UNF President John Delaney: What Jesus might do on gay ordinance Read more at J

[Tacachale]

UNF President John Delaney: What Jesus might do on gay ordinance

Posted: July 10, 2012 - 12:00am  |  Updated: July 10, 2012 - 7:56am
UNF President John Delaney Provided by UNF
Provided by UNF
UNF President John Delaney


I support the bill to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation.

I am a pro-life religious conservative. I pray and read the Bible daily. I'm a rock-solid, loyal Republican. I am with Ronald Reagan's ideological tutor, Sen. Barry Goldwater regarding homosexuality: Live and let live.

The Constitution states that all of us are entitled to equal protection under the law and authorizes our government to pass laws to ensure that all of us are treated equally.

None of us can have special rights or privileges, but laws can be passed to guarantee equal protection.

This is why we have laws banning discrimination based on religion, age, race and gender.

This law does not apply to religious organizations, only to businesses in our chain of commerce.

It is no more onerous of a regulation than a notice of an overdue library book; it does not create a right to sue an employer. And it does not force a religious person to stop practicing any religious belief.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu: Pass sexual orientation bill

Jesus boiled down God's mandates to two: Love God with all one's heart, and love one's neighbor as one's self.

The sinners that Jesus most often criticized were the arrogant, the righteous and the sanctimonious.

He was appalled by those who hated their neighbors: The parable of the Good Samaritan illustrated this point. He despised the Pharisees who used religion against fellow men and created religious outcasts.

In fact, Jesus was well known for associating with such outcasts of society.

Most of the opponents with whom I have conversed are decent people trying to fit what this bill does into their religious beliefs. And nearly all of these conversations have been very civil.

But a few of my conversations have been with real haters. The haters seem to enjoy condemning others and sound a lot like the Pharisees to me.

Jesus never really spoke of sexuality, other than to condemn lust and adultery.

But He did have a revealing encounter with a group that wanted to stone a woman to death who was caught engaging in adultery.

He paused and then instructed: Let who among you without sin cast the first stone. One by one, the crowd drifted away, leaving the woman alone with Jesus.

He asked her if anyone was left to condemn her, and she replied "no." He then said that He would not condemn her either. "Go, and sin no more" was his final comment.

This ordinance simply prohibits the casting of a stone based on sexual orientation. Unless you want to throw rocks at a gay man or woman, there is nothing to worry about.

We Christians often ask ourselves: What Would Jesus Do? In this case, I don't presume to know. He professed love for all, while condemning the arrogant and the righteous. And He is not on record for casting a stone at a sinner; even an adulteress.

But if I were to guess, I'm betting that He'd be against the righteous and with the outcasts on this one.


John Delaney is president of the University of North Florida and former mayor of Jacksonville.

Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/opinion/letters-readers/2012-07-10/story/unf-president-john-delaney-what-jesus-might-do-gay#ixzz20Ds9KP1Z

[fieldafm]

We all can learn a lot from your dad.

Watching him on Channel 4 Sunday morning was a reminder on what can be accomplished with good leaders who have the courage to do what's right... and the wherewithall and pride to make their vision a reality. 

[copperfiend]

Could the Comments section be more predictable?

[ChriswUfGator]

The T-U really needs to do something about moderating the comments section, it's embarrassing.

[copperfiend]

Palease! Delaney you are a pure RINO!

As for Mr Delaney. As a person who voted repeatedly for you in the past, I would no longer do so.

This issue is not about Jacksonville. It is about an organized, collaborative, city by city campaign that seeks to destabilize the family. It is no surprise that JD fails to support the Defense of Marriage Act. His tirade is one of looking down on us citizens as though we are ignorant and he is the educated, enlightened one. Basically he can't hold to his position on this without denigrating the rest of us.

By the way, recent articles in the TU show that JD would have been better off improving education and the graduation rate at UNF instead of pushing left wing agendas.

Dear Mr. Delaney, please stop trying to throw this in our face. I am sure many people will comment and say religion and government should not mix.

Well, I am not religious, I am a Christian. Religion is defined as a particular system of faith, beliefs and worship. In actuality, you and the rest of the homosexuals and/or supporters are trying to shove your beliefs down our throat. Don't be offended when we take a stand and defend our beliefs and what the bible and Jesus really say.

Bull s.... from Mr. Delaney

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

The T-U really needs to do something about moderating the comments section, it's embarrassing.

The comments seem more mild than expected. 

Kudos to JD for jumping in the fray.  (Probably should have kept Rodney King out of it, though)

[JeffreyS]

Stand up guy.

[jcjohnpaint]

Sorry Stephen, but we don't want to lose him at UNF. 

[fsquid]

Why can't Delaney do both jobs?  One of the mayors of Charlotte worked at Duke Energy and was mayor of Charlotte

[cityimrov]

President Delaney is about the best damn thing that has happened to Jacksonville at the turn of the millennium.

I just wish like hell he would run for re election in the upcoming.

Here's the thing.  I find there are other people in Jax who are like Delaney.  It's just, none of them want to run for mayor.  I think most of them just don't want to deal with simple problems that the city always manages to turn into a small crisis.   I think that has a lot to do with the city council and the insanity they produce (thank you electorate!). 

I'm still waiting for Jacksonville's version of Joel Burns to make their appearance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax96cghOnY4

[jcjohnpaint]

I think Delaney has a lot of say at UNF and I think he likes it that way.  Nobody complains because he is doing a remarkable job.  So, yeah I agree!

[John P]

Here's the thing.  I find there are other people in Jax who are like Delaney.  It's just, none of them want to run for mayor.  I think most of them just don't want to deal with simple problems that the city always manages to turn into a small crisis.   I think that has a lot to do with the city council and the insanity they produce (thank you electorate!). 

Audrey Moran

[brainstormer]

The T-U really needs to do something about moderating the comments section, it's embarrassing.

I could not agree more!  There is absolutely no point in having a comments section if all it does is portray a very negative view of our city.  Even the positive stories about education, philanthropy, and downtown growth get ripped apart like hyenas tearing into a fresh kill.  I doubt they will ever get rid of them though because they generate so many site-hits with all of the trolls battling each other to see who can be the meanest and ugliest.