Religious
conservative leaders, sensing declining alarm over same-sex
marriage, are claiming that the debate over homosexuality
has prompted attacks on religious freedom. By
expanding the discussion from marriage to religious
expression, social conservatives say they will reconnect
with religious voters and religious leaders who don't
necessarily view same-sex unions as a threat.
"There are a
number of pastors that said, 'Look, we don't get
involved in politics, I'm not going to get involved in this
issue, I just want to preach the gospel,'" said Tony
Perkins, president of the notoriously antigay Family
Research Council. "When they realize their ability to
preach the gospel may very well be at stake, they may
reconsider their involvement."
Perkins and
others are building a case file of anecdotes where they say
religious people have spoken out against same-sex marriage
only to be punished. Perkins specifically cited the
decision by Maryland governor Robert Ehrlich in June
to fire his appointee to the Washington,
D.C., area transit board after the board member
referred to gay people as "persons of sexual
deviancy." The board member, Robert J. Smith, said he
was expressing his personal beliefs as a Roman
Catholic.
The subject of
religious expression will be the main theme of an October
15 gathering in Boston of conservative religious and
political leaders that will be broadcast to churches
nationally. Many social conservatives credit the furor
in 2004 over same-sex marriage for mobilizing voters in
key states who voted for President Bush. Since then,
however, 16 states have passed initiatives or
legislation banning same-sex marriage, and several
court decisions have upheld those bans. "As the immediate
threat has diminished, so has the awareness," Perkins said.
Eight states have
ballot initiatives in November to prohibit same-sex
marriage, including some states with closely contested
congressional races. Perkins said religious
conservative groups planned to use direct mail and the
Internet to alert voters about the stands candidates have
taken on the marriage issue. (AP)