Vet’s Sister Speaks Out About Cancelled Funeral
Kathleen Wright, sister to Navy veteran Cecil Sinclair, is speaking out about the cancellation of her brother’s funeral service (as I reported in Notable News on Friday). According to Wright, High Point Church officials knew about her brother’s sexual orientation when they agreed to host the service, but backed out after his obituary listed his life partner as a survivor.
“It’s a slap in the face. It’s like, ‘Oh, we’re sorry he died, but he’s gay so we can’t help you,’” she said Friday.
Reverend Gary Simons says they didn’t know Sinclair was gay until they started preparing a slide show to be used at the service. He claims photographs supplied by the family featured men “engaging in clear affection, kissing and embracing.” Wright says that is a lie.
Wright called the church’s claim about the pictures “a bold-faced lie.” She said she provided numerous family pictures of Sinclair, including some with his partner, but said none showed men kissing or hugging.
Of all the things I’ve read about this, here’s the quote (from Friday’s Dallas Morning News) that really gets me:
The pastor said that he could imagine a similar situation involving a different sin. Perhaps a mother who is a member of the church loses a son who is a thief or murderer, Mr. Simons said. The church would surely volunteer to hold a service, he said.
“But I don’t think the mother would submit photos of her son murdering someone,” he said. “That’s a red light going off.”
I actually can’t believe the news services haven’t focused more on that statement. Why aren’t we seeing “Pastor likens being gay to murder” plastered everywhere? It’s hard to imagine that people still think that way in today’s society.
“Judge not, that ye be not judged.”
Arlington, Arlington Texas, High Point Church, Gary Simons, Cecil Sinclair, Kathleen Wright, Gay Man, Church Cancels Funeral, Gay Navy Vet
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August 12th, 2007 at 10:19 am
It’s news like this that makes me ashamed to be living in Texas. That’s just disgusting.
August 12th, 2007 at 11:13 am
That’s so incredibly sad.
We all deserve respect as human beings, even if the other person does not believe in our lifestyle choices. If there really were “offensive” pictures, the pastor should have talked to the family and asked that they be removed simply because, as sad as it may be, homosexuality does go against what some churches preach.
Instead, he chose to make this into a church-vs-gay issue. He’s seeing a death as an opportunity for him to speak his mind. That’s totally disrespectful for everyone involved.
That said, I wouldn’t want my funeral service to be held in a place that didn’t welcome who I was. The family is probably better off ignoring the hate and celebrating their loved one in a way that doesn’t spark controversy and feed into the idealogical frenzy.
August 12th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
You can bet if the funeral was for a priest who had been a child molester, it would still be held - most likely with an extended sermon about the need for tolerance and forgiveness.
Being gay is not a sin. Denial of basic human rights is.
August 12th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
I can understand the fact that the church believes that all aspects of homosexuality are a sin but I thought churches were suppose to be about love and compassion. What disrespect of a member of their own church and his family members.
I would deal with the emotions and then look at it in a legal state of mind. If the church is already printing flyers for the service then obviously papers have been signed. The church then is backing out on a legal contract.
August 13th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
It sickens me that things like this are still going on in 2007 in the United States.
August 14th, 2007 at 9:01 am
[...] High Point Church. Everyone seems to have a strong opinion on the topic. While many side with the family , others believe the church was completely justified in their [...]
September 11th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
As both a vet and a funeral director (RET),it is criminal ,in the worst sense,that this church has allowed this to happen.
There are 3 places where orientation
shouldn’t matter. In church,in the voting booth or in the cemetery.
September 11th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
As both a Vet and a Funeral Director,the church and its body should be ashamed.
There are 3 places where orientation SHOULDN’T make a difference..in church,in the voting booth and the cemetery.