Gay activists shut down APA panel
It is obvious to me that Gene Robinson and his homosexual activist friends want absolutely nothing to do with anyone who disagrees with them.
Take this report from Julia Duin of the the Washington Times, for example:
The American Psychiatric Association suddenly canceled an upcoming workshop on religion and homosexuality during its annual conference here after gay activists campaigned against the two evangelicals slated to appear on the panel.
Planners of the symposium, "Homosexuality and Therapy: The Religious Dimension," originally slated for 2 to 5 p.m. Monday at the Washington Convention Center, at first ignored calls from some gays to cancel the event.
But when its star panelist, the openly gay New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop V. Gene Robinson, dropped out last week, plans for the symposium collapsed amid an avalanche of criticism from gays.
"It was a way to have a balanced discussion about religion and how it influences therapy," said David Scasta, a former APA president and a gay psychiatrist in charge of assembling the panel. "We wanted to talk rationally, calmly and respectfully to each other, but the external forces made it into a divisive debate it never intended to be."
An April 24 article on www.gaycitynews.com called the event "junk science on stage" and "psychiatrists allow ex-gay end run." A Wednesday piece in the Washington Blade, a gay newspaper, said the panel could legitimize "homophobic views."
"Conservatives, particularly Focus on the Family, were going to use this event to draw credibility to the so-called reparative therapy movement," the Blade quoted Bishop Robinson as saying. "It became clear to me in the last couple of weeks that just my showing up and letting this event happen ... lends credibility to that so-called therapy."
A furious Mr. Scasta said the bishop never spoke with him before quitting.
"I got one e-mail from him saying he thought I was being used by the other side, such as Focus on the Family," Mr. Scasta said, calling the reaction from gay groups over-the-top and self-defeating.
"This was supposed to reduce polarization, which has hurt the gay community. They are blocked into this bitchy battle and they are not progressing. They are not willing to do missionary work and talk to the enemy. They have to be willing to listen and change themselves."
"Anything But Straight" author Wayne R. Besen, who is also founder of the pro-gay TruthWinsOut.org, called news of the cancellation "terrific."
"This was a platform for conservatives to get the APA to reconsider its position on homosexuality," he said. "Scasta was being used by the religious right to offer them credibility."
In 1973, the APA removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders. It condemned reparative therapy in 2000 and endorsed same-sex marriage in 2005.
One of the two evangelical panelists was the Rev. Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., who was slated to speak on "A Pastoral Approach for Gay & Lesbian People Troubled by Homosexuality." He made headlines in March 2007 when he said on his site that gay people may not choose their homosexuality, a rare stance for a Baptist cleric.
The other was Warren Throckmorton, a psychology professor at Grove City College, an evangelical institution in western Pennsylvania. Mr. Throckmorton, who was to speak on "Practice Framework for Managing Sexual Identity Conflicts," also has a private counseling practice that mainly services married bisexual men who are conflicted about their sexual feelings.
Although he does not teach therapy geared to changing sexual orientation, he is sympathetic to it, "if it is compatible with the value system of the client."
"The APA program committee approved this six months ago," Mr. Throckmorton said. "But when gay activists learned about it, they felt my views on homosexuality are conservative and they didn't agree with them. So they threatened to protest."
Mr. Mohler said he was disappointed that the panel was canceled, adding that he was asked specifically to talk on whether homosexuals can change orientation.
"From a Christian perspective, it is impossible to answer the question 'no,' " he said. "But it is not a simple answer. I would have liked the opportunity to present this in a calm but respectful dialogue what millions of Christians believe about the reality of homosexuality and the power of the Gospel.
"It is clear which side of the argument unwilling to show up for this conversation," he said. "It is a tragedy the APA cannot hold a conversation on a matter of this importance without facing such internal political pressure that it becomes impossible for this symposium to be held."
Robinson is on record as desiring that 'all voices' be at the table to discuss this issue. Oh, really?
Catholic Church's Approach to Property Ownership
I saw this in the Washington Times on April 19, 2008:
Parishes ready for independence
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland is handing over property deeds to its parishes in a move to make them legally independent, part of a bankruptcy settlement the archdiocese reached last year with victims of sex abuse by priests.
