Colorado church cancels lesbian’s funeral

[Jazzy]

Colorado church cancels lesbian’s funeral with fifteen minutes notice

All lives should be celebrated equally.

That was the message behind Tuesday’s “Dignity in Death” rally at a Denver suburb, where over the weekend a lesbian woman’s funeral was canceled after a local church rejected photos used in her memorial video.

Friends and family of Vanessa Collier, say New Hope Ministries in Lakewood, Colo., canceled the funeral 15 minutes before the service began because the memorial video – which included one photo of Ms. Collier proposing to her wife and another of the couple kissing – was deemed inappropriate.

The church said the service would continue as long as the Collier family removed the some of the photos, ABC News reported. The Colliers instead opted to move the service to the mortuary across the street.

"They didn't want to edit her life," Jose Silva, a close friend of Collier's, told CNN affiliate KMGH.

New Hope Ministries did not comment, but the chaplain who presided over the service said that everyone involved tried their best to resolve the situation.

“The pastor of the church did not sleep well the next two nights,” Gary Rolando told The Washington Post. “He’s really struggling because he really desired to minister to that family.”

The clash between religious freedom and laws against discrimination of gay people continues to fire debate in the United States. Though there’s no word if Collier’s family will be taking their issue to court.

Thoughts?

 

[Evil Eye]

Removing those pictures wouldn't have changed what she was, so if they were willing to bury her the pictures shouldn't have changed that.

 

[Webster]

I'd take them to court....in a heartbeat; to pull something like that right almost at the moment of one's funeral...

 

[Jazzy]

I agree what was done was absolutely horrible. The question becomes, how do you sue a church?

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

Do I agree with what the church did? Absolutely not? But do I agree they have the right to set the standards in there church if they want no matter how much I would personally disagree with it? Absolutely yes! Both sides should have made it more clear in the very beginning what they wanted and expected.

 

[beowulf]

I agree what was done was absolutely horrible. The question becomes, how do you sue a church?

not as if they dont have any money......not as if they pay taxes, is it?