STATE SOUTHERN BAPTISTS URGE BOYCOTT OF DISNEY BAPTIST GROUP ASSAILS DISNEY AT CONVENTION.Byline: Eric Wahlgren Daily News Staff Writer Determined to mount a crusade on the Walt Disney Noun 1. Walt Disney - United States film maker who pioneered animated cartoons and created such characters as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck; founded Disneyland (1901-1966) Disney, Walter Elias Disney Co.'s home turf, the California Southern Baptist Convention The California Southern Baptist Convention is a state convention affiliated with its national parent body, the Southern Baptist Convention. The CSBC supports Christian evangelism and assists in the founding of new Southern Baptist churches within the state of California. on Wednesday called for its 430,000 members statewide to boycott the entertainment giant, charging that Disney has turned its back on traditional family values family values pl.n. The moral and social values traditionally maintained and affirmed within a family. . Gathered in Pasadena for the Protestant denomination's 56th annual state convention, about 800 delegates or ``messengers'' from across California passed the resolution to shun all Disney movies, parks and products. Wednesday's action came five months after the Southern Baptists' national organization took a similar vote in New Orleans New Orleans (ôr`lēənz –lənz, ôrlēnz`), city (2006 pop. 187,525), coextensive with Orleans parish, SE La., between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain, 107 mi (172 km) by water from the river mouth; founded in protest of company policies that members say ``promote'' homosexuality and conflict with Christian values The term Christian values usually refers to the values the speaker feels represent those found in the teachings of Christ as described in parts of the United States. The biblical teachings of Christ include ``We would like to see Disney come back to the old Disney that we know,'' said the Rev. Wiley Drake, pastor of the First Southern Baptist Noun 1. Southern Baptist - a member of the Southern Baptist Convention Southern Baptist Convention - an association of Southern Baptists Baptist - follower of Baptistic doctrines Church in Buena Park Buena Park (bwā`nə), city (1990 pop. 68,784), Orange co., S Calif.; inc. 1953. Food processing, the manufacture of aircraft, and tourism are important to the city's economy. and main architect of the boycott effort. ``This vote just brings awareness to California Baptists and other people.'' Disney officials declined to comment Wednesday, saying the company stands by a brief statement released in June after the first resolution was adopted. ``We find it curious that a group that claims to espouse family values would vote to boycott the world's largest producer of wholesome family entertainment,'' the statement read. Why has the media company that gave the world ``Bambi'' and Mickey Mouse Mickey Mouse Famous character of Walt Disney's animated cartoons. He was introduced in Steamboat Willie (1928), the first animated cartoon with sound. Mickey was created by Disney, who also provided his high-pitched voice, and was usually drawn by the studio's head animator, sparked such outrage among Southern Baptists? The Baptist group has criticized the company for allowing lesbian and gay theme events - often referred to as ``Gay Days'' - at its parks and for releasing, under a subsidiary, controversial movies such as ``Priest,'' which deals with a gay Roman Catholic cleric. Drake said the group also objects to Disney's policy offering unmarried domestic partners - including same-sex partners of employees - the same insurance benefits as married couples. ``For them to say they will give benefits to a homosexual partner is to condone that lifestyle as a normal lifestyle,'' Drake said. Gay employees at Disney's Burbank studio said Wednesday that they are confident the company will retain its current benefits policy despite any boycott effort. Other movie studios including Sony Pictures, 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros BROS Brothers BROS Benefits and Retirement Operations Section (King County, Washington) BROS Barnes and Richmond Operatic Society (London, UK) . offer benefit packages similar to Disney's. ``I think that any intelligent person will look at the company and see that it is in line with other entertainment companies and that the policies are a matter of good business and a changing America,'' said Robert L. Williams Robert Lee Williams (December 20, 1868 – April 10, 1948) was an American lawyer, judge, and politician who served as the third Governor of Oklahoma. Williams would also play a role in the drafting of the Oklahoma Constitution. , who co-chairs a support group at Disney called Lesbian and Gay United Employees. ``Disney is not at the forefront of this. It is merely in line with other companies.'' The resolution, calling for a boycott of everything from books to stuffed animals to the latest Disney movies, is not binding on individual Southern Baptist churches, which are independent and autonomous. Donald Miller, a religion professor at the University of Southern California The U.S. News & World Report ranked USC 27th among all universities in the United States in its 2008 ranking of "America's Best Colleges", also designating it as one of the "most selective universities" for admitting 8,634 of the almost 34,000 who applied for freshman admission , questioned whether the Southern Baptists' boycott is in the group's best interest. ``I think that any religious group has a right to pursue boycotts or make a pronouncement on any social issue that they want to,'' said Miller, who is co-director of the university's Center for Religion and Civic Culture. ``But Disney has offered more children's programming and more wholesome programming than any other studio, to my knowledge. I wonder whether it is good strategy to be boycotting a corporation that has been so positive. You don't want to attack your friends, so to speak.'' CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO (color) The Rev. Wiley Drake has led a campaign charging the Walt Disney Co. with promoting anti-Christian values. Tina Gerson/Daily News |
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