The Victims Fault????

Normally I tend to stay away from things that are perceived to be political etc, but I have been bombarded with requests for a statement on the Chic-Fil-A flap. Again I had NO INTENTION of making such a statement, but after reading a post on FaceBook, in regards to LGBT Youth Suicide and how it was the fault of LGBT parents, I feel compelled to respond.....

The statement, made on the FaceBook page of a Christian "Church" is as follows (verbatim):

Homosexual parents or to the parents who permit their children to become and/or practice the homosexual lifestyle, remember we live in a predominantly Christian country. You need to think what you are putting your child through. Parenthood is not about selfishness or sexual desires that go against the teachings of the Holy Bible, it is about what is in the best interest of that child. I want you to remember what I say to you here today and remember it well when you get paid a visit or receive a phone call informing you your child has committed suicide.

I was flabbergasted when I read this. How could ANYONE blame the tragedy that is suicide, especially when the person writing this is supposed to be a Pastor/Bishop/whatever label you want to call them, on the victim. It is beyond my considerable power of comprehension.

As a Pastor I have counseled many people of all ages who were considering suicide. This tragedy knows no boundaries. You find this tragedy in all classes, creeds, sexual orientations etc.

The sad fact is that LGBT people (especially youth) are driven to this point by people saying things like this. This is cyber bullying plain and simple. This person may not have singled out a particular person (as is the case with most bullies), but they have in one post bullied the entire LGBT community, and blamed the suicide of LGBT youth on the parents. You do not permit your child to become homosexual, they are born that way or they are not. I can only conclude from this post that this person believes that if your child turns out to be gay that you have some how failed? Or maybe they are advocating the North Carolina Pastors way of "beating the Gay" out of your child.....  I dont know what they were thinking when they posted this, but if they keep it up they might as well just join up with the westboro people, because this philosophy would fit right in..........

Pastor Brian