Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders gathered in Jurasalem the other day in a rare show of unity. Now one could make any number of logical guesses as to why they might have joined hands in solidarity. Perhaps it was against terror, or genocide, maybe hunger or against slavery. Perhaps it was a demonstration demanding that the holy lands be declared a peace only zone and they would all vow to end sectarian violence in the name of ecumenical brotherhood?
Well if you guessed any of those things you would have made a worthy try but the prime motivating factor which has resulted in this un precedented united front is to launch a campaign to stop Jerusalem WorldPride 2005. Worldpride 2005 is a gay festival that includes a parade, academic conference and films. Apparently this festival is a danger beyond what we mere mortals thought it was. Most gay parades I have seen involved some very poor fashion and make up and boys and girls doing some kissing and huggin. The problem of course is the boys are kissing and hugging the boys, likewise with the girls.
According to Jonathan Saul reporting in the Age http://www.theage.com.au/news/Middle-East-Crisis/Clerics-unite-to-protest-gay-festival/2005/03/31/1111862530301.html?oneclick=true# this could have far more negative repercussions than let's say a bombing or machine gunning of some innocents. According to Yahuda Levin the festival would be "spiritual rape"! After all "this is not homo-land, this is The Holy Land"!
The Catholics and Muslims chimed in with equally stunning and insightful commentary. This from Vatican Archbishop Pietro Sambi "To make a parade would not be an offence but a provocation to Christians, Jews and Muslims all over the world'. Not to be outdone in anticipating the potential damage that the parade might do, Muslim Sheikh Abdul Bukhari suggested that the festival could draw down divine wrath much like that which destroyed Soddom and Gomorrah. "God destroyed that city and we don't want that to happen to us".
Isn't it ironic that a region which has produced some of the most vicious sectarian violence against one another including the murder of innocent women and children can have its so called spiritual leadership sit down in peace together to unite against a gay parade? Doesn't it make you want to get them in a room dressed in all their religious regalia and carrying their precious icons and books and just laugh in their face?
