Rios to give keynote speech at AFTAH fundraising banquet Nov. 16

FOX News Contributor and stellar Christian culture warrior Sandy Rios will be the keynote speaker at AFTAH’s annual banquet Saturday, Nov. 16, at Christian Liberty Academy in Arlington Heights, IL.

SAVE THE DATE (Nov. 16): We at AFTAH are very excited to have Chicago’s longtime and beloved talk show host, Sandy Rios, as the keynote speaker at our annual Americans For Truth banquet Saturday, Nov. 16. Our banquet host, as always, is Christian Liberty Academy in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Please save the date. Tickets are just $20/person in advance or $25 at the door.

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Folks, it is always a pleasure and a privilege for me to sit down with my good friend (and former boss) Sandy Rios for an interview, which I did Tuesday, as a guest on her “Sandy Rios in the Morning” show on American Family Radio (AFR Talk) network. (AFR is part of Don Wildmon’s wonderful organization, American Family Association.) In this interview [click HERE to listen] with Sandy — who is also a FOX News Contributor and the vice-president of Family-Pac Federal — we discuss media distortions of the pope’s recent comments about not judging “gay people.” I point out that the pope did not disavow but actually affirmed Catholic teaching, which proscribes ALL pro-homosexual advocacy and legislation. In fact, Pope Francis specifically stated that “the problem is lobbying by this [sexual] orientation” and compared that to lobbying on the basis of a greedy “orientation.” I tell Sandy:

The last thing that the Catholic Church needs is more homosexual priests…. The devastation that they wrought — the whole penetration of the Church [by] homosexual pederasts [who] got into the church ….by [relaxing] the rules to get in [the priesthood]… They molested boys and teenagers [which is consistent with] …the whole history of homosexuality and pederasty…Then they covered up the pederasty. They moved these priests around. And now the same homosexual activists say, “Well, you can’t believe the Catholic Church because they harbored pedophilia!” So homosexuality has done incredible devastation to this Church…But you listen to homosexual activists and it’s like they don’t acknowledge that. It’s so bizarre…Homosexual activists never take responsibility for their own behavior and the repercussions from it.

Rios agrees and notes that the “homosexual activist movement …is very narcissistic. Everything is about them….”

Next we discuss homosexual activist strategy (basically, more lawsuits) following the Supreme Court’s landmark rulings that cleared the way for recognition of homosexuality-based “marriages” by the federal government, and in California despite that state’s Prop 8 vote. Later, former homosexual Christopher Doyle, a former homosexual and director of International Healing Foundation, discusses “Ex-Gay Pride Month” and his take on why Exodus International leaders Alan Chambers and Randy Thomas brought about the downfall of that “ex-gay” umbrella organization.

Please mark your calendars for November 16 and save the date for our banquet with Sandy Rios. You will not want to miss this! As usual we are  keeping the cost low — $20 per person in advance or $25 at the door — so plan on bringing some friends. — Peter LaBarbera, AFTAH

HOW TO LISTEN: This is an mp3 file, supported in most operating systems by Windows Media Player, Quick Time and/or I-Tunes.  Real Player is not supported and there may be difficulty when attempting to listen with it. Left click once on the link below to play.  (Please be patient, depending upon the speed of your internet connection it may take a moment to load.)  OR right click the link then “save target as” to download the whole show.

Pete LaBarbera & Chris Doyle with Sandy Rios in the Morning, AFR, 7-30-13

Even FOX News is biased in favor of homosexual “marriage”

Shepard Smith has demonstrated his pro-homosexual bias on air as a FOX News anchor.

The following Skype interview by America’s Survival founder Cliff Kincaid with AFTAH President Peter LaBarbera aired on AS’s Roku channel June 26, 2013. The two discuss the Supreme Court’s striking down of Section 3 of DOMA and the Court’s Prop 8 ruling. In discussing the media’s strong pro-“gay” bias, LaBarbera reports that a major Pew Research Center study of media coverage on homosexual “marriage” found that even FOX News’ reporting was biased in favor of “same-sex marriage.”

Kincaid then reveals that veteran FOX News anchor Shepard Smith has for the third year in a row been listed (along with Matt Drudge) in the homosexual magazine OUT‘s “Power 50” list of the 50 most powerful homosexuals in America. (Smith is not publicly homosexual, nor is Drudge — but neither was CNN’s Anderson Cooper when he was similarly listed for years by OUT — only to “come out” as a public homosexual last year.)

