Joe Stark: A Model For Irresponsible Parenting

Apparently, Zach's father Joe Stark has spoken with CBN News (Christian Broadcasting Network) about his decision to place Zach in the care of a "reparative therapy" program. One quote in the article, attributed to Mike Fleming, speaks volumes --

“The child services of the state dismissed the charges,” said Mike Fleming, a local radio host. “And I frankly think that the bottom line of this is that homosexuals are afraid that this does work, and they have set out to destroy “Love in Action.” I don't think there can be any doubt about that.”

Actually, Mike, there is strong evidence to prove that it not only doesn't work, it is psychologically damaging to both children and adults. But asking Mike Fleming to agree with me on something is like asking...well, like asking homosexuals to pretend they don't exist in order to satisfy a minority segment of the world.

This is not merely a Christ-centered ministry -- it is a program that misuses the foundations of Christianity combined with the language of professional therapy in an attempt to create a form of therapeutic self-help. The difference here is clear: Zach didn't ask for his parents to help him, he asked them to love and accept him unconditionally. Conditional love is not true love, and Christianity addresses that too, doesn't it?

I find it disconcerting that anyone would allow their religious hubris to become so immense that they are willing to sacrifice their own safety and security and that of their own child. I urge anyone reading this that to control your anger. Please do not contact his family. No matter how angry you are, acting out on your anger will destroy any potentially positive dialogue which can come from all of this.

I might just add that CBN did not contact me for the following quote:

“When you ask someone to live in a lie, it's a dangerous, dangerous slope that you're running down,” one protestor said.

They pulled it off of a local TV broadcast where I was interviewed. Thanks for not naming me by name.

Please don't be fooled: CBN News is not news at all. It is another small news organization with dreams of being its own Al-Jazeera, and it certainly is no better.

More on this story as it develops.

UPDATE: The CBN video of the 700 Club show can be found by clicking here. You'll need Windows Media Player to watch it (CBN discriminates against Apple users as well).