|
The Traditional Values Coalition (TVC) is an American conservative Christian organization that represents, by its estimate, over 43,000 Christian churches throughout the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., its belief is in Bible-based traditional values as a "moral code and behavior based upon the Old and New Testaments". The group considers traditional values to include a belief "that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that the Lord has given us a rule book to live by: The Bible" and a commitment to "living, as far as it is possible, by the moral precepts taught by Jesus Christ and by the whole counsel of God as revealed in the Bible". The organization was founded by the Reverend Louis P. Sheldon who is the current chairman. His daughter Andrea Sheldon Lafferty is the executive director.〔(People For the American Way - Traditional Values Coalition )〕 The Traditional Values Coalition has been designated an anti-gay hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center along with other social conservative groups: the SPLC states that they spread “known falsehoods — claims about LGBT people that have been thoroughly discredited by scientific authorities — and repeated, groundless name-calling.” ==Traditional values defined== In some ways, the aims of the group are those of a wider movement. Beyond this, it does not provide formal position statements but outlines the traditional values it is fighting for as follows:〔(Traditional Values Defined )〕 # Right to life (against abortion and euthanasia) # Sexual fidelity in marriage and abstinence before marriage # Opposition to homosexuality and "other deviant sexual behaviors" (see below) # Opposition to pornography # Patriotism (supporting national boundaries, the Armed Forces, political participation, free enterprise, limited government, low taxes, and personal responsibility.) # Opposition to "liberal" immigration reform (reform without first securing the U.S.-Mexico border) # Freedom of Christians attempt to convert non-Christians # Addictive behaviors (with opposition to gambling, the legalization of addictive drugs, alcohol, and smoking) The group then explains in paragraphs titled "Discrimination and Tolerance" and "Love and Hate" how it aims to deal with accusations that its activities are based on hatred of those not following similar beliefs. Without stating what action should be taken, the organization maintain that "Individuals may be free to pursue such behaviors as sodomy, but we will not and cannot tolerate these behaviors". Reflecting this, its stances against homosexuality and the LGBT rights movement are somewhat more confrontational than those of many groups with similar views. There are a number of smaller groups that take a harder line, most notably Westboro Baptist Church, which the TVC has criticized for many years,〔(The trial that wasn't )〕 likening it to a false flag operation.〔('Pastor' Fred Phelps Aids The Homosexual Agenda )〕 The gap between the TVC and other groups on the Right was described by Winnie Stachelberg of the pro-gay marriage Human Rights Campaign as follows: "They’re out there every day supporting discrimination against gay people on nearly every issue, and you don’t see that so much from other groups". The Coalition took this as a compliment.〔(An Overview Of Major TVC Achievements In 2004 )〕 By comparison, Jerry Falwell stated in his later years "Civil rights for all Americans...gay, straight, et cetera, is not a liberal or a conservative value. It’s an American value that I would think that we pretty much all agree on."〔(Falwell speaks in favor of gay civil rights - Conservative leader calls housing, employment for gays ‘basic rights’ )〕 The TVC will sometimes suggest that homosexuals pose a threat of child molestation; they "have long sought unrestricted access to children for recruitment purposes",〔(The Activist Supreme Court Does It Again! )〕 as well being more willing than others on the right to use the word sodomy in reference to gay men.〔(Canadian Homosexuals Have 'Open' Marriage )〕〔http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=271 Homosexual 'Day of Silence' Is Day Of Oppression For Critics of Sodomy〕〔http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=181 A TVC statement referring to the "Sodomy Lobby"〕 Historically, the group has called for "Cities of refuge" to keep AIDS patients from infecting the general population.〔(Traditional Values Coalition Produces A "Homosexual Agenda" To Fan The Flames Of Hatred And Discrimination In America )〕 Lafferty's response to a Gallup poll suggesting a tilt in public opinion towards gay rights was "Jesus didn't ask for a 'show of hands' at the Sermon on the Mount. We, His followers, should not ask America to vote on which of his teachings they choose to obey."〔(Printer Friendly: Public Evenly Divided Over Morality Of Homosexual Behaviors )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Traditional Values Coalition」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|