Randall Terry: "My Prodigal Son, the Homosexual, Part 2"

WND.com ^ | 05-28-04 | Terry, Randall

[Catspaw]

Yes, Randall Terry's rehabilitation tour has started. Sorry--dumping one's wife for a newer, much younger model is a major transgression, and he has yet to either explain his adultery or ask forgiveness for it. He goes on as if this is acceptable behavior for a leader. It is not. He, IMHO, is in the same moral turpitude level as Bill Clinton.

[Psalm 73]

"I wonder if the son rejecting traditional values has anything to do with his dad trading in his mom for a newer model."

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
That's why we need a saviour.

[george wythe]

His explanation is that his marriage "fell apart," and that he had abandoned his wife before he started fornicating his current honey.

I know it is a lame excuse, but his sympathizers buy into anything he says.

[fr_freak]

The arguments against homosexual marriage involving children (having or raising them) won't hold up.

I could not more strongly disagree with Terry here. These arguments are valid, and I am surprised that he would surrender them so easily. If he, and others like him, concede these arguments, we will lose this battle.

Homo activists have tried to counter the position of marriage being reserved for the raising of children by pointing to all the childless (hetero) couples in the world and asking if their marriages are invalid. But that is a misdirection, and should not be conceded. The fact is that marriage is an institution, a structure that provides the optimal environment for raising children. As long as the structure is protected and remains intact, the proper raising of children is promoted. If the structure itself is destroyed, the proper raising of children is destroyed. Marriage between a man and a woman who won't or can't have children still reinforces that structure - of a life-long, monogamous union between one man and one woman - and therefore promotes the proper raising of children in general. However, the acceptance of any other type of union, such as same-sex, as a "marriage" destroys that necessary structure, whether that union intends to raise children or not.

Terry also points to the proliferation of non-traditional households as proof that we should abandon the argument for traditional marriage, as if the mere existence of these households in significant numbers is proof enough that secular arguments for traditional marriage are invalid. But this is a severe logical fallacy at best. Many of our social pathologies of today can be traced back to the increase in fatherless children, for example, and so these instances should be used to prove the case for traditional marriage, not argue against it. Terry's logic here is equivalent to saying that if enough people begin to murder and steal, we should just repeal all laws against murder and stealing because there can't be any valid arguments against those acts.

I agree that the moral arguments that Terry makes are an important part of this fight, but practical, secular arguments are just as important, especially considering that not all people who need to be convinced can be convinced by religious principles. But more importantly, no valid argument in this debate should be surrendered because it weakens the overall argument. Never give an inch in this fight.

[Theodore R.]

in the same moral turpitude level as Bill Clinton.

Also "trading" in perfectly good wives for younger models:

John McCain
Bob Dole
Nelson A. Rockefeller
William P. Clements, Jr. (former governor of TX)
Buddy Roemer (former governor of LA)
Pete Wilson
Bob Packwood


I'm pretty sure there are others too.

We all thought that Rockefeller had made this behavior "respectable." Perhaps he didn't, but we just kind of forgot about this sin.

[Catspaw]

but we just kind of forgot about this sin.

Not all of us have forgotten the sin of adultery.

[wardaddy]

dumping one's wife for a newer, much younger model is a major transgression

indeed...the kinder gentler sex never forget that one.....the biggie. I bet I can hardly go to a social function without witnessing a group of wives going on about Doctor So and So and wife #2 who is invariably much younger and was in his office..lol

I thought you were sort of anti- those who make moral judgment anyhow as a rule? Palpatine/OPH always pinged you and Poohbah to his railings against the Christian Right.....(damn, I thought he'd be back by now.) Anyhow....it is hypocritical of Terry, I agree but I'm not sure I'd toss him in the same cesspool with Klintoon.

[Theodore R.]

I didn't put EMK on the list, but I don't know if it was Joan's decision to end the marriage or his.

And I left out MA's second JFK because he went for an OLDER woman.

I didn't put up AR's Winthrop Rockefeller (Sr.) because I don't know who moved to end his first marriage.

Still, it is kind of obvious that the people have long since "accepted" adultery, and I was not implying that is the right thing to do at all.

[Catspaw]

indeed...the kinder gentler sex never forget that one.....the biggie.

You betcha.

