Central Louisiana Gay Community Reacts to Controversy over Manitou Woods Camp

Alexandria (LA) Daily Town Talk ^ | 02-18-03 | Griffin, Andrew

[Theodore R.]

The reaction over a gay retreat in rural Grant Parish has sparked some intense dialogue among the gay community in central Louisiana.

All the talk in the Cenla gay community surfaced after some Grant Parish ministers said they would hold a March 5 prayer vigil to condemn homosexuality and the presence of the camp.

[A Vast RightWing Conspirator]

The Grant Sheriff's Office said no problems have been reported at the camp in its eight years of existence.

A careful environmental study would reveal a drastic and puzzling decline in the number of gerbils.

[Brookhaven]

"You can be a Christian and read the Bible and still be a gay man."

Most controversial statement here. What if we reprase it:

"You can be a Christian and read the Bible and still be a sinner."

That is probably true from a Christian standpoint. What isn't true is this:

"You can be a Christian and read the Bible and still be an unrepentant sinner."

Can you be gay (or any other type of sinner) and be a Christian? Yes. Can you be an unrepentant gay person (or any other type of unrepentent sinner) and still be a Christian? No. Repentance is one the hallmarks of salvation.