Kincaid also discusses Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan’s alleged lesbianism, and LaBarbera describes the rise of a new “ex-gay” Christian umbrella group (Restored Hope Network) that replaces the now defunct Exodus International — which cravenly abandoned its defining mission of helping men and women abandon homosexuality. You can watch the interview on America’s Survival’s YouTube channel here: http://youtu.be/Si8SuFujq0M

Folks, here’s a clip from my appearance June 20, 2013, on American Family Radio’s “Focus Point with Bryan Fischer,” discussing the implosion of Exodus International under Alan Chambers and the rise of Restored Hope Network in its place. Click HERE to watch it on YouTube. Beneath the video (after the jump) is Restored Hope’s response to the closure of Exodus. — Peter LaBarbera, AFTAH

Statement from Restored Hope Network:

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The institutional failure of Exodus International — under the tragically unbiblical leadership of Alan Chambers (above) — has nothing to do with God not being able to help homosexuals (like all sinners) change. A new Christian umbrella group for people overcoming homosexuality, sexual sin and gender confusion — Restored Hope Network — has risen up to take Exodus’ place. Several former Exodus ministry leaders have already joined Restored Hope.

“The point is that the language of ‘sexual orientation’ is an imposition today on much of what the Bible says about sexuality.” — Rev. Mark Creech

OKLAHOMA CITY — The following is a long excerpt from an outstanding column by Rev. Mark Creech, published June 22 by Renew America. Some of my comments on Exodus International’s stunning collapse are quoted in the piece. Exodus imploded because its Executive Director, Alan Chambers, and his staff succumbed — in a very cult-like way — to bad theology (see Prof. Rob Gagnon’s report critiquing Chambers’ “cheap grace” errors HERE). Chambers was talking and acting more and more like a pro-homosexuality activist — odd behavior for a supposed Christian leader. But what Creech’s article alludes to is that the modern semantics surrounding the “homosexuality debate” — sexual orientation, gay, homophobia, gender identity, marriage equality, etc. — are built on worldly concepts that run contrary to Scripture.

In future posts I will describe my wonderful and moving experience here in the great state of Oklahoma attending the annual conference of Restored Hope Network (RHN) — which God raised up to do the noble, life changing ministry work that Exodus once did. (Several Exodus-affiliated “ex-gay” ministries already have joined Restored Hope, and others soon will follow.) Know this: Exodus’ and Chambers’ downfall — though a momentary propaganda boon for deceitful, often vicious, homosexual militants like Wayne Besen [he “applauds” Alan HERE]– is only an institutional failure, driven by foolish pride. The timely rise in its stead of Restored Hope shows that Jesus Christ is still very much in the business of redeeming and radically transforming sinners — and of course that includes men, women and young people caught up in the sin of homosexual behavior.

May we all pray that the Lord will bless Restored Hope Network abundantly. You can find out more about them HERE and financially support RHN HERE. Rev. Creech’s full column can be found HERE. — Peter LaBarbera, AFTAH

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Exodus International Flees the Promised Land

By Rev. Mark H. Creech

It is considered a landmark announcement, proof that the cultural winds are shifting in favor of the acceptance of homosexuality by the evangelical community. Exodus International, a ministry devoted to helping people overcome same-sex attractions is shutting down. Alan Chambers, the ministry’s president, is apologizing for much of the hurt he believes the ministry has caused the LGBT community.

Chambers, who now rejects the view that sexual orientation can be changed through the Gospel, wrote that he believes there is a sense in which his apology is for the whole church. “[I]f the church is a body, with many members being connected to the whole, then I believe that when one of us does right we all do right, and when one of us does wrong we all do wrong,” he said. “We have done wrong, and I stand with many others who now recognize the need to offer apologies and make things right.” [1]

But Russell Moore, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention takes umbrage with Chambers’ apology, arguing: “I think there is a tendency to see Exodus folding as a parable of Christian capitulation and ethic. That is not what is happening. Instead what you have is an organization that has some confusion about its mission and purpose…What is not happening here, is an evangelical revision of a biblical sexual ethic.” [2]

