DALLAS -- The Southern Baptist Convention Annuity Board is drawing criticism from some within the denomination because it owns about $14 million worth of stock in Carnival Cruise Lines, which is hosting a "Gay Days" cruise.
The annuity board administers the medical and retirement plans for the denomination's pastors. Its investment in Carnival already had brought disapproval from Baptists opposed to the casinos and alcohol sales offered on the company's "fun ships."
"The Baptists don't believe in gambling, liquor or pornography, or gays," said Don Allmon, a deacon at First Baptist Church of Dyer, Tenn., who hopes publicity will force the board to reconsider its Carnival investment. "When I say that, we love gays, but we don't like their lifestyle."
Allmon said most Baptists were unfamiliar with the investment but would be upset when they learned about it.
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