Thursday, September 21, 2006
Palm Springs Unity Rally Website Gets It Wrong
The Unity Rally website refers to my entry below about Dr. Schoenewolf's article on political correctness but misrepresents me and the relationship (as I understand it) between NARTH and Focus on the Family.
The website attempts to link the article by Dr. Schoenewolf with Focus on the Family by claiming that "Love Won Out, NARTH (the National Association of Research and Therapy of Homosexuality), and Exodus are all intertwined with Focus on Family." The truth is that LWO is a ministry of FOTF but Exodus and NARTH are not a part of FOTF. They are separate organizations.
It is unfair to expect FOTF to answer for the content of NARTH's website (which is where the Schoenewolf article is located) and yet this is what is suggested by the Unity Rally website.
Another claim from the Unity Rally website: "One of their own speaks out against the article justifying and condoning slavery. Dr. Warren Throckmorton, a proponent of gay conversion therapy, openly criticizes NARTH's publication of this article on his blog."
My response: 1) I am not a NARTH member and 2) I am not a gay conversion therapist. However, I do support the right of clients to pursue a valued sexual identity which may include assistance in addressing unvalued sexual attractions in their therapy.
My post below was a very singular critique of Dr. Schoenewolf's article. It is an error, in my opinion, to associate this article on the NARTH website with FOTF. Furthermore, I fully support FOTF and LWO's efforts to articulate a conservative Christian view of sexual ethics.
The website attempts to link the article by Dr. Schoenewolf with Focus on the Family by claiming that "Love Won Out, NARTH (the National Association of Research and Therapy of Homosexuality), and Exodus are all intertwined with Focus on Family." The truth is that LWO is a ministry of FOTF but Exodus and NARTH are not a part of FOTF. They are separate organizations.
It is unfair to expect FOTF to answer for the content of NARTH's website (which is where the Schoenewolf article is located) and yet this is what is suggested by the Unity Rally website.
Another claim from the Unity Rally website: "One of their own speaks out against the article justifying and condoning slavery. Dr. Warren Throckmorton, a proponent of gay conversion therapy, openly criticizes NARTH's publication of this article on his blog."
My response: 1) I am not a NARTH member and 2) I am not a gay conversion therapist. However, I do support the right of clients to pursue a valued sexual identity which may include assistance in addressing unvalued sexual attractions in their therapy.
My post below was a very singular critique of Dr. Schoenewolf's article. It is an error, in my opinion, to associate this article on the NARTH website with FOTF. Furthermore, I fully support FOTF and LWO's efforts to articulate a conservative Christian view of sexual ethics.
# posted by W. Throckmorton @ Thursday, September 21, 2006 
Comments:
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Love Won Out, NARTH (the National Association of Research and Therapy of Homosexuality), and Exodus are all intertwined with Focus on Family
Unless they've changed it, the Unity site has it exactly right.
They are intertwined. LWO is, as you note, a product of Focus. Exodus itself is up to it's eyeballs in Focus money. Full page ads and billboards don't come cheap, you know. Then there is that awkward little issue about who's a member of the Exodus Board... "Mike Haley, employee of Focus and Exodus Chairman" might jog people's memories.
I don't think you're being entirely clear about your relationship with NARTH either.
While it may have been in the (not so distant past), you certainly DID associate with them. Or are they in a habit of randomly inviting guest speakers to their annual conferences?
Unless they've changed it, the Unity site has it exactly right.
They are intertwined. LWO is, as you note, a product of Focus. Exodus itself is up to it's eyeballs in Focus money. Full page ads and billboards don't come cheap, you know. Then there is that awkward little issue about who's a member of the Exodus Board... "Mike Haley, employee of Focus and Exodus Chairman" might jog people's memories.
I don't think you're being entirely clear about your relationship with NARTH either.
While it may have been in the (not so distant past), you certainly DID associate with them. Or are they in a habit of randomly inviting guest speakers to their annual conferences?
I am not a member of NARTH but I spoke at their conferences from 2002-2004. I am slated to speak again this year regarding the sexual identity therapy guidelines. I am going because I believe the guidelines can be of assistance to many who seek a non-ideologically driven means of helping people with sexual identity conflicts. I have also spoken at APA, ACA, and other groups I do not belong to.
Membership in an organization does not imply agreement with all its positions or statements. That is a very simplistic notion.
It is a common error we all must be careful to avoid.
David Blakeslee
It is a common error we all must be careful to avoid.
David Blakeslee
# posted by 
: Thursday, September 21, 2006 5:20:00 PM
: Thursday, September 21, 2006 5:20:00 PM
I would not be a member of, give an address to, or be a guest speaker for an organization that publishes articles by men who advocate views like Berger or Schonewolf, any more than I would be a guest speaker for NAMBLA.
# posted by : Thursday, September 21, 2006 5:44:00 PM
: Thursday, September 21, 2006 5:44:00 PM
Having a philosophical preference for male-female parenting does not lead to a conclusion that gay parents should be viewed any differently by schools (or anybody else for that matter).
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