Soulforce Focus on the Family

[trionboy]

This is supposed to be a Christian organization. They could have accepted the letter.

[MIKECNW]

I don't wanna in anyway sound unkind to this family but it was obvious that they weren't gonna get far and probably would bebetter off mailing the letter.

[FiberMania]

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit he kingdom of God. (1 Cor 6:9-10)

[clay56]

Based on re-examination of the original Greek text. the part of 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 pertaining to "homosexual offenders" is increasingly believed to be in reference to customers of prostitutes which is no more reflective of all homosexuals than a heterosexual offender is of all heterosexuals.

[mheman1980]

Respond to this video... 

[FiberMania]

I'm sorry, but If you love Jake, you will warn him that if he doesn't repent he will probably be going to hell. That is not my opinion, that is what the Bible says.

[mheman1980]

@FiberMania that's not really what the bible says, for example the passage where it calls it an abomination it's where they were trying to grow the population and it was an abomination aka against ritual to spill your seed anywhere other than inside of a woman, even masturbation would of been an abomination - the bible was written in the times for the times and taken literally today produces the homophobia today, my employee is working tomorrow to catch up on work, should i kill her or you?

[clay56]

"I'm sorry, but If you love Jake, you will warn him that if he doesn't repent he will probably be going to hell."

Im sorry too. And Im never more prayerful for the non Christian, agnostic or athiest than I am the fellow Christian who second guesses our Lord on matters of ultimate judgement.

[clay56]

Though he is no minister, James Dobson led a primarily spiritual (tax exempt) organization geared to setting the rights of homosexuals back at least forty years. This makes Dobson an extremist in his own right.

[clay56]

Many gay and hetero christians believe God made gays the way they are. This is part of the message these christians are trying to spread. Another is that the Bible has been misinterpeted and misrevised to falsely say that God excludes homosexuals or expects them all to live celebate lives unneccessarily. If their message is true it may be christian gay opponents in need of God's forgiveness.

[mheman1980]

@clay56 exactly, the bible itself, those passages and others are outdated and merely were written for the times that they were in, the bible has been perverted for so many things throughout history, from keeping women down, to slavery and it's more recent, homosexuality

[FiberMania]

@mheman1980 The Bible does not encourage slavery and oppression. The bible merely chronicles these evils that existed among the Israelites who were constantly turning away from God's word. Homosexuality is an abomination before God and will be punished unless you repent. Repentence does not mean a perfect 100% turn around in behavior. It means to change your outlook and change the DIRECTION of your life while learning to hate your sins instead of loving them.

[mheman1980]

@FiberMania Oh but people used it for oppression. Learn your history. The abomination that verse refers to was for that day and the spilling of seed outside of a woman aka anything that doesn't have the chance of producing offspring to be an abomination. Why you might ask? Because at that time they were trying to grow the population. There's nothing wrong with a 5th grade education, well if you're a 5th grader.

[FiberMania]

@mheman1980 God killed Onan not necessarily for "spilling seed". Most honest bible scholars believe it was because Onan refused to continue his brother's family line by giving his brother's widow children.... In other words, Onan took the sex with no intention to fulfil this Levite law.

[imstillskating]

and that reason is to show His power to overcome sin working through a sinner!! I was born again (new life) and I am christs!! His battle with homosexuality might be hard to overcome but in our weekness we are strong, and all things are possible through christ, seek love truth and justice acccording to God and his word! Lord be with us!

[mheman1980]

@imstillskating he was born that way, there is no sickness or weakness to overcome

[imstillskating]

Likewise The family also did not obey govenment officials, and there heart is in the right place, but just like I was born into many sinful addictions that built up chemical imbalances in my head just like the gay man, God made Him that way and I like this for a reason.

[mheman1980]

@imstillskating they knew they'd be arrested and didn't mind, had i been there i'd of also been arrested for peaceful activism, homosexuality isn't a chemical imbalance lol

[imstillskating]

there is sin hatred and disobedience equal on both sides of this dispute, God be with us!! Focus on the Family did not handle this situation with love in the right way and they will be under Gods hand of justice at judgement.