Peter LaBarbera, who leads Americans for Truth About Homosexuality, would agree with Moore. When OneNewsNow recently asked LaBarbera about Exodus shutting down, he said, “I think Alan Chambers, who basically ruined the organization, had no choice because the affiliates were leaving. All the people who support the truth that homosexuals can change and overcome this perversion through Jesus Christ were leaving Exodus.” [3]

LaBarbera, who called Exodus’ closing one of the greatest tragedies he had witnessed in the pro-family movement, also shared where he believes the ministry made its fatal mistake. He said, “Homosexuality is about behavior, and behaviors can be changed with the help of God and through Christ…That’s what Exodus used to be about. But once they started talking about so called ‘gay sexual orientation,’ as if this is the inherent state of somebody’s being, they got in trouble.” [4]

LaBarbera makes a critical point that raises a fundamental question: Is the concept of “sexual orientation” biblical? It is my contention that this expression, which finds its source in modern psychology and is so easily bandied about, doesn’t have a biblical leg to stand on.

Former lesbian Anne Paulk is among the speakers at the Restored Hope Network conference in Oklahoma City June 21-22.

The following release was issued May 7, 2013 by Restored Hope Network, on Christian Newswire. RHN was formed as a biblically faithful alternative to the wayward Exodus International, which — under Alan Chambers’ failed leadership — increasingly has adopted a pro-“gay” (activist) mindset. That includes Exodus’ bizarre and gratuitious refusal to take a public position against homosexual “marriage” — as a supposed Christian organization.

Americans For Truth About Homosexuality (AFTAH) urges Christians and all who believe that people can overcome destructive lifestyles to support RHN with their prayers, efforts and finances.  Furthermore, we applaud all Christian ministries that have severed their relationship with Exodus: Christianity and homosexualist ideology do not mix, which is to say: faithful Christianity and sin do not mix. — Peter LaBarbera, AFTAH

Courageous Christian Leaders Stand with Restored Hope Network

Exodus leader Alan Chambers works directly with “gay” activists to undermine pro-family Christians

John and Anne Paulk — on the cover of Newsweek magazine in 1998. Recently, Paulk renounced the “ex-gay” movement that he once led. Anne, however, has stayed faithful and is now involved with Restored Hope Network, which has risen up in response to Exodus International’s “gay”-affirming turn away biblical truth. See current photo of John Paulk below.

“Exodus [International] used to focus on how Jesus leads persons out of homosexuality. Now Exodus appears to celebrate those who return to it.” — Andy Comiskey

TAKE ACTION: As you can see from Andy Comiskey’s piece below, Exodus International is no longer a trustworthy “ex-gay” organization for Christians who respect the Bible’s authority. But there is now a biblically-faithful Christian alternative to Exodus: Restored Hope Network (RHN). Although AFTAH supported Exodus for two decades, it has tragically embraced a “gay”-affirming ideology that distorts the wonderful grace of God and, ironically, pushes the defeatist message that most homosexuals cannot change their “sexual orientation.”

I have publicly challenged Exodus President Alan Chambers to find “gay” “sexual orientation” in the Bible; he has not responded. Moreover, Chambers now not only eschews getting involved in “culture war” over homosexuality — Exodus no longer even takes a stand on the blasphemous notion of homosexuality-based “marriage” — but he also urges other Christians to follow suit.

Although AFTAH would rather focus its attention on the aggressive homosexualist agenda, we cannot ignore the escalating confusion and falsehoods advanced by Exodus International under Chambers’ failed leadership. Recently, Chambers called me a “viper” on Twitter (get the Pharisee allusion?) following yet another episode that exposed his newfound pro-homosexual radicalism. In a shocking development that some are calling “Chambers-gate,” the Exodus leader stunned me and other activists by secretly cc’ing homosexual activist Jeremy Hooper in an email thread that included many pro-family leaders. (Details will be forthcoming; here’s one of Hooper’s pieces on the episode; here’s the piece in left-leaning Salon.com).

At the same time, Chambers secretly cc’d evangelical renegade and Grove City College professor Warren Throckmorton — another pro-family-“defector”-turned-pro-homosexual-apologist who, like Alan, is popularizing the dangerous idea that nearly all homosexuals who try cannot change. Talk about denying Jesus’ power (but more on that later).

