Posted on 09/10/2002 5:47:14 AM PDT by JohnHuang2
I was invited as a guest on Sept. 3 to appear on "The O'Reilly Factor" to discuss my commentary – "The Gay Spin Zone" – dealing with the media, the promotion of homosexuality and its devastating effects on America's children. I was also on to discuss what many are dubbing "The O'Reilly Shocker" – Bill's disturbing September interview in the national homosexual publication "The Advocate," where he proudly and unashamedly embraces and supports many aspects of the "gay"-rights' agenda.
As I sat down at the round table with O'Reilly in Fox's New York studios, he sternly said, "Hello Mr. Bennett. You know how it works here – I ask the questions, you answer them ... got it?"
"Yes sir," I replied.
When the cameras began rolling and O'Reilly began speaking, I sensed in my spirit something was not right. From the tone in his voice, I knew this was not going to be at all what was planned. Sure, O'Reilly is sometimes gruff with guests, and that's OK. It's his show. But this had a different feel to it.
The producers called me only hours earlier that day to do a "pre-interview," discussing probable questions relating to my article and my responses.
From his opening statement, it was clear that was never Bill's intention. The interview was not going to be about homosexuality, the media nor children – but about Bill O'Reilly's theology.
Here's a brief transcript of O'Reilly's introductory remarks on Tuesday:
Thanks for staying with us. I'm Bill O'Reilly.
In the "Unresolved Problem" segment tonight, apparently, Concerned Women for America, a conservative group, are angry with me because I am not condemning American homosexuals.
The president of that organization, Sandy Rios, says, quote, "Bill O'Reilly is an exemplary example of the American Christian who does not know what God's Word said."
Stephen Bennett, a former "gay" man and now a spokesperson for the CWA, says, quote, "I think many people are offended by Bill's statement to be a Christian as well as an Irish Catholic. For a man to come right out and say he does not believe in the Old Testament, I think many Catholics across the nation as well as the world are offended by Bill O'Reilly claiming he's an Irish Catholic."
Now the reason these people are attacking your humble correspondent is that I refused to support a denial of rights for "gay" Americans. I do believe they have the same rights as everybody else, and I support "gay" adoption if no heterosexual couple is available to provide a stable home for unwanted children.
Once again, I feel these positions are reasonable under God and the Constitution.
With us now is Stephen Bennett.
All right. Go ahead. Let me have it.
"Let me have it? Am I on the right show?" I thought. What – was going on? It all soon became too very clear. This was not going to be an interview, but the "Stephen Bennett Roast."
The next four minutes were unreal. The man I highly respected and watched for several years seemed to change from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde right in front of me.
After I briefly shared my story of "coming out" of my promiscuous homosexual lifestyle through the life-changing power of Jesus Christ, and now being married for over nine years with two children, he sarcastically responded, "... Hey … well, good for you."
My "humble correspondent" then began his verbal beating by calling me a "religious fanatic" and a person who wanted to "deny people rights." He shouted, "Mr. Bennett, you want all gays to go to Hell!" What I didn't know, though, until hours later, was that on his radio show earlier that day, "The Radio Factor," he had begun his name-calling campaign, referring to me as an "idiot" among other things.
Anyone who knows me, knows that O'Reilly couldn't be more wrong. The main purpose of the ministry I founded, Stephen Bennett Ministries, is to help the homosexual – to reach out to men and women with the truth, in love, for Jesus Christ – not to condemn at all.
Tens of thousands of people around the world have been touched by this ministry. O'Reilly would have heard that truth – if he ever let me share it.
Obviously, he was not interested.
This intelligent man, who often affirms his religious roots and heritage as an Irish Catholic, continued his verbal offensive by stating he has a problem with the Old Testament, doesn't believe the Bible is "gospel truth" except for the four "gospels" (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) – and that much of the Bible, including the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, is allegorical, not to be taken as real events.
Any Christian, according to O'Reilly, who believes the Bible literally – is a "fanatic."
The Catholic church clearly teaches the biblical truth that the practice of homosexuality is an abomination and sin. If Mr.O'Reilly only wants to read the letters printed "in red" of Jesus in the Gospels, Jesus declares fornication (any sex outside of the grounds of marriage) a sin also. Therefore, O'Reilly's views on "gay" marriage and homosexual adoptions don't hold water – and are in complete rebellion to that of Jesus, the Bible, as well as the Catholic Church.
O'Reilly, sadly, displayed his contempt for all Bible believers in "The Advocate" interview. He states that Christians who believe the Bible literally are "holy rollers," people who want "all gays to go to Hell," and people who should just be "ignored."
