Dobson's Lawyer Demands Gay Church Group Change Name of HIV and AIDS Prog

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

Right-Wing 'Focus on the Family' Demands Gay Church Group Change Name of HIV and AIDS Program, Says Metropolitan Community Churches; New International Initiative to be Launched at Washington National Cathedral on Saturday, October 29

10/29/2005 10:40:00 AM

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=55843

To: National Desk

Contact: Jim Birkitt of Metropolitan Community Churches, 310-625-4177 or [e-mail]

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The installation of the Presiding Bishop of a predominantly-gay Christian denomination took an unexpected twist today when lawyers for Dr. James Dobson's "Focus on the Family" insisted they cease using the name of their new ministry to persons with HIV and AIDS.

The Reverend Nancy Wilson is scheduled to be installed as Presiding Bishop of the predominantly-gay Metropolitan Community Churches at Washington National Cathedral on Saturday afternoon, October 29, 2005.

Wilson had planned to announce a 10-year initiative to be called "Focus on the Human Family." But on Friday, lawyers for Dobson's conservative religious group insisted the gay church cease using the campaign's name.

"Even though many of our views are diametrically opposed, apparently Dobson's organization feels the name of Metropolitan Community Church's new campaign could create confusion for people," said the Reverend Wilson.

"Our program features ministry to women and children with HIV and AIDS, compassionate care for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender senior adults, a focus on issues of infant mortality caused by the global HIV pandemic, and an educational program to create understanding about gay and lesbian people of faith," said Wilson.

"Well, it's a Goliath versus David situation," said Wilson. "As a relatively small Christian denomination, we don't have the financial resources to go up against one of the largest Right Wing organizations in existence, and quite frankly, we wouldn't want to invest our funds to fight them. We'd rather put those monies into our ministry programs that provide faith and hope for people," said Wilson.

As of Friday evening, Metropolitan Community Churches had committed to remove the "Focus on the Human Family" name from their website at http://www.MCCchurch.org.

"It's a bit puzzling," said Wilson. "The ministry of Metropolitan Community Churches is so different from that of James Dobson. His group tends to focus on one kind of family, what they often mistakenly call the "traditional family." In Metropolitan Community Churches, we believe that God's people find many ways to create family, and that includes gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender families."

Wilson indicated she would address the differences between the two organizations during her Installation Service at Washington National Cathedral on Saturday.

"Dobson's group is certainly within their rights to defend their trademark as they see fit," said Wilson. "They may be able to stop the name of our program, but they can't stop our ministry or our commitment to all members of the human family, especially those that have experienced rejection by other faith communities."

[Pacifist Patriot]

1. No surprise. I'd like to see them keep it and be able to tell

Dobson where to put it.

[Arkana]

2. Dobson's just scared that his crazy brainwashed disciples

might get a dose of ACTUAL Christian tolerance rather than the twisted hate his crapassed "church" spews.

[William769]

3. As much as it pains me.

I still believe in freedom of speech, even for him.

I can't believe though that he will be successful.

[Vinnie From Indy]

4. You should have heard Dobson swearing when he found out that a

different church was going to call itself
"The Lying, Piece Of Crap James Dobson Focus On Stealing All Your Grandma's Money Family Holy Church"

[RandomKoolzip]

5. With all that money and those acres of lawyers behind Dobson....

Can anyone seriously see this guy as an underdog anymore? A real Christian would turn the other cheek.

[xchrom]

6. lol -- that anyone would confuse the love from mcc

for the hate from dobson.