Each parish will be reorganized into a nonprofit "member corporation" with a five-person board of directors.
The archdiocese argued in federal bankruptcy court that church real estate belonged to the parishes, not the archdiocese. The reorganization will spell that out legally.
The victims argued the real estate could be sold to meet settlement claims against the archdiocese.
Very Interesting!
Virginia Judge Finds That There IS a Division - 57-9 Applicable
The judge found that,
"ECUSA/Diocese argue that the historical evidence demonstrates that it is only the "major" or "great" divisions within 19th- century churches that prompted the passage of 57-9, such as those within the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches. ECUSA/Diocese argue that the current "dispute" before this Court is not such a "great" division, and, therefore, this is yet another reason why 57-9(A) should not apply.
The judge will now hold hearings on whether 57-9 is constitutional. However, an appeal is likely and may delay the final resolution of this case.
Not Exactly A Bible Study at NatCat
From HERE:
Film Screening: Rumi Returning
Thursday, March 6, 7 pm (FULL)
Friday, March 7, 7 pm
Free, but due to limited seating, reservations required by e-mailing cgjrirp@ cathedral.org or by calling (202) 537-2357. An e-mail will be sent confirming your reservation.
Rumi Returning outlines the key events in the of Sufi mystic and poet, Rumi. The film beautifully illustrates the life of the best-selling poet in the United States and richly communicates Rumi’s messages of love, tolerance and passion for God (who he calls “the Beloved.”) Sufism and the Islamic world of the Middle Ages are brought to life through portrayals of Muslim architecture, art, clothing and dance. A question and answer period follows the screening.
Peter Lee of Diocese of Virginia Pleads: "SEND MONEY!"
The Washington Times reports today that Mr. Lee bad-mouthed his churches for being cheapskates. Seems that the money is just not coming in. Maybe the change in the Diocese of Virginia's religion has something to do about it.
And to top it off, the diocesan treasurer said that the $70,000 needed to service the $2 million line of credit is coming out of an endowment fund. As we remember, the $2 million is used to fund the lawsuits against my parish and others.
If THAT doesn't have the faithful-departed endowment-givers rolling over in their graves, I don't know what will.
And The Final Jeopardy Answer Is ...
"It single-handedly accounts for the fact that the District [of Columbia] has the No. 1 AIDS rate in the country"
If you asked: "What is engaging in risky sexual behavior?" or "What is injecting illicit drugs intervenously" you would be wrong, wrong wrong!
According to Eleanor Holmes Norton, DC's non-voting representative in Congress, the reason is the lack of a hypodermic needle exchange program in the District. The Washington Times has the details HERE.
It is like a person saying "I keep fracturing my skull because I continually hit it with this big hammer" and DC saying that the solution is to give that person a smaller hammer.
When will people realize that the way to solve the problem is to change the behavior which causes the problem? Just wondering.
Quote of the Day
Yesterday's Washington Times reported on Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards' in-depth analysis of his opposition to the Defense of Marriage Act:
"I think we should get rid of DOMA; I think DOMA was a mistake from the beginning, and discriminatory, and so I will do everything in my power as president to do that," the Democratic candidate said in a three-minute meeting with reporters.
Asked by The Washington Times why the act is discriminatory, he bristled, then said: "I think it's discriminatory against gay and lesbian couples, that's what's discriminatory about it."
Brilliant, simply brilliant!
Episcopal Diocese of Virginia - Thriving?
Michelle Boorstein of the Washington Post reports HERE that the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia is "thriving" due to the fact that 16 priests are or will be ordained there this month. The diocesan calendar can be seen HERE,
PS: Michelle says that some of the new priests are "technically parts of other U.S. dioceses". So maybe DioVA is not expanding as much as one might think. Maybe DioVA was bringing in 'ringers' in an attempt to replace at least some of the clergy who moved to CANA. Who knows.
PPS: she also states: "The Episcopal Church has about 2.1 million members."
Finally, someone who is not inflating ECUSA membership!
