"The Truth About Hate In Michigan..."

Nonsectarian College Warns Entire Campus To Pray Against Impending 'Evil' And 'Ugly' Gay Marriage

David Badash

May 05, 2015

Hillsdale College just sent its entire faculty, student body, and alumni an email asking for prayer before the Supreme Court decides on same-sex marriage. One alum, an out gay athlete, is not pleased.

Nestled in rural southern Michigan lies Hillsdale College, a private but nonsectarian – not religiously-affiliated – liberal arts school founded in 1844. Some call it the conservative version of Harvard. It's also an NCAA Division II school.

Imagine you're a Hillsdale student, feverishly studying for finals and across your laptop from your college comes an email warning you to pray to God – literally, to pray to God – that he (or she) gives the U.S. Supreme Court justices the wisdom to not find a right for same-sex couples across the nation to marry.

Now imagine if you're gay and got that email. Or, if you have LGBT friends, family members, frat brothers, and got that email. Or if you're just a decent person and got that email.

Today, Bishop Peter Beckwith, Hillsdale's college chaplain and religion lecturer, sent that very email out to all students and faculty, including alumni.

Outsports' Cyd Zeigler published an excerpt from the Bishop's email:

Hey friends!
Just to give you a heads up, ugly things are happening in the Supreme Court right now. Justice Anthony Kennedy is seen as the "swing vote" and, if that is the case, he will have the power to legalize same-sex marriage NATIONWIDE! Yeah... I do not even think we can imagine the effects this could have on our nation, the church, and families.
So we are praying for God to give the Justices and the courts wisdom, courage, and discernment, for evil to be revealed and destroyed, and for a heart of love and sound mind.

(Did Bishop Beckwith really think that there is not a single person at Hillsdale who is unaware that same-sex marriage is at the Supreme Court?)

Zeigler notes that one of Hillsdale's "most recent alumni is Derek Schell, the basketball player who came out publicly and to his Hillsdale team as gay a couple years ago."

And Schell was not pleased.

"I've never been one to shut my ear to an opposing argument or point of view," Schell wrote on Facebook. "However, this is a step too far. I have tried to describe my college environment and experience to some friends and family and this is a good example. Imagine being a closeted, scared, struggling student and receiving this CAMPUS WIDE email (that sends to alums as well). I met good, kind people in my time in that little town in Michigan, but today I am ashamed, disgusted and angry. This is violence, hatred, and ignorance personified. My heart is heavy for my Hillsdale family today. When I put a ring on my husbands finger, I'll be sure your invitation is lost in the mail. Instead, I'll say a prayer that you discover some love, and stop hiding behind the fear of something that doesn't affect you at all."

I'd like to repeat one line in particular that Schell wrote: "This is violence, hatred, and ignorance personified."

Bishop Beckwith also happens to be the Delta Tau Delta fraternity Chapter Advisor.

NCRM emailed Bishop Beckwith asking if he believes, given his views, if he should remain so.

Bishop Beckwith did not immediately respond to our email.

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Lead respondent in the SCOTUS marriage case was the State of Michigan, then two weeks ago a crazed (so called christian) unlicensed mechanics who doesn't want gay customers and now this...

.  The truth about hate in Michigan - It's alive and well!

"Fear Eats the Soul"