The federal court that struck down part of Utah’s anti-polygamy law prompted a thoughtful comment from Southern Baptist spokesman Russell Moore:
“This is what happens when marriage becomes about the emotional and sexual wants of adults, divorced from the needs of children for a mother and a father committed to each other for life. Polygamy was outlawed in this country because it was demonstrated, again and again, to hurt women and children. Sadly, when marriage is elastic enough to mean anything, in due time it comes to mean nothing.”
More liberal church bodies that have already started deconstructing gender and marriage logically will show more openness to polygamy. In fact, only hours after the Utah ruling, at least one Episcopal priest already has!
The Rev Danielle Elizabeth Tumminio, in her CCN blog, admitted the polygamy decision prompted a “little squeal of delight.” She knows the Utah polygamous family, the Browns, who star on a reality television program, “Sister Wives.” And she hails the “four parents who strive to model what being empowered people of faith looks like in contemporary America.”
Tumminio explains that “when done well, polygamy works because the participants have a different goal for marriage than monogamous couples,” which is “cultivating a community that together can reach heaven.” So she supports the “decision to loosen restrictions on polygamy because families such as the Browns exist who endeavor every day to live kind, healthy lives that are not harmful, not abusive.”
The Episcopal priest further opines:
“I also believe there are theoretical reasons why, as a Christian, it makes sense to support healthy polygamous practices. It’s a natural extension for those Christians who support same-sex marriage on theological grounds. But even for those opposed to same-sex marriage, polygamy is documented in the Bible, thereby giving its existence warrant.”
Polygamous families are “just like the rest of us,” Tumminio insists. “They dress like us, go to public school like us, eat at Olive Garden like us – they just have more people committed to one another than the rest of our families do.”
So long as polygamists are “cultivating loving, healthy relationships that strive to honor God and neighbor,”the Episcopal priest surmises, “I believe it is possible for even nonpolygamous Christians such as myself to support their calling.”
Rev. Tumminio is articulating what doubtless other Episcopal, United Church of Christ, Presbyterian, Lutheran and dissident Methodist clergy will adamantly acclaim in the near future. It will be the next justice issue, and skeptics will be furiously denounced for their blind bigotry. They will beckon us with clenched teeth to the purported right side of history, which evidently is a return to pre-Christian pagan antiquity.
Comment by gary on December 19, 2013 at 10:23 am
yesp, the reverend got it right – Satan looks just like the world and everything tempting in it. Amazing how successful he is at it isn’t. We don’t call him the great deceiver for nothing I guess. And murder is “documented” in the Bible was well but that doesn’t make it right?
Comment by Walter Hill on December 19, 2013 at 12:13 pm
“…polygamy is documented in the Bible, thereby giving its existence warrant.” So is slavery and a tenet that women should keep quiet in religious circles. Yet, we’ve managed to see the one as evil and the other as inappropriate and degrading.
Comment by John S on December 26, 2013 at 9:31 am
to say nothing of idolatry, genocide, theft, rape, murder and the list goes on.
Comment by Brent White on December 19, 2013 at 1:52 pm
Gosh, there are some clergy out there who are making your job TOO EASY these days. Keep up the good work, Mr. Tooley. I am an ordained United Methodist elder who stands with you.
Comment by AMPisAnglican on December 20, 2013 at 11:04 am
When then Canadian Justice Minister Trudeau (who was later Prime Minister of Canada said in 1967 “There’s no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation.” it was predicted that it would be only a matter of time until homosexual acts would be made fully legal and that same sex marriages would soon follow. At the time these predictions were scoffed off as alarmist and nothing more than the rantings of religious extremists.
When same sex marriages became legal it was predicted that it would only be a matter of time until other types of marriages, such as polygamy, would also be made legal. Again these predictions were scoffed off as alarmist and the rantings of religious extremists.
One can only wonder what next???? (Dare we actually say it? Incest marriages!)
Comment by Leah on December 20, 2013 at 9:36 pm
Oh please. Traditional marriage means nothing anyway when the divorce rate is so high.
Comment by Patrick on December 24, 2013 at 9:39 am
I find it interesting that the Southern Baptist spokesman said ““This is what happens when marriage becomes about the emotional and sexual wants of adults, divorced from the needs of children for a mother and a father committed to each other for life.” Yet, they fully support the use of contraception, divorcing the procreative aspect of sexuality which leaves the pleasure aspect of it only. He speaks with a forked tongue.