[BrizyComics]

Does anyone know what happened to the family after they were arrested?

[mamimifista]

I don't know what happened immediately after they were arrested, but I know that eventually Jacob went on to head the 2006 Soulforce Equality Ride going to Christian colleges and military academies all across the nation and he and his parents still participate in LGBT activism.

[jzbelle03]

@mamimifista They are still going strong - check out Randi here (she is my Aunt):

Search for Consumer Vents At Target For Right-Wing Donation here on YouTube. They're relentless - you gotta love 'em! :)

[HunterMann]

It turns out that the main arresting officer has a gay son and in his own youth enjoyed the pleasure of guys & chicks.

Dobson sux a.s.s.

[nwaman69]

This is so moving. Kudos to this family! You are pioneers and teachers. Thank you for the action you took to hold Focus On The Family accountable for their wrongdoings! KUDOS! KUDOS! KUDOS!!! to this family from Mankato!

[AskWhyNow2day]

These people don't have to deal with Focus On The Family at all. They are just pawns of the pederasts over at Soulforce.

[StarcraftWasntHere]

Whoah I was just watching this on The Bible Told Me So,,,

[AskWhyNow2day]

I wonder if these parents know what their son does in the gay bars he visits as part of his sexual orientation?

Focus on the promiscuity.

[PICKtheASIAN]

How do you know he's promiscuous? How do you even know he goes to gay bars?

[mheman1980]

@AskWhyNow2day You're an idiot if you think all gays are promiscuous. I'll take a fringe standpoint and say that since you're a heterosexual you must rape your children. Why would I say that? Because a percentage of the heterosexual population does it so you must too. Also just because one goes to a bar doesn't mean they're having sex. Also to the types of situations you're referring too most straight men go to the bar to try to pick up a woman for sex, but that's ok, because their straight?

[mheman1980]

@AskWhyNow2day Nothing wrong with having 5th grade logic if you're a 5th grader. I'm assuming you're an adult. You should start being an educated adult.

[ouTandAbOut231]

This is beautiful. God bless that gay man and his family. Focus on the family should be shut down.

[AskWhyNow2day]

Hey pal, your son is going to suffer for real by the teachings and sexual behaviors of the Gay Community. Focus On The Family has every right to NOT be badgered by people that celebrate the vice and permissiveness of gay behavior.

These gay activists can go to any MCC Church. They have no right to insult Dr. Dobson and Focus on the Family. If they are so happy with all of the secular celebration of homosexuality they found in the worldiness of the psychological field, GOOD, then dwell there.

[Scoinsoffaterocks]

THis is boring

What is Focus on the Family

[StarcraftWasntHere]

An organization that digs dumb hate ideas into people's minds that "normal families have no gays"

They have anti-gay ads and they pull innocent people out of what they are doing and try to "convert" them into a straight christian....they are like jehova's witnesses, except they have a talk show....

[Scoinsoffaterocks]

The no gays is good thing BUT hate ideas are not acceptable. They are NOT true christians then. If they want families to be normal, it should be through love and through good example. Also, NO ONE can ever force anybody to to anything. Though the defenition of "forcing somebody" is that they have no opption. My question are why did he get arrested and was he forced?

[StarcraftWasntHere]

No not these people...I mean, this organization makes people become brainwashed. One employee came over my friends house while I was there. He kept preaching to us, and then started to come in his house under "constitutional rights"...Then was bribing us so we could join their organization. That is what I mean by taking innocent people out of their lives. The dude started making us repeat phrases like "NO FAGS!" we just pretended to understand, but seriously, that Focus on the Family sucks

[Scoinsoffaterocks]

Well they shouldn't do that. Forcing is a bad thing as mentioned in the bible. They aren't true Christians then like me. No one can force anyboby to do or believe anything. What they should do is to HEAVILY INFLUENCE them without crossing the border of forcing. They didn't force you guys but they abused the law and gave a bad idea of christians.

[ZegatonZ]

they the american talibans

[macrent2]

"Focus on the Family" having a family arrested! That is so twisted and hypocritical!