In those four minutes Tuesday evening, Bill O'Reilly revealed more to America about himself than in his six-year reign at Fox.
The following night, O'Reilly continued his "skewering" of me by bringing on a liberal "Baptist" preacher who authored a book called "When Religion Becomes Evil" – who stated "... the Bible really doesn't say much on the subject of homosexuality at all" and compared me to the Islamic militants.
The O'Reilly 'interview' truly opened my eyes to the hatred this world has toward the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Word of God is offensive. It exalts the only One who is holy, and shows us our true, fallen, sinful nature – clearly pointing us to the only One who can reconcile us back to God: Jesus Christ.
If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for My name's sake, because they know not Him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.
– John 15:18-22
Homosexuality is sin no matter which way you try to slice it or dice it. It doesn't matter how they package it, how they market it or how they sell it.
It doesn't matter if Rosie O'Donnell says it's OK, or if Bill O'Reilly does.
Homosexuality can never be justified. Whether it's same-sex marriage or homosexual adoptions – all are wrong for one reason: because according to God, homosexuality is wrong. Period.
The homosexual lifestyle is a destructive counterfeit of God's perfect union between a man and a woman. Marriage is so important and sacred to God that He even compares it to Christ and the church, the bride of Christ.
America's views on homosexuality may change, but God's views will never change.
Homosexuals, drunkards, adulterers, the proud – sin is sin is sin. Our sin is what separates us from God. The atoning blood of Jesus Christ alone reconciles us back to God, renews and regenerates our mind and gives us new life. " … the old man has passed away – behold, all things have become new."
One of my favorite hymns describes it best: "Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe; sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow!"
That's the "Good News," Mr. O'Reilly. No one has to go to Hell. There is a great hope for all sinners – and His precious name is Jesus Christ.
Tuesday's "interview" was by no means a discouragement to me, but opened my eyes even more to how deceived people are and how they have bought into the homosexual agenda's falsehoods. Bill O'Reilly has given me an even greater drive to get the message out louder and clearer – and, specifically, how to pray for my friend at Fox.
America heard many things on Tuesday night – but most importantly, that homosexuals can change and Jesus Christ is the Way. Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly, for the opportunity – and I sincerely mean that.
I've been called a lot of names in my life – from "faggot," "queer," "sissy" and much more. I believe people resort to name calling when they feel somehow threatened. But you know, being called a "religious fanatic" by Bill O'Reilly is not all that bad.
I am no longer "gay" and I love my wife dearly. But I believe even Bill O'Reilly could see that night that there is a man in my life who I deeply love – One who means more than anything else in this world to me.
Mr. O'Reilly: I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for it was the Gospel of Christ that set me free.
A "faithful fanatic"? May I always be.
He is wrong on the homosexual point. All Catholics believe that the Bible in its entirety is 100% "the inspired Word of God."
If they do not believe that, they are not true Catholics. O'Reilly can not pick and choose the pieces he likes. Hating homosexuals is wrong, but the sin is to be hated as an abomination.
Suffice it to say, no more O'Reilly in this house (and I suspect a lot of others).
Spoken by him not me!
Thank You Stephen for standing up and looking up.
Spoken by him not me!
Thank You Stephen for standing up and looking up.
At that point, why didn't you just leave? You didn't have to stay there.
You might have uttered something like, "I'm not going to be a part of this charade," before leaving.
REALLY, REALLY, bad.
How he EVER expected to stand up to O'Rielly is beyond me. Someone, afriend or colleague of his should have talked him out of going.
"...the hatred this world has toward the Gospel of Jesus Christ."
That says it all.
O'Reilly is way off on some of his views. He is always ranting about "right" and "wrong" and knows they exist, but doesn't know their source. As a result, he has a hit and miss morality. When it comes to gay adoption, he has a "pragmatic" view, which is totally ineffectual in assessing long-term consequences. He says he is a catholic, but that means nothing unless he has a relationship with the living God. He rejects the bible as an authority and replaces it with himself.
Come on now... O'Reilly is not a good debater at all. I would love to debate O'Reilly. He merely bullies his guests - that is not debate at all. The problem is that O'Reilly will not let anyone talk for more than 5 seconds without interruption. Get O'Reilly off his program and put him at a podium with a good Christian apologist -- he would be made to look like a fool.
Simple: the Islamofascists have put fundie brimstoning beyond the pale in the same way the Nazis put genteel anti-Semitism beyond the pale.
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