Talking up “gay Christianity” — another Chambers shift away from truth — is unbiblical, but many believers are unaware of Exodus’ new radical worldview. Americans For Truth urges you to inform your Christian friends about Exodus’ pro-homosexual turn and ask them to support the fledgling Restored Hope Network however they can. Here’s some useful information:

Restored Hope Network website: http://www.restoredhopenetwork.com/

RHN Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/RestoredHopeNetwork

Upcoming RHN Conference (June 21-22, Oklahoma City): http://www.restoredhopenetwork.org/index.php/event/annual-conference/conference-information

Prof. Rob Gagnon’s 2012 in-depth report on Alan Chambers’ unbiblical leadership at Exodus (PDF): “Time for a Change of Leadership at Exodus”

Gagnon follow-up: “Being a ‘Simple-Minded Jesus-Lover’ Is No Excuse for Really Bad Theology” (PDF): click HERE

Andy Comiskey’s Desert Stream Ministries: http://www.desertstream.org/

Below is wonderful response to Exodus VP Randy Thomas’ fawning piece on John Paulk by former homosexual Andy Comiskey, founder of Desert Stream Ministries. We also have reprinted excerpts from the Thomas piece, “John Paulk’s Shocking Secret,” below. — Peter LaBarbera, Americans For Truth

Coach notes rapid desensitization of Americans toward homosexuality

Folks, Coach Dave Daubenmire of Pass the Salt Ministries is one of a kind. It was a pleasure to be interviewed by the Coach — a man’s man whose old-fashioned moral frankness may be out of step with today’s culture but is so much more refreshing than the pablum coming from some “Christians” and “conservatives” these days. I love Coach’s point — as politically incorrect as it is true — at around the 22:25 mark regarding what parents fear most. Also note:

• Coach’s comments on TIME magazine’s indecent “gay kiss” cover and what it says about desensitization in the USA (10:30);
• my comments on Larry Kramer and “gay” men who look back “fondly” on their own molestation (27:35); and
• the section on the sinister pro-pedophilia “B4UAct” website (“NAMBLA with a PhD”), which mimics homosexual activist talking points to advance the agenda of the “Minor Attracted People” movement.

Give me just 100 pastors like Coach Daubenmire scattered across America and you wouldn’t recognize this nation! Please support the Coach and his ministry. — Peter LaBarbera, AFTAH

PS. Let me anticipate a homosexual activist criticism of my comments — which of course will be distorted — around the 14:00-15:00 minute mark. I am not “reassured” (14:40) that homosexual men contract so many diseases related to their perversion, in the sense of taking some sort of heartless satisfaction from their suffering. Rather, I am reassured that Nature and the practical realities of the homosexual lifestyle affirm God’s revealed truth about this sin. As I say in the interview, “The real world is backing up what the Bible says about homosexuality.” This should further motivate Christians to lovingly share God’s free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ to people caught up in homosexual behavior. More information follows the interview….

This interview was published by NewsWithViews.TV on Apr 11, 2013. Coach writes:

“Peter LaBarbera of www.AmericansForTruth.org joins Coach Dave for an in-depth discussion of the homosexual agenda and how ‘marriage’ is just their latest assault on traditional values. Listen to this riveting, no-holds-barred discussion.”

To listen on Coach Dave’s YouTube channel, go here: http://youtu.be/aAXYzgdhEvU

Janet Boynes, who abandoned the lesbian lifestyle, is one of thousands of men and women who have overcome homosexuality. In 2012, LGBT advocates showed their intolerance by pushing for laws that ban ex-gay change therapy for minors.

From the website of NARTH (National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality):

Emergency Court Injunction Halts SB 1172!

December 26, 2012m NARTH.com

NARTH and several of our organization’s clinicians who are represented by Liberty Counsel received an early Christmas present late Friday when the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the California ban on change therapy (SB 1172) and granted an injunction pending our appeal. The law, scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2013, would have prevented our young clients from continuing counseling to diminish or eliminate unwanted same-sex sexual attractions, behavior or identity.

NARTH has been fighting the California legislative efforts to deny families the right to seek therapy for their children experiencing unwanted homosexual attractions for almost a year. It began with a month’s long opposition to a bill introduced by state Senator Ted Lieu  that went through several committee hearings, a number of amendments and changes by the legislature, and finally passage through both houses of the state legislature. NARTH sent a delegation to testify in those hearings and spent many hours contacting legislators explaining why we believe the bill would be both harmful and unconstitutional.