The Interfaith Alliance of Colorado

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Feb. 25, 2009
Contact: Jeremy J. Shaver
Work: 303-733-4089
Cell: 303-324-7923

Interfaith Alliance of Colorado challenges harmful rhetoric in debate over Senate Bill 88

DENVER – The Interfaith Alliance of Colorado is concerned and saddened by the inflammatory rhetoric and disregard for the boundaries between religion and government displayed on the Colorado Senate floor on Monday.

The disturbing comments came during debate on Senate Bill 88 – legislation that would provide health benefits to the same-gender domestic partners of state employees. Sen. Scott Renfroe, of Greeley, quoted Bible verses to argue that the state should not condone homosexual relationships. He went even further by saying homosexuality is an “abomination” and an “offense to God.”

"As a Christian, I am profoundly saddened by the hate speech uttered by Senator Renfroe in the name of God,” said the Rev. Richard Craft, interim pastor at Family of Christ Presbyterian Church in Greeley. “Such speech is not simply an expression of neutral opinion; it emboldens attitudes of exclusion and even violence against our neighbors, whom we are called upon to love. And, it feeds the growing idea that Christianity is a religion of hate."

According to audio recordings and an article in the Feb. 24 Denver Post by John Ingold, Renfroe called gay and lesbian relationships a sin, equal in some sense to murder and adultery, and read one Bible passage that says homosexuality is punishable by death.

“In sharp contrast with Senator Renfroe’s religious convictions, which are of course his right to believe, my religious convictions lead me to affirm the dignity of all people and to respect their fundamental rights. However, this is not about my religious views or his religious views,” said the Rev. Dr. Phil Campbell, a member of the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado Board and faculty member at the Iliff School of Theology. “This bill is about providing health insurance to individuals, who in some cases, may not be insured. This bill provides basic equal rights for all state employees and this commitment is a fundamental principle that the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado affirms.”

In the same Feb. 24 Denver Post article, titled, “Senate backs partner benefits,” Renfroe is quoted as stating:

“Homosexuality is seen as a violation of this natural creative order, and it is an offense to God…When we create laws that go against what biblically we are supposed to stand for, I think we are allowing to go forward a sin that should not be treated by government as something that is legal. We are taking sins and making them legally OK.”

The Colorado Constitution and the United States Constitution protect the religious freedoms of all Coloradans and prevent the state and federal governments from granting preferential treatment to one set of religious beliefs and doctrines over another. The constitutions also protect the right of Coloradans not to identify with a faith tradition and ensure there are appropriate boundaries between religion and government.

“Senator Renfroe’s particular religious convictions have no place in the debate about Senate Bill 88,” said Campbell. “Regardless of one’s opinion about homosexuality, this overt attempt to establish one religious view is seriously alarming.”

While the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado protects the appropriate boundaries between religion and government, it also believes religion can play a healing, positive role in our society. It is important to note that Senator Renfroe represents Greeley, where last year, a young transgender woman named Angie Zapata was violently beaten to death with a fire extinguisher because she was transgender. Senator Renfroe’s inflammatory remarks reinforce the kind of hostile climate that can put real people in harm’s way.

“I am concerned that the beliefs held by Senator Renfroe continue to be the proclamation of the Christian church and that all are left with the impression that this is Christianity’s view on the matter,” said the Rev. Dr. Dan Geslin, pastor at Sixth Avenue United Church of Christ in Denver. “As an ordained Christian minister, I follow Jesus’ way of love and understand Christianity not to be an imperialistic religion, but a spirituality of service. Senator Renfroe’s remarks demonstrate a belief system that is anything but loving.”

TIA-CO thanks the Colorado state senators, both republicans and democrats, who passed this bill in the Senate on Tuesday. TIA-CO supports Senate Bill 88 and will work with members of the Colorado House, as well as Governor Bill Ritter, to see this legislation enacted into law.

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The Interfaith Alliance of Colorado (TIA-CO) promotes social justice, religious freedom, and interfaith understanding by organizing and equipping progressive people of faith and goodwill for advocacy, dialogue, and celebration. Founded in 1998, the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado has 13 congregational partners and more than 800 individual members across the state from 19 faith traditions, as well as those without a faith tradition. For more information, visit www.InterfaithAllianceCO.org.