[AskWhyNow2day]

There is NO reason at all that Gay activists have to accost Christian organizations and institutions, Christians and Churches.

All of these people pushing the gay life and lifestyle are free to form their own Churches and organizations.

It is very insidious that they attack Christians and Christian organizations that have the Biblical right to oppose homosexuality.

These people going after FOF can found their own religion or found one.

Too bad they are being duped by GLBT activism,

[P80205]

Idiot.

[sammy1251980]

Amen, well said.

[donomarbmw]

Very simply answer for this family, the word of God says, God created a man and a woman, no where in the bible says that God created gay or lesbian. No one is born a gay or a lesbian, you're born a boy or a girl. I will pray for all of you who are confused because when got comes back all gays and lesbian are going to Hell.

[courtneypmbowie]

"When 'got' comes back"?... Seriously? When you are trying to spew hate and intolerance at least have the intelligence to spell "GOD" correctly. You are only repeating the untrue statements your parents and ancestors brainwashed you (and your parents) to say. Why not try to think for YOURSELF for once and not just repeat the same old stuff you happen to hear?

By the way, I'll be waiting for GOT to come back. ;)

[donomarbmw]

WOW, All the demons that are in you were able to get it even with the mistake I made. check this out: JAMES 2:19 Reads:

YOU BELIEVE THAT GOD IS ONE; YOU DO WELL. THE DEMONS ALSO BELIEVE AND THEY SHUDDER.

[courtneypmbowie]

There's no proof it was written by God himself and it's not provable, so who is to say it's not a big fairytale? It was written by fallable/imperfect humans which then got translated again by other humans and after several other translations (of what THEY thought it should say since many words/phrases cannot be directly translated into other languages so they decide what it means and says) it finally was translated into English by a bunch of "holy" people put on pedestals by OTHER humans.

[donomarbmw]

Do you have proof for what you believe in?The cool thing about this is that the Bible talks about people like you. People that will react like you to the word of GOD, and that makes me a stronger believer this is Biblical.

[Scoinsoffaterocks]

The translation part is correct but if you believe in God, wouldn't it be reasonable to guide people through his written word.

God lives in all of us though.

[Scoinsoffaterocks]

Calm down.

Just calm down.

[darcytirsia]

I did not know that GLBT were so hateful.

No tolerance, and no respect for opposing views. Just hate.

[stasis1988]

What about this video implied hate to you? They peacefully read a letter.

[CyrusNixes]

Thats so touching to watch. FOTF does teach others to be intolerant - complete manipulation of Gods word.

[irishbyrne65]

FOTF doesn't actually attack people. They just view homosexuality as a sin to be cured. This whole thing was a misunderstanding. If u ask me, the family should have just turned their backs to them if they didn't like what FOTF said. It's not an attack...it's a statement. Just that.

[CommentGirl2]

If it's just a statement, then isn't it the right of this family (and every family with GLBT members) to make a counter statement? This is America, after all.

[stasis1988]

It's hard to turn your back on something when FOTF is encouraging others to act hateful towards LGBT people, or at the very least not speaking out against it, which is far more their duty as christians.

[kixxx96]

God created love AND punishment for going against HIS will. God loves you so much you be punished.

[henrysinaga]

should I fly to heaven and slap Jesus face 5 times because his ambiguous teaching leave those with chickenshit brains like you misinterpreted his words

[kixxx96]

ready and study the word for yourself, by the way, Just say No to drugs

[kixxx96]

wrong, so wrong, God created the family, Not the gay community

[rpgboy22]

No, God created everyone.

[letubist08]

god created me, a gay man and he gave me a capacitiy to love, however my capacity isnt with a woman, its with a man, and im happy with that and myself and i know god LOVES me

[stardel6]

Jake Reitan is so right focus on the family is so messed up... The real meaning of being is a family is showing love no matter what..

[selfdestructstarfuck]

they are truly courageous people, but the sooner we accept that hate and ignorance exists the sooner we can learn to disable it's power from our lives. its not easy being gay, but let's face it, james dobson isnt going to pull the bible out of his ass because of this.

