
New York Times reporter Jeremy W. Peters wrote a piece called “After Orlando, a Political Divide on Gay Rights Still Stands” which includes this nugget:
A Republican congressman read his colleagues a Bible verse from Romans that calls for the execution of gays.
Wow – that’s really terrible, isn’t it? Until you read Mollie Hemingway of The Federalist addressing this as only she can:
Come again? Wait, what? What? What in the world is he talking about? A “Bible verse” from “Romans” that calls for the “execution of gays”? Way to bury the lede there, Peters. You found something that no one else has ever found in two millenia! Though maybe you should go ahead and show your exegesis if you’re going to make such an amazing claim.Instead he links to a Roll Call story that makes a similar claim. That one is written by one Jennifer Shutt and claims that “House Republicans at a conference meeting heard a Bible verse that calls for death for homosexuals” before a recent vote.Another story by Shutt says it’s a verse “calling for the death of homosexuals.” The stories say that the passage “discusses what types of penalties the Bible says should be applied to those who are not heterosexual.”If you have even a passing knowledge of St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Christianity in general, heck, the Western canon, or Western Civilization itself, you are probably confused. If you have met a Christian in your life, ditto.Turns out … well, it turns out that reporters and editors at these two papers apparently do not have this knowledge.The passages Rep. Rick Allen, R-GA, read were from Romans 1 and also a few verses from the Book of Revelation. It should go without saying, but sadly doesn’t in 2016 America, that neither call for the execution of gays or for their deaths.
You can read the Biblical explanation here. Yet, the highly partisan Peters has yet to correct his piece. I, for one, am not holding my breath… but am thankful that people like Mollie are around to correct the record.
Peters hasn’t retracted/corrected this false claim or apologized for it. One reason why only 6% trust journalists. pic.twitter.com/oeA4iefX56
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) June 17, 2016
Can an editor at NYT step in here? This is appalling. Peters is disqualifying himself from coverage of this topic. https://t.co/JlHqCWvZCA
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) June 17, 2016
Religious illiteracy reaching new levels. NYT Claims ‘Romans’ Calls For ‘Execution Of Gays’: https://t.co/Xm05Fs7Xz8
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) June 17, 2016
Some male mainstream journalists are unable to deal with female critics, much less respectfully, and it’s fascinating to watch.
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) June 17, 2016