My Mom never watched an Elizabeth Taylor movie after she stole Eddy Fisher from Debbie Reynolds. Loathed Ava Gardner (stole Frank Sinatra away from Nancy--the wife, not the daughter). This is just the beginning her of her "A" List.

It may be an inherited trait, but we neither forgive nor forget adultery. It's Nuke level.

[Sabertooth]

Gingrich should be on your list, twice.

Not sure Bob Dole belongs, though. I seem to recall his daughter made clear during the '96 campaign that Liddy Dole had nothing to do with the breakup of her parents' marriage.

[Theodore R.]

Right, I forgot about Gingrich. Still Dole did leave a first wife for a much younger one, but we don't know the details.

[wardaddy]

who was the Texas governor candidate who made the awful lay-back-and-enjoy-it "rape joke"

Clayton?....your Bob Clements comment reminded me of that race (1982?)

....one of politic's worst verbal gaffes ever....right up there with Butz's "loose shoes"....lol

[John O]

You know, I hear many people say they love homosexuals, just not their sin. I don't. I loved my niece who was trapped in the lifestyle, but I don't love all homosexuals. I resent a lot of them. I don't "hate" them, but I don't love them.

Love is wanting the absolute best for someone. I love homosexuals. But I also love the innocents that they molest and abuse and sometimes kill (Jesse Dirkhising comes to mind)

If it comes to a choice of letting a homosexual live and putting at risk a whole generation of kids or letting the homosexual die and keeping the rest of us safe, let the homosxual die.

Therefore I pray for them all. God, Please save and change those trapped in homosexual behavior. Deliver them from this addiction and establish them in a normal life. If they refuse to be saved and changed, however, kill them before they drag others into hell with them.

I love my neighbor, but if he attacks my children I will kill him before I will let my children (or other innocents) come to harm.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

I do not love the neighbor who attacks children. I don't. I think there is a misconception that "God loves everyone." God hates evil. Humans tend to define God's love in terms of human love; that is, we see it as an emotional affection. That's not what it is. God loved us so much that He was willing to suffer and die in our place. That is the essence of God's love. He wants us to be one with Him. But His love is in no way superior to His holiness. Purity is holisness. it cannot "tolerate" impurity or sin. That is why prior to the redemptive act of Jesus, God separated Himself from mankind.

I believe Christians should hate sin more than they do. I also do not believe in this "love the sinner" stuff entirely. We should act with kindness and mercy, always willing to forgive a repentant heart (though some consequences may remain). That is love in the sense that God loves us, but that is not love in the human sense as it is commonly used by those who say we should "love the sinner but hate the sin." We should maybe "tough love" the sinner. That IS the KIND thing to do.

Myself, I do not love homosexuals. I resent most of them and pity some of them. If they want to admit they are wrong then I would rejoice for them. As long as they continue to live flauntingly proud of their immoral acts, then I both want and need as little to do with them as possible. I would be lying if I said I loved them in the human sense of the word. I don't. I think we sometimes hurt our argument when we claim that we do. Liberals do not understand the concept of godly love, or even tough love. We just look like liars.

[Theodore R.]

It was Clayton W. Williams, Jr., who lost to the popular Ann W. Richards in 1990. But it was close, despite Williams' foolish remark.

Richards succeeded Republican Governor Bill Clements, Jr., not Bob Clement, who was a TN politician.

[ladyinred]

What a sad story. My heart aches for you and your sister. There seems to be so much anger and hatred in some of those who choose this lifestyle that I wonder if there isn't some underlying guilt involved that they are suppressing. Not saying that your sister is one of these with hatred, but you most likely know what I mean.

[ladyinred]

I hadn't heard this about Randall's son. I assume that he has worked out whatever other problems he had and has resumed his ministry. That is good to know as he was always such an outspoken force for good against abortion.

[sakic]

He, IMHO, is in the same moral turpitude level as Bill Clinton.

Much like Gingrich and Hyde. "Moral turpitude" pays no attention to political leanings.

[Quix]

EXCELLENT DOC.

Thanks much.

[Catspaw]

Add in Rudy Guiliani. As much as I admire his leadership post-9/11, his affair was so blatant.

I don't know why it's so difficult to keep a commitment to one's spouse and children. And an affair of this type while married always involves lies and deception. Ir reflects on the total character of the man or woman.