[Beaupedia]

My favorite video of all time. Thank you Reitan family, you are an inspiration to all of us.

[davidgbarry]

hahah i know... was some video

[gulsbyjag]

Where we are headed:

MOGADISHU, Somalia A 13-year-old girl who said she had been raped was stoned to death in Somalia after being accused of adultery by Islamic militants, a human rights group said.

Dozens of men stoned Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow to death Oct. 27 in a stadium packed with 1,000 spectators in the southern port city of Kismayo, Amnesty International and Somali media reported. The Islamic militia had accused her of adultery after she reported that 3 men had raped her.

[Thricearoundthecircl]

what the hell is focus on the family?? OMG!!!

[blackmetalqueer]

Focus on the Family is a right wing fundamentalist christian organization in America dedicated to repressing people and pushing their out dated values on everyone. They also use shoddy research disguised as science to push their lies onto everyone.

[sammy1251980]

oh really? the way I see is these homosexual extremists like Soulforce their perverted values on everybody.

[CRAZYBABY1987654]

It always makes me sad that being gay always has to be such a BIG DEAL! Why does coming out have to be so dramatic. No one chooses their sexual orenitation just like no one chooses to be male or female. We just are! I'm a straight catholic woman and I support gay marriage. All people should be free to be who they are, never be ashamed of who you are!

[FiberMania]

@CRAZYBABY1987654 You are outside the teachings of your church and therefore in a state of mortal sin. You are headed for hell unless you change your attitude, confess and do penance.

[D4rKNeSs13]

Focus on the Family is American Hate Group!!

[schmoodles]

put in a search for "why wont god heal amputees"

[Cosmo19640]

No need to try to have a dialog with Focus on the Family, just spit in their faces.

[zabriel13]

That's not our way Cosmo, we're about love and reconciliation. All of us who claim the name of Christ should want this. There is misunderstanding and fear, we don't want that. We have a duty to bring understanding and love. To lower ourselves to the level of those who show us animosity would deny who we are at our core, and the higher calling that we have heard and sworn to obey.

[volcomkyle152]

that is very true people should be able to do whatever they want

[eks56]

Focus on the money.

[chevychase]

Focus on the Closet Cases is more like it.

[volcomkyle152]

GODS A FUCKER

[latamep]

Why would you make such a broad, ignorant, uneducated statement? You must be broad, ignorant, and uneducated. Isnt that wrong for me just to jump to conclusions about you?!

[volcomkyle152]

how can you support an antiquated belief that science has proven to be entirely false and incorrect. i stand by what i said knowing that im entitled to my opinion and there are reprocussions for what i said

[latamep]

Its funny that you say that science has proven that. I'm a scientist and weekly in the lab I discover things that make me believe in GOD more and more. However, your right, you are entitled to your opinion. I am open to show you the exsistance of GOD if you are open to it.

[sniffinmead]

The fact you are a scientist does nothing to allay my doubts about your intelligence or credibility. You are one of the select few people who are stupid enough to be presented with evidence of a godless world every day and still chose to ignore the blatant facts in front of you. GOD DOES NOT EXIST. GET. OVER. IT.

[volcomkyle152]

you said it man

[latamep]

I would be hesisitant to insult my or anyone's mental capabilities. In my field I work and network numerous biologist, chemist, physicist, and scientist that all believe in the Creator. People choose to do bad things not GOD.

[volcomkyle152]

you can present me with all the evidence have and i will logically prove to you that god does not exist

[latamep]

A famous researcher once said a man that veiws the evidence yet still refutes it, is a fool. He said it, not me. Please see my comment above.

[volcomkyle152]

so let me get this straight. you network? are you a scientist or a retarded networker. i too have worked with scientist closely over the past few months and none of them believe in a god. why are these people wrong and your fellow colleagues right? present me with some real hard evidence instead of your anecdotal shit

[latamep]

I am not a networker. I don't think my time will be well spent trying to open your blind eyes. You have a hostile vibe in your comments and I doubt that you really do have a working relationship with any scientist.

