Nicole Lamarche on Carrie Prejean: Gay Marriage Stance is Flawed
While it's always nice - and entertaining - to hear the thoughts of various celebrities, Miley Cyrus, Heidi Montag and others that have confronted the issue of gay marriage over the last few days aren't exactly qualified to speak on the topic.
Then there's Nicole Lamarche.
Like Carrie Prejean, Lamarche was named Miss California in 2003. She's now an ordained minister at Cotuit Federated Church in Cotuit, MA.
Lamarche has released a statement that defends the rights of gay couples to marry. To sum up, she says:
- Those - such as Prejean, who said her answer was "biblically correct" - that cite the Bible in their anti-gay marriage stance are simply picking and choosing a passage or two that appears to back up their beliefs.
However, the same Book (Leviticus) that claims "lying with men" is an "abomination," condemns the act of eating shrimp and lobster together, as well as wearing material woven of two kinds of material, in the same exact way.
- Therefore, while it's impossible to interpret the Bible literally and live one's life according to every passage, it's quite possible - nay, encouraged - to live one's life according to what Christians believe God to represent: love, for all people, especially outcasts.
Makes perfect sense to us.
FOLLOW THIS ARTICLE'S JUMP TO READ LAMARCHE'S FULL STATEMENT AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF IT.
"As a pastor and a former Miss California, I am often asked to interpret what the Word of God has to say on a particular subject. I am quite confident that God prefers that we human beings stick to speaking for ourselves. And yet there are occasions when God’s Word is used as a weapon, and I feel compelled to speak.
In the past few days, much has been made of the words of Miss California USA, Carrie Prejean. She stated that marriage is between a man and a woman. I write not in response to her opinion, but rather about her comments that followed: that the Bible condones her words. She said, 'It's not about being politically correct, it's about being biblically correct.' While this sentiment is shared by many who seek to condemn gay people and gay marriage, citing pieces of the Bible to further one’s own prejudice fails to meet the Bible on its own terms.
Most people seeking to condemn gay people point to the Book of Leviticus, where we read that men lying with men is an abomination. However, we rarely hear of other verses found in the book of Leviticus that are equally challenging. For example, Leviticus also tells us that eating shrimp and lobster is an abomination. And that a person should not wear material woven of two kinds of material—an impossible mandate for a pageant contestant!
In Paul’s letter to the community in Corinth we read, ‘For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church….’ And yet these words have not prevented Christian denominations from ordaining women, such as myself. Sadly, the Bible has been used to further prejudice throughout history. We have used it to permit ourselves to enslave people; to conquer and kill; and to denigrate the earth.
The truth is that it is difficult to know for sure the intentions of the biblical authors, but we do know something about God. Those of us who know God through Jesus of Nazareth know that he went to great lengths to express God’s love to people who were labeled as outcasts. He spent time with children, prostitutes, and lepers, all of whom were labeled as outside of the grasp of the Holy. As we continue to seek God’s vision for us as a nation grounded in a love for justice, I pray that we might move closer to the cause of grace.”
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March 4th, 2010 6:01 AM
However beutifull she(nicole lamarche) may look,God doesn't give her authority and allow her to teach men.Yeah perhaps shee can teach sissy gay men-who seems to be overjoyed by this female 'pastor'.yeah you are all soooo hoooly,i can't breath,please forgive this 'idiot'
May 13th, 2009 7:11 PM
As a minister, she should know the the New Testament also condemns homosexuality in a number of versers.
May 4th, 2009 5:04 PM
This is ridiculous. By saying that marriage should be "opposite", Carrie Prejean is opposing one portion of hard-working taxpaying American citizens' right to marry. She shouldn't be able to use "free speech" to spread her bigotry. This is bigotry disguised as religious truth, just like it was before interracial marriage was legalized.
Keep Christianity in the Church and out of the Courthouse!
May 3rd, 2009 12:30 AM
Kitt - I am Catholic too and what you say about "being" catholic is wrong! or a half truth. Yes, the cAtholic faith does follow the Bible and we can judge certain actions based on how on sexuality is used. Geez, did you not study your catechism? What you say would open the door for pedophiles.
Kitt, with all due respect, are you saved? Has Jesus come in your heart? or are you just hiding behind the culture of being catholic?
May 1st, 2009 4:41 PM
Nicole Lamarche has smoked out every bigot with a Sunday-school's worth of Bible education. Jesus was about personal salvation, and by personal I mean strictly HIS salvation. He rejected the teachings of his time and discovered his own divinity. Anyone who looks to a 2000+ year old book as their soul source for morality has lost touch with reality; their own personal reality. To my way of thinking gays, lesbians and transexuals are more christ-like than many supposed christians. They have rejected popular convention, sometimes at threat of their lives, to honor their own divine truth. Not a truth that was given to them bound in leather, but an anguishing truth- cried over, and sometimes bled for. Do you think scripture has any chance against that kind of truth?
April 30th, 2009 10:22 PM
The deeper truth is that we are all to live in the spirit anyway and deny the flesh, straight or not, Galatians 5. We are to bear fruit of the spirit by living in the spirit. Paul says that it would be best if we did not get married at all and just lived in the spirit, but if you burn hot, to get married (man and wife). We are supposed to pray unceasingly. Prayer is living in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit will only abide in us if we keep our bodies (temples) clean...if we live in the Spirit and obey God's commandments and live a clean, pure, spiritual life, we will go to heaven. Keep your eye on Jesus and the Kingdom and forget living in the flesh, married or otherwise. Unmarried straight people also need to stay clear of fornication, and drunkards need to stop drinking, and all strife needs to go away... we are all called to live in the spirit and deny our flesh and reject sin. The call from Jesus is for all of us... no discrimination. We are either holy or not. Christians who remain ho
April 28th, 2009 11:35 AM
Sara,
WE love YOU. But WE hate YOUR sin.
YOUR sins on murder, violence, rape, degradation, humiliation and dehumanization of Gays & Lesbians seems FAR worse than MY sin of love for a person with matching genitals.
STOP THIS NONSENSE!!! We hate YOUR sin. YOUR sin costs Gays & Lesbians their hapiness and OFTEN their very LIVES.
STOP THIS NONSENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 28th, 2009 11:17 AM
The IS no God, other than those WE create. The Bible was written by man to serve MAN'S agenda.
When will you silly fools wake up and realize that your silly 'Gods' cost this world FAR too greatly?
WHEN?
Freedom OF Religion MUST include Freedom FROM it, as well. You dolts.
April 27th, 2009 10:08 AM
God destroyed a nation for their immorality... so she can try to justify this all she wants...
April 27th, 2009 10:06 AM
Carrie said nothing about not "loving" them... love the sinner not the sin... Carrie was simply saying that she believes that marriage should be between a man and a woman... she said NOTHING about being anti-gay or that they weren't allowed to "be" gay... come on now...