A pastor in Baltimore County is standing by his controversial remarks about Question 6 on Maryland’s ballot – whether to legalize same-sex marriage.
The Rev. Robert Anderson of Colonial Baptist Church in Randallstown, Md., made the statement at a meeting hosted by the Maryland Marriage Alliance, which opposes same-sex marriage. He quoted Romans Chapter 1 in the Bible.
“Listen to the last verse,” he said. “’Knowing the righteous judgment of God that those who practice such things are deserving of death. Not only do the same’ – but watch this – ‘for those who also approve of those who practice these things.’ If we don’t vote against it, then we are approving these things that are worthy of death.”
Marylanders for Marriage Equality which is fighting for same-sex marriage to be approved feels opponents have gone too far.
“We really think that it was very inappropriate for the Maryland Marriage Alliance to hold a panel where they used the words ‘worthy of death’ to describe gay and lesbian couples,” said Sultan Shakir, of Marylanders for Marriage Equality.
“That’s not my words,” Anderson said. “That’s from Romans Chapter 1 written by the Apostle Paul himself.”
He explained what he meant by including same-sex marriage supporters.
“Worthy of death in that they are promoting the lifestyle and they are promoting what same-sex marriage is all about, and that is what we’re standing against,” he said.