[58hockey]

On this video, these people really don't know the word of God and what he really is saying in the bible about gays. God loves all of his children but he's against the actions that they do to there bodies , like men with men and women with women.. He talks about it in the book of Romans and in the book of Genesis .. I stand strong on what the Bible says and what sin is, but love the people and pray that they will open there eyes to the word of God ..

[skoal53]

OK OK OK First of all none of you guys were there. I work for Focus and for two days leading up to there march we had people desecrating or bathrooms and all around or campus. We allow gay people to come in and take tours we get them all the time. And most of the time everything is alright. But not this time.

[buff114]

Skoal53, How can we trust you when you can not even spell. There, their, or, our??

[sammy1251980]

well, skoal, you need to understand, that these people are not ordinary gay people, but radical extremists who make money by doing character assassinations of Christian organizations, and they do a lot of publicity stunts.

I still don't get it, why did they refuse to have a public dialogue with Focus, proposed earlier? What point were they trying to prove by acting this way?

[cgcsb]

was it as bad as the attacks, vandalism and harrasment that they suffered in their home? Those acts that were commited by focus on the family and/or their like minded associates

[garthrussel]

this broke my heart.....I am a born again Christian and I am so ashamed of the actions of Focus on the Family. Jesus LOVES us ALL. Someday 'Focus' will wake up and smell the coffee. GOD BLESS!

[VampySnoopy08]

hm...i think dobson needs to get laid

maybe thats why hes so unfair and judgmental

or maybe hes so against homosexual because he had a bad homosexual expeirience in his youth

(and yah i know i suck at spelling...its because my family sent me to a private school who focused on the fictional tales of the bible and not anything worthwhile)

[latamep]

You can love the person, but not except the sin. If my son is a child molester, I will still love him, but I will hate the fact that he molested an innocent child. FOTF and the Bible teaches that homosexuality is wrong, there can be no compromise on sin. Its not hate, its the truth.

[58hockey]

I loe what you said and I agree with you on everything that you say because the Bible teahces us that sin is sin and if we can't see that then the devil has really blinded there eyes

[sammy1251980]

btw, Kyle Pruett said in his book that it is important for children to have a father, just as it is important to have a mother. So, Dobson was right in quoting him.

Believe me, homosexual fundamentalists exist, just as Christian fundamentalists, Muslim fundamentalists, Jewish fundamentalists, and so on.

Who has broken windows of Focus on the Family? Or who threw a pie into Anita Bryant's face? Homosexual fundamentalists, at least they behaved like fundamentalists.

[peyamb]

we exist because we have to fight people like you. I pray to God for the day when I don't have to fight. Where being gay is no different from being white, black, male, female, old or young. YOU CREATE THE FUNDAMENTALISM.

[sammy1251980]

Sreya7,

Please, read the book called "Homosexuality: the Politics of a Diagnosis" by Dr. Ronald Bayer, a gay rights ally. It will do you good.

As far as these scientists who "denounced" Dobson, to me it's not any different than Simon LeVay (the one who studied the brains of gay men) opposed liberals, who were using his study, for advancing their political agenda. They claimed that gay were born this way, which he didn't say.

[sammy1251980]

Wrong? Aren't Soulforce telling everybody that they want to end the debate on homosexuality? That's so undemocratic.

[sreya7]

Homosexuals are human just like you. Why does it have to be debated if they should have the same rights as other humans?

[sammy1251980]

Nobody is saying that homosexuals shouldn't have the same rights as other humans, they shouldn't have the right to silence Christians who disapprove of homosexual sex, and this is what this family wants, and so does Soulforce. Why this is wrong? Because, in America, we have a freedom of speech. It also means that that private Christian organizations should retain the right to exclude non-celibate homosexuals, and Soulforce wants to take this right away from them, and this is unacceptable.

[sreya7]

FOF's opposses homosexuality based soley on their religious beliefs and they try to coerce homosexuals into embracing those beliefs. It's wrong. No, you don't have the right to tell homosexuals that you don't approve of them. As for freedom of speech it's for everyone and not just fundamentalist christians and if FOF has the right to attack homosexuals they have the right to defend themselves. Don't reverse the truth, it's fundamentalist who are trying to take away rights of homosexuals.

