The Starbucks Coffee Co. is receiving a lot of flack from the Religious Right these days but it has nothing to do with sinfully delicious frappuccinos or iced flavored lattes. No, they're upset because the Seattle-based coffee chain just issued a January 24th statement supporting marriage equality legislation in Washington state .
Don't hate the gay? Then you must hate God instead - at least that seems to be the reasoning of some on the Religious Right. The head of one group, Pastor Steven Andrew, wants Christians to return the favor and boycott the company.
From a January 31st Christian News Wire article Christians Boycott Starbucks-Because Romans 1 Explains Starbucks Hates God:
"Christians are upset with Starbucks for turning against God, but we are glad to know that Starbucks doesn't pretend to be for Christians," said Pastor Steven Andrew, who is president of USA Christian Ministries. He calls every Christian and church to boycott Starbucks. Leviticus 22:18 says, "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.""This boycott is important because God blesses those who obey Him and judges those who don't obey Him (2 Chronicles 19:2)," he adds.
Of course, Pastor Andrew doesn't actually hate Starbucks. He just thinks they're trying to remove "Americans' Christian freedom."
"Why is Starbucks against our Founding Father's and God's liberty?" he asks. George Washington, John Adams and John Jay made the Christian laws that Starbucks wants to make non-Christian.
Pastor Andrew hopes large numbers of Christians will join the boycott.
"Starbucks can follow Satan if they want to. However, pastors are to help Christians. Are you on the Lord's side? Will you help the USA be blessed by God?" he asks.
Other Religious Right groups are also attacking Starbucks for supporting marriage equality. Liberty Counsel Chairman Matt Staver has been calling for a boycott of the company since last October because of their "pro-homosexual" stance and on January 30th, the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) warned Starbucks to "stay out of the marriage fight." The right-wing Christian Family Research Council (FRC) is also claiming the coffee chain "doesn't know beans about marriage."
In the meantime, the marriage equality legislation has been approved by the House Committee and its companion bill may be voted on in the state senate as early as Wednesday. It is expected to pass and be signed into law by Washington's Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire.
(Thanks and a tip of the Hatlo hat to Right Wing Watch for some of the links)
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