Father Pfleger Embarrassed at Indiana Gov. for Anti-Gay Bill

Hiding behind religion is offensive and unfair

By Chinta Strausberg

Father Michael L. Pfleger Sunday said he is embarrassed by Gov. Mike Pence (R-IN) signing a bill that legally discriminates against lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender persons and even more outraged that the bill was crafted under the guise of religious freedom.

Pfleger, who made his remarks during his Palm Sunday worship service, wonders,  “If the world as “flipped out.”

Pfleger was referring to Gov.Pence’ signing of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act that permits a person or a business to uses their religious beliefs to deny service to lesbians and gays.

“I am so embarrassed as a Christian of what took place in Indiana this week,” said Pfleger. “ I am most embarrassed that the governor and the legislators said they we’re going to pass this religious freedom act so that places of businesses have the right not to hire or serve gays or lesbians, and they call it a Religious Freedom Act. Has the world flipped out?

“The government is now giving religious groups the right to discriminate when it ought to be the religious groups telling the government not to discriminate….

“Suddenly now we can have our differences in our religious beliefs. We can say who we will or will not marry,but we have no right to ever deny anyone by race, nor by sex, nor by gender.Nobody will be discriminated in this church of Jesus Christ. This is God’s church. Not some religious carnival.

‘I was embarrassed when I saw nuns and brothers standing with the governor on this calling it religious freedom,” said Pfleger. He often wonders if Jesus is standing on his throne looking at us asking, ‘what have you done to my church’?”

“Two-thousands years ago he turned over tables. I think today he would be turning over pulpits,” said Pfleger.

Over the weekend, Gov. Pence has caught some political heat after signing the bill and saying he did so “because I support the freedom of religion for every Hoosier of every faith.”

Pence appeared on ABC’s “This week with George Stephanopoulos “ show where he defended the bill. Asked by Stephanopoulos on several occasions would it be against the law if a businessperson refused to serve gays, Pence kept saying, “This is not about discrimination”rather he said, “it’s about empowering people to confront government overreach.” He claims “the issue” is whether “tolerance is a two-way street or not.”

Chinta Strausberg is a Journalist of more than 33-years, a former political reporter and a current PCC Network talk show host. You can e-mail Strausberg at: Chintabernie@aol.com.