[sammy1251980]

Maybe, you need to accept the truth, that it's homosexual fundamentalists, like NGLTF, PFLAG, HRC, and Soulforce, that coerce everybody to accept that this kind of sexual behavior is moral and decent.

Sure, these liberal clowns have a right to say what they want, and they promote their behavior everywhere they can, on TV, in schools, in Hollywood, but so do conservative Christians, like FOF, by saying that this is immoral.

What kind of rights is FOF trying to take away from homosexuals?

[sreya7]

Sexuality is inborm fundamentalism is not. It's man made and rooted in fear and hate. So no such thing as homo fundamentalism. In 1969 the apa concluded homosexuality wasn't deviant.

NGLTF was founded in 1973, PFLAG founded in 72, HRC founded in 1980. Conclusion; those orgs didn't coerece the apa into accepting homosexuality.

Liberal clowns? Homosexuality is not specific to any political party.

FOF has distorted research of the following doctors: DR. Carol Gilligan.

continued:

[sreya7]

Gilligan told Dobson to "cease and desist from quoting my research in the future."

Dr.Kyle Pruett whose work dobson also distorted said to him "You cherry-picked a phrase to shore up highly, in my view, discriminatory purposes"... "There is nothing in my...research or any of my writings to support such conclusions (about same-gender families)."

Angela Phillips, wrote to dobson that he had "seriously misrepresented" her writings."

Dr. Elizabeth Saewyc, said FOF had...

continued...

[sreya7]

...twisted her study on lesbian teen suicide.

She also said "Unfortunately Focus on the Family has once again reported findings of my study out of context to support their fight against gay rights."

These are not the only persons who have had their work misrepresented by Dobson/FOF and who have spoken out about it.

Here's a bonus tidbit: Rep. Dick Armey (R-TX) said that Dobson is a "real nasty bully" who commands a "gang of thugs."

[chaddirects]

that. family. rocks.

[sammy1251980]

I feel sorry for that family, because they don't know what they are doing.

[chaddirects]

i believe that you are most likely a close minded individual, so i will apologize for you about not being able to control the way you are, and say that it therefore sucks to be you.

[schmeltz]

Sammy: Stop leaving so many damn comments and shut the fuck up

[sammy1251980]

are you infringing on my first amendment rights, schmeltz?

[dracine1981]

yes, how dare that family love their son for who he is and not listen to the lies that the unfocused on the family try to preach about.

[kaijuman]

And God forbid Dobson face is theolical opposition head on and actually talk to these people face to face.

To this day, I don't think he's met with them.

[weasle4u2]

another example of FotF flexing their Political Muscles in Colo. Springs. If any one does not conform to their 'Beliefs', you may be harrassed, and in this case arrested.

Just say NO to FotF.

[sammy1251980]

excuse me, Fotf were living their lives inside their private building, until these Soulforce activists came and started badmouthing them on their property. They don't respect people's personal space, that's why they got arrested. Not because they didn't conform to Fotf beliefs. Does Fotf go inside gay clubs and tell the patrons to repent? No. Thus, I rest my case.

[weasle4u2]

they may be living their lives inside of their building, BUT their "message" is forced upon the people of Colo. Springs. and the Nation. And they have "Protested" out side of Gay Bars..spreading their "message" and harassing the patrons entering and leaving said establishments. I have Bi and gay friends that frequent them and have been asked to join them at the Club, and witnessed the harrassment.

[sreya7]

FOF is open to the public for tours.

FOF has been speaking ill of homosexuals in various venues including over the radio for years. They have also spoke dismissively of homosexuals in "love won out" forums around the country.

You might want to re-open your case and reconstruct your argument because it's broken.

[sowkguy]

Go mom and dad! You guys ROCK! Moms giving up her oven mitt for handcuffs...NOW THAT IS LOVE!

[krissy4nik]

when did they say they wanted that ? theyre ones being arrested because fof are afraid of what theyhave to say.