Obama Warns Christians: Gay Rights More Important Than Religious Freedom
Peter Foley-Pool/Getty Images
As Pope Francis flew back to Rome, President Obama issued a
stern warning to Christians, warning them their attempts to assert their
religious liberty to oppose gay rights would fail.
“We affirm that we cherish our religious freedom and are profoundly
respectful of religious traditions,” he insisted during a dramatic
speech at a LGTB fundraiser in New York City on Sunday night, praising
the progress made on gay rights under his administration. “But we also
have to say clearly that our religious freedom doesn’t grant us the
freedom to deny our fellow Americans their constitutional rights.”
The fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee was specifically
billed as an “LGBT gala” held in New York City in coordination with
Obama’s trip to the United Nations Assembly.
During his speech, Obama asserted that his administration was
respecting what he described as “genuine concerns” of religious
institutions but suggested that Republicans were using the issue just to
earn more votes, as they did in 2004.
“America has left the leaders of the Republican Party behind,” he declared proudly.
He ridiculed
Ben Carson
for suggesting that “prison turns you gay” and added that another
Republican candidate had boasted of his introduction of a constitutional
amendment to ban same-sex marriage, likely referring to Sen.
.
Alluding to
Gov. Mike Huckabee, Obama mocked a candidate who said that “Americans should just disobey the Supreme Court’s ruling entirely.”
“I’m sure he loves the Constitution — except for Article III,” Obama
said mockingly. “And maybe the Equal Protection Amendment. And 14th
Amendment, generally.”
Debbie Wasserman Shultz was in attendance at the fundraiser, and Star Trek’s George Takei also was expected to attend.
Obama proudly told the audience that he would not back down in his
efforts to make progress for the LGBT community, and called for all of
them to remain vigilant to hold the line on important legal gains in the
country.
“What makes America special is, is that though sometimes we zig and
zag, eventually hope wins out,” he said. “But it only wins out because
folks like you put your shoulder behind the wheel and push it in that
direction.”
