According to a front-page article in today’s Washington Post, Howard Dean said yesterday that his decision as governor to support civil unions for homosexuals was grounded in his Christian faith.
Dean elaborated by saying there is “overwhelming evidence” of a “very significant genetic component” to a homosexual orientation. “From a religious point of view,” he said, “if God had thought homosexuality is a sin, he would not have created gay people.”
Catholic League president William Donohue commented as follows:
“Howard Dean is entitled to his view that civil unions for homosexuals is a good idea, but he is not entitled to hijack Christianity to argue that homosexuality is not sinful. On Tuesday he couldn’t answer a question that sought to tap how religion may have influenced his policy decisions, and on Wednesday he proclaims that Christianity sanctions sodomy. This isn’t spin—it’s stupidity.
“And talking about stupidity, that is the only term that accurately describes Dean’s assertion that there is a gay gene. Everyone who has looked at this question seriously knows there is no ‘overwhelming evidence’ on the subject either way. That this comment comes from a doctor calls into question more than his politics.
“What is perhaps most disturbing about this is the manipulative way in which Dean is using Christianity. Just yesterday, I issued a news release defending his right to publicly discuss religion. But never would I defend anyone’s right to distort the religious beliefs of any religion. Dean obviously doesn’t know the difference between the innocence of a homosexual orientation and the sinfulness of homosexual behavior.
“If this wasn’t enough, consider that in the current issue of the New Republic Dean says, ‘My religion doesn’t inform my public policy.’ He not only has reversed himself (again!), he has managed to insult the 85 percent of the American population that is Christian.”
