'Ex-Gays' launch effort to recruit 10,000 churches

Exodus International wants to recruit 10,000 churches to participate in ex-gay "cure" programs. Just what the USA does not need (nor countries like the UK, Canada, Australia and other countries where the US Christianists are working to establish footholds) is more bogus "ex-gay" programs. I truly hope the APA votes to ban reparative therapy so that semi-quack psychologists who are shaking down the ignorant and unwary for lots of money will risk losing their licenses if they participate in these dangerous programs. My dream case is still where someone who has been harmed by one of these outfits brings a law suit so that it can be documented in court that the programs do not work and open other ex-gay programs to liability as well. Should that happen, God forbid, Randy Thomas would have to get a real job rather than play ex-gay for pay. Meanwhile he is working to assure himself job security. Here are highlights from PageOneQ's coverage (http://pageoneq.com/news/2008/ExGays_launch_effort_to_recruit_100_0109.html):

Prominent 'Ex-Gay' organization Exodus International has set up an outreach network for people "struggling with same-sex attractions," Family News in Focus reports. Exodus' Randy Thomas seeks to reach those from religious backgrounds who fear opening up to the church or their families about their "unwanted feelings for someone of the same sex." The plan includes a liaison in each participating branch."

The vision," says Thomas, "is that there would be churches that people struggling with same-sex attraction could go to where they could learn how to be Disciples of Christ.” "A lot of times pastors aren't equipped in seminary to help people that are struggling," says Jeff Johnson of Focus on the Family's Love Won Out ministry, "and help them bring change into their lives."