No tax break in work to 'cure' homosexuals
BY BEN HEATHER
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A Christian trust that claims to be able to "cure" homosexuality has been declined charitable status.
The Exodus Ministries Trust Board is affiliated with the United States-based Exodus Global Alliance, which claims "change in homosexuality is possible through the power of Jesus Christ".
The New Zealand trust appears to keep a low profile, but also claims its members work with churches to counsel and "cure" homosexuals.
Exodus Ministries has had charitable status, exempting it from income tax, for more than a decade but the status was removed by the Charities Commission this month under a regime introduced in 2007.
The commission said the trust was not performing any public benefit because homosexuality was not a mental disorder and did not need curing.
The commission noted that the American Psychological Association said there was little scientific evidence to show that homosexuality could be "cured" and attempts to do so could cause harm.
The trust argued it had a legitimate point of view and provided support to homosexuals during "very difficult times". It said gay support organisations, such as Rainbow Youth, had been granted charitable status.
Rainbow Youth executive director Tom Hamilton said he was not aware of Exodus in New Zealand but there were similar church-based "curing" programmes.
"It is very worrying for us," he said.
Exodus board members could not be contacted.
Since 2007, the commission has struck off or rejected more than 2600 prospective charities and is now locked in multiple legal battles defending its decisions.
It has declined 1406 organisations while another 1224 have been deregistered for being too political, too commercial or not having the required paperwork.
Most organisations that apply to the commission are accepted, so far nearly 25,000, but increasingly they are later deregistered, with 978 struck off this year so far.
Ten aspiring charities have tried to overturn decisions in the High Court and the commission has spent nearly $100,000 defending itself.
The Canterbury Development Corporation and Education New Zealand Trust have gone to the Court of Appeal.
Greenpeace New Zealand was declined in April for being too political and will argue its case in the High Court in November.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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Jude #54, "A person's sexual orientation is determined during development in the womb. It depends on the level of hormones present in the brain. It is not a simple matter of one gene. Scientists have performed MRI scans of the brains of straight men and lesbians. They look the same. Straight women and gay men? Their brains look the same. But different from straight men and lesbians. The amount of evidence is overwhelming."
The amount of evidence that human brain development goes well into the teens and sometimes beyond is overwhelming. This is evidence that homosexuality is linked to environmental conditions. How we each handle those conditions is unique to each of us. We humans are all imperfect and that is why we do need to give each other grace and have respect each other.
Being gay is NOT a choice. It is biological and natural. Women who have gay sons have higher fertility rates and higher levels of estrogen. This is why we never run out of gay people. A person's sexual orientation is determined during development in the womb. It depends on the level of hormones present in the brain. It is not a simple matter of one gene. Scientists have performed MRI scans of the brains of straight men and lesbians. They look the same. Straight women and gay men? Their brains look the same. But different from straight men and lesbians. The amount of evidence is overwhelming.
Experimenting is NOT the same as one's sexual orientation. No one chooses the feelings that come upon them - not straight people, not gay people.
Last, all humans have the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender hurts no one. No crime is committed. I'm straight and I have had LGBT friends for 30 years. It is time for educating people and legal protections.
Exodus harms many people. They need to be shut down.
Those who condemn those that condemn gays for any reason clearly do not know how to read the bible. As for those who try and change those who condemn those who condemn gays - just remember that they--those who condemn those who condemn gays--have been created in God's image.
(Turn about is fair play).
Those who condemn gays for any reason clearly do not know how to read the bible. As for those who try and change them - just remember that they have been created in God's image.
By Allah/Jebus/Flying Spaghetti Monster, the comments on stuff are always entertaining! Between this and the "ARYAN1" story, the bigots are have a great week to express their pathetic little world view born of fear.
Bah, this is what happens when you let ignorant rednecks have