun morning with the girls is planned by the Hermiston Church of the Nazarene. Invite your grandmother, mom, aunt, sister, niece, friend or neighbor for a cup of tea and some tasty food and fellowship. The ladies Spring Tea is Saturday, May 9 at 10:30 a.m. at 1520 W. Orchard Ave. Tickets are $3 per person and are available for purchase at the Women’s Ministry Event table located in the back of the church’s worship center. Guest speaker Dawn Bissinger will share about Morning Connections for Adventurous Daily Living. 0DNLQJ*RG\RXU¿UVW priority, Bissinger said, leads to extraordinary adventures with God each day. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ events/1566447296952558 or call 541-567-3677. First Friday features kids’ fun HEPPNER — A time of Bible stories, music, crafts, games and lunch are featured in the First Friday Friends of Jesus. Open to ages 4-14, the event is Friday from 8 a.m. to noon at All Saints Episcopal Church, 460 N. Gale St., Heppner. Children are reminded to bring coins to conclude the fundraiser for Heifer International. For more information, call 541-676-9970. Ancient Biblical practice goes digital for Mormons SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Mormons will now be able to pay their tithing RQOLQHEULQJLQJPRGHUQÀDLU to the Biblical practice started by Abraham. The Deseret News reports that the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Wednesday that members can now use a digital system to donate a portion of their income and to help fund missionaries. Mormons give 10 percent of their income to the church, following a Biblical precedent set by Abraham in Genesis. Currently, most members give their tithing to volunteer leaders who deposit it in church accounts. Each year, Mormons must declare whether they consider themselves full tithepayers -- a status that is essential for active members to worship in the faith’s temples. The new system will become available in U.S. congregations this year. Mormon apostle hospitalized, now recuperating SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Mormon apostle Richard G. Scott is recuperating at home after being hospitalized since Thursday for gastrointestinal bleeding. The Salt Lake Tribune reports his illness kept the 86-year-old from speaking at the Mormon church’s General Conference. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also put out a news release announcing that its oldest apostle, 92-year-old L. Tom Perry, is continuing to receive medical care at home after he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Perry is the second-most senior member of the church’s high-level governing body called the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Scott is also a member of the quorum. The average age of the Quorum of the Twelve and the church’s three governing members is 80, the highest in the Utah-based faith’s history. Oregon pastor convicted of child molestation PORTLAND (AP) — The pastor of a small Oregon church described as cult-like by prosecutors has been convicted of molesting the daughter of a church member in the 1990s. He was immediately sentenced to 20 years in prison. Michael George Sperou, 64, was found guilty Thursday by a Portland jury of three counts of unlawful sexual penetration. Sperou was investigated in 1997 after seven girls said he had sexually molested them, but prosecutors never brought charges because of their FRQÀLFWLQJVWDWHPHQWV Two years ago the seven girls again brought their complaints to police. Prosecutors determined the statute of limitations had expired on complaints by all but one of them. Bill would take Alabama out of marriage licenses be legal for gay and lesbian couples to wed in their states, while just over a third are opposed, according to the poll. 7KHUH LV D VLJQL¿FDQW partisan divide over that issue, too, but it could be a moot point in the 2016 campaign LIWKH6XSUHPH&RXUWDI¿UPV same-sex marriage. On the court case, 50 percent said the justices should rule that gay marriage must be legal nationwide; 48 percent said they should not. Kelly Huston, a retired autoworker from Newtown Falls, Ohio, says he doesn’t object to gay marriage, just as he doesn’t object to a business refusing to serve gay patrons. “I think a business owner should decide what they want to do in their business,” Huston said. “I’m not against gays. I’m against the govern- ment telling people how to run their businesses.” The issue could play differently in some regions than others. For example, WKH VXUYH\ ¿QGV SHUFHQW of Southerners, but only 45 percent of Northeasterners or Westerners, say wedding-re- lated businesses should be allowed to refuse service to gay couples. In New Hampshire, ZKLFKKRVWVWKHQDWLRQ¶V¿UVW presidential primary election, DOHDGLQJ5HSXEOLFDQRI¿FLDO warns prospective candidates against a heavy focus on religious freedom. “For the average Repub- lican presidential primary voter in New Hampshire, that’s not one of the top six or seven issues,” said Steve Duprey, New Hampshire’s national Republican commit- teeman. “I don’t think there’s anybody who could win the New Hampshire primary running on religious liberty.” Albritton said. Lawyer Eric Johnston, MONTGOMERY, Ala. who signed up to speak at — A state senator who a public hearing that was wants to take Alabama cancelled on the bill, said out of the marriage license the change would prevent judges from business says he’s not probate targeting same-sex couples having to issue marriage but trying to remove licenses that go against government from the their religious beliefs if gay marriage becomes process. The Senate Judiciary legal. Albritton said his bill Committee on Wednesday approved a bill by Sen. is based off of Oklahoma Greg Albritton, R-Range, legislation. Alabama went through that would do away with current state marriage a turbulent period after a licenses issued by probate federal judge in January judges. Instead, couples struck down Alabama’s would take a contract ban on same-sex marriage. witnessed by a couple’s Most probate judges began pastor, attorney or other issuing marriage licenses witness and record the to gay couples, but others GLGQRWFLWLQJDFRQÀLFWLQJ document at the court. Albritton said he was directive from Alabama not targeting same-sex Chief Justice Roy Moore marriages, but was trying to continue to refuse the to “bring order out of licenses. The weddings halted in chaos.” The legislation comes after a legal dispute March when the Alabama over gay marriage led Supreme Court directed to some probate courts probate judges to not issue shutting down in Alabama the marriage licenses to and ahead of a highly same-sex couples. Alabama’s only openly anticipated U.S. Supreme Court decision that could gay legislator said she legalize same-sex marriage “actually liked” Albritton’s idea. nationwide. “It sort of takes the “When you invite the state into those matters marriage decision out of of personal or religious the probate court,” said LPSRUW LW FUHDWHV GLI¿FXO- state Rep. Patricia Todd, D-Birmingham. Todd is ties,” Albritton said. “Go back long, long ago also the director of the in a galaxy far, far away. Human Rights Campaign Early twentieth century, Alabama, an organization if you go back and look that works for gay and DQG WU\ WR ¿QG PDUULDJH lesbian rights. However, Todd said licenses for your grandpar- ents or great grandparents, she scoffed at the notion \RX ZRQ¶W ¿QG LW :KDW that the bill wasn’t about \RX ZLOO ¿QG LQVWHDG LV gay couples or same-sex where people have come marriage. “Come on. Why did you in and recorded when a marriage has occurred,” do this now?” Todd said. Associated Press Church BRIEFLY Nazarene women host spring tea Page 7A Directory 241 SE Second St. Pendleton (541)276-3809 www.pendletonepiscopal.org W Sunday Morning Worship 9:00 a.m. Wednesday Worship Noon Wednesday Evening Prayer and Pot Luck 6:00 p.m. p w i t h u s ! o r s h i Adams Community Churc h Duane Geyer, Pastor 140 N. Main, Adams, OR 566-9457 Worship 9 am Grace Baptist Church 555 SW 11th, Hermiston 567-9497 Nursery provided for all services Sunday School - 9:30 AM Worship - 10:45 AM 6:00 pm Wed Prayer & Worship - 7:00 PM “Proclaiming God’s word, growing in God’s grace” All Are Welcome Come meet Jesus at OPEN HEARTS – OPEN DOOR www.graceandmercylutheran.org Sunday Worship 9:00 a.m. Sunday School 10:00 a.m. (Nursery Provided) Fellowship, Refreshments & Sunday School Check Out our Facebook Page or Website for More Information Scripture, Tradition and Reason Tom Inch, Pastor Grace and Mercy Lutheran Church, ELCA 164 E. Main St. / P.O. Box 1108 Hermiston, Oregon 97838 Gladys Ave & 7th Hermiston Fr. Dan Lediard, Priest. PH: 567-6672 FIRST CHURCH OF GOD FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH P eace L utheran C hurch Family service 9am Sunday First Service @ 8:30am Second Service @ 10:30am 712 SW 27th Pendleton 541-276-1894 www.fcogpendleton.com in Mission for Christ LCMC Sunday Worship Service 10:00 AM Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 PM 210 NW 9th, Pendleton ELCA -Presbyterian Church (USA)- 201 SW Dorion Ave. Pendleton Join us Sundays 9:30 Sunday Worship 9:30 am am Sunday Worship 10:30 am Fellowship 11:00 am Sunday School & Adult Class Service of Worship - 10:00 am Children’s Sunday School - 10:20 am Fellowship - 11:00 am www.pendletonpresbyterian.com ~Come and be at Peace~ Open Hearted...Open Minded on 1290 KUMA noon each Sunday Sunday Worship Services: 9 a.m. & 10:45 a.m. Sharon Miller, Pastor ( Oregon Trail Room ) 401 Northgate • Pendleton 278-8082 www.faithpendleton.org www.livingwordcc.com Community Presbyterian Churc h Faith Center Church Worshiping God • Loving People 14 Martin Drive, Umatilla, OR 922-3250 108 S. Main • 276-9569 Sunday School 9:30 am Sunday Worship 10:30 am Sr. Pastor, Ray O’Grady pendletonfaithcenter.org Worship: 10 AM Sunday School at 11:30 3202 S.W. Nye Avenue, Pendleton, OR 541-276-7590 All People Are Welcome 541-289-4535 Living Word Christian Center Red Lion Hotel PENDLETON BAPTIST CHURCH Sunday Morning Worship 8:30 & 11:00 AM Sunday Bible Classes 9:45 AM Sunday Youth Group 6:00 PM Awana Kids Club Tuesdays 6:30 - 8:00 PM K - 6th Grade (Sept-May) FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH Bible Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:00 AM Sunday Worship . . . . . . . . . . . 10:30 AM St. Johns Episcopal Church Seventh-Day Adventist Churc h Saturday Services Pendleton 585 SW Birch, Pilot Rock, OR 97868 (541) 443-2500 prbconline.blogspot.com Sunday School: 9:30 am Worship Service: 10:45 am Wednesday Services: Kids’ Club: 6:00 pm Youth Group: 7:00 pm Services Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Sunday 11:00 a.m. & 6:00 p.m. Wednesday 7:00 p.m. 2809 S.W. Goodwin Ave. • Pendleton 541-276-3031 “The Unity of All Mankind” 352 SE 2nd St., Pendleton, O R Office 276-2616 New Pastor Dr. Jim Pierce Childcare Available Pendleton Baha’i Center at 1015 SE Court Place Devotions Sundays @ 11:00am; Everyone invited! Choir practice Sundays 8:30 AM (541) 276-9360 visit us at www.pendletonbahais.org Worship Service 9:00 AM Fellowship 10:15 AM Broadcast KUMA 11:00 AM 1401 SW Goodwin Place 276-0882 Sabbath School 9:20 am Worship Service 10:45 am GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH BAHA’I FAITH First United Methodist Churc h 3HQGOHWRQ )5((0(7+2',67&+85&+ Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m. Mid-Week Children & Youth Weekly Adult Life Groups 6:WK6WZZZSHQGIPFRUJ
