The Liberal Lutheran Agenda Was About Homosexuality By: Rev. Jack Cascione According to reports published in this article quoted from the New York Times and the ELCA, President Bush and the Pope are more Lutheran than most Lutherans. From the early sixties, to the 1974 St. Louis Seminary "Walk-Out," to the present struggles of the LCMS, the real liberal Lutheran agenda has been sexual freedom and homosexuality. For the last 40 years, the LCMS has endured attacks from within its ranks on the authority of the Bible, the Lutheran Confessions, traditional worship and hymnody, the Creeds, Trinity, and the definition of God. Contemporary, man-centered worship, false claims of direct charismatic communication from God, and freedom from "legalistic" Lutheran doctrine, have encouraged self-expression, felt needs, emotionalism, and self-awareness in Lutheranism. Coincidently, these new freedoms are buzzwords describing the homosexual lifestyle. In others words, most Lutherans in America really want to be gay or want to sit next to them in their church services.  The AELC joined the ELCA in order to practice the religion of sexual freedom. It is all about Sodom. According to the ELCA News Service, http://www.elca.org/Scriptlib/CO/ELCA_News/encArticleList.asp?a=2584 on July 28, 2003, in a report titled, "ELCA Youth Discuss Topics Important To Them" 03-149-MR/JC, 40,000 ELCA Youth voted that same sex unions are a blessing from God. "Resolutions passed at the sixth triennial convention call for LYO members to: encourage discussion on the topic of human sexuality in confirmation classes and at synod-led youth events. Delegates also adopted a resolution supporting the blessing of 'same-sex unions' and the ordination of 'non-celibate individuals' of 'all sexual orientations' in 'committed relationships.' In a separate resolution, delegates moved to welcome people of all sexual orientations, encouraging youth of all sexual orientations to share in the life of the organization. They also voted to seek formal recognition as a 'Reconciling in Christ' organization." Two days later, on July 30, 2003, the New York Times reported "Bush Backs Bid to Block Gays From Marrying" by Neil A. Lewis http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/31/national/31BUSH.html?th The following quotations are from the article by Lewis: "'I am mindful that we're all sinners,' the president said, and borrowing from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, added: "'And I caution those who may try to take the speck out of their neighbor's eye when they got a log in their own. I think it's very important for our society to respect each individual, to welcome those with good hearts, to be a welcoming country.'" "Mr. Bush then added: 'On the other hand, that does not mean that somebody like me needs to compromise on issues such as marriage. And that's really where the issue is headed here in Washington, and that is the definition of marriage. I believe marriage is between a man and a woman, and I believe we ought to codify that one way or the other and we have lawyers looking at the best way to do that.'" The Times reported that Americans are becoming more accepting of homosexuality. "Pollsters say that public opinion has been gradually shifting, albeit slowly, toward a more tolerant view of homosexuality. A Gallup Poll in May, asking whether gay couples should be able to 'legally form civil unions, giving them some of the legal rights of married couples,' found the public evenly split, with 49 percent in favor and 49 percent opposed. In February 2002, the equivalent figures were 53 percent against to 41 percent in favor." In other words, half of America is going to join Lot's wife. Two days later the Pope publicly rejected gay marriage as an abomination. "Vatican Exhorts Legislators to Reject Same-Sex Unions," by Frank Bruni, New York Times August 1, 2003, http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/01/international/europe/01VATI.html?th Bruni quoted the Pope as follows: "'There are absolutely no grounds for considering homosexual unions to be in any way similar or even remotely analogous to God's plan for marriage and family,' the document said, asserting repeatedly that marriage should be reserved for heterosexual couples." "'Marriage is holy, while homosexual acts go against the natural moral law,' it said."  "'To vote in favor of a law so harmful to the common good is gravely immoral,' said the document, which spelled out, on its final page, that it was being issued with the explicit approval and under the specific orders of Pope John Paul II." "'We have to preach our principle, even if we know that many people won't abide by it,' said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. 'The Vatican is worried, because we think marriage should be between a man and a woman.'" "It added that allowing children to be adopted by gays and lesbians 'would actually mean doing violence to these children' because it would put them in unhealthy home environments." "It said legal recognition for gay and lesbian couples would amount to 'approval of deviant behavior, with the consequence of making it a model in present-day society.'" Lewis also reported that the Episcopal Church is supporting homosexuality."Homosexuality is the dominant issue at a convention this week of the Episcopal Church USA, which is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The convention is deliberating whether to confirm an openly gay bishop in New Hampshire and whether to develop a blessing for same-sex unions." "Conservative Episcopalians and Anglicans have threatened a schism if the convention votes in favor of those measures. A final resolution is expected within the next week. The practical effect of the Vatican document was uncertain, as one Vatican official acknowledged today." Those who want to uphold historic Christianity are labeled  conservatives, while those who seek sexual freedom are called liberals. Most of the LCMS Council of Presidents are comfortable with LCMS churches giving communion to ELCA sodomites. After 156 years, the LCMS has a president who is worried that the LCMS is too interested in "purification of doctrine." Where have we heard this before? He says, "This is not your grandfathers church." That may be, but my grandfather wasn't gay. August 1, 2003