The Human Rights Campaign is calling for an apology from a Georgia congressman after the GOP lawmaker read Bible passages condemning homosexuality during a Republican policy meeting.

One passage Rep. Rick W. Allen from Georgia's 12th District read was Romans 1:18-32, which mentions a list of "reprobate" acts including men who "burn with lust for one another." The verse goes on to say that such people and those who support them are "worthy of death."

Several fellow Republicans walked out during Allen's statements.

The Human Rights Campaign's political affairs spokesperson JoDee Winterhof said "Republican leaders must make clear that they will not tolerate lawmakers who sow hatred and violence against LGBT people."

Q: What are your thoughts on Rep. Allen's actions?

Wait, did you just say that the Bible was being read at a major political party's policy meeting? That right there is Problem No. 1. I don't care what passage they were reading; the Bible should never be part of an official political meeting of any kind. Our politicians represent all Americans, not just the religious ones, nor just the Christians, and certainly not just the conservative Christians.

Problem No. 2 is, of course, the passage itself. As are all the 'clobber passages' about homosexual actions, this one is specific to a particular historical context. It is not — not! — about homosexual orientation, or loving and committed homosexual relationships. Romans addresses married men, who go off to the Roman baths and consort with male cultic prostitutes; it's a condemnation of adultery, prostitution, and cultic sexual practices, not of homosexuality itself.

The clobber passages from the Hebrew scriptures also stem from historical context. In early days, the cultural mindset of Israel regarded sperm, 'seed,' as a national commodity. As the tiny land of Israel kept facing genocide at the alternating hands of the three large, invading empires surrounding it, every single person, every life, meant the survival of the people in general. Any gratuitous spilling of seed was condemned, as dangerous to the people's future — not just homosexual sex, but also heterosexual oral sex, coitus interruptus and masturbation. People who masturbate are also "worthy of stoning" – would anyone like to cast that first stone, being blameless yourself?

And Problem No. 3, as often is pointed out, is taking some passages of the Bible literally, and not others. If you're going to take the condemnation of homosexual activity literally, you must also take literally the severe prohibition (and death sentence) for those who eat seafood, wear polyester (mixed linens) or like cheeseburgers (which combine the milk of an animal with its blood).

So, Rep. Allen, if you've worn polyester lately (which I suspect you have), or eaten some lobster; if you've enjoyed anything but procreational sex with your wife, or eaten a cheeseburger at Denny's, then guess what? You stand shoulder to shoulder with those reprobate homosexuals, in front of the gang of righteous people carrying stones.

Think about it, sir.

The Rev. Amy Pringle
St. George's Episcopal Church
La Cañada Flintridge

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Rep. Allen's words offend me not only as a man of faith, but as an American. To stand up in a place of elected officials and spout such anger and venom goes against my understanding of the quote attributed to Voltaire, "I do not agree with a word you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it".

What has happened to our idea of America as the tossed salad? Where each person has the right to bring his own flavor to the mix? Have we returned to the melting pot idea where all groups and even persons must give up their uniqueness for the 'Proper American' label?

I think not. Further, scripture supports me. Deuteronomy 4:6 says "You will love the Lord your God, with all your heart (physically), your soul (spiritually) and with all your strength (uniquely) and these words which I command you this day, shall be upon your heart (consistently)."

Each of us must learn to love God and each other, either physically, or spiritually or both but, most of all, consistently with uniqueness.

Rabbi Mark Sobel
Temple Beth Emet
Burbank

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The Republican congressman cannot apologize for reading the Bible. I mean, he can, but he'd be a fool, and may I say "shame on those 'fellow Republicans' who 'walked out during Allen's statements."

Look, the Bible was read not to instigate lynching squads for gays, but to inform the moral reality of the discussion. The biblical passage itself does not demand immediate capital punishment for those mentioned, and those mentioned are more than just homosexually lustful men, it includes the same sort of women, and also earth worshippers, idolaters, atheists, murderers, the greedy, gossips, slanderers, the loveless, merciless and faithless.

All of those listed are worthy of death, as all sin is worthy of the same. And as Christ died because of our sin, so the debt of all "repentant" sinners is paid through him. The point of the biblical passage is to convey that all such things are immoral rather than cause for celebration or "promotion," despite the published agenda of the Human Rights Campaign.

No kidding they want an apology, because that would be granting that they are more righteous than the God who authored Romans 1:18-32. I'm sure they're taking it personally, as the passage ends not with just denouncing sins, but also people who "approve of those who practice them." Reading the biblical passage simply put the issue into divine perspective, rather than leaving it up to personal speculation, popular opinion or the LGBT agenda.

Now how do you decide moral issues? By voting on them? By having certain feelings about them? By declaring whatever you approve a moral good? That's one way of doing it, or you could consult the omnipotent creator and embrace his opinion on a matter.

Our society has many ills, and many things that are bad we legalize, but that doesn't make them right or good, it only means that we are getting comfortable with our sins. And while the whole world is awash in transgression, God gives no sanction for "hatred and violence" toward anyone.

That doesn't mean we must approve of every lifestyle, accept supposedly born predilections or bend over backwards to help facilitate errant subcultures. As people, as citizens, as creatures made in the image of God, even as those whose practices are condemned in that Bible passage, they all deserve equal protections and rights in America, but not special rights that trump those of their God-fearing neighbors.

They should not be bullied or hated, but neither should they bully or be hateful in return with those of contrary commitment.

Rev. Bryan A. Griem
Tujunga

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Who knows how Rep. Allen goes over among Republicans of Georgia — that is not something I enjoy contemplating — but I know such outbursts drift westward and help explain why our state's GOP registration has dropped down close to 25%.

In order to produce this little hate-nugget, Allen had to stray far afield from Christianity's central messages of loving one's neighbor, doing to others as you would have done to you and welcoming the stranger.

Allen's vitriol is alienating not only to the LGBT community and its supporters but also to atheists, as well as to a good number of believers, who want government proceedings to be entirely free of religion.

Prayers and statements invoking God and Jesus at official city meetings and at other local public events makes me marvel at the narrow-mindedness that leads these speakers, no matter how well-intended they may be, to assume that their spiritual choice is OK to impose on a secular occasion. Righteous dude though Jesus was, many religious people (theist or not) aren't his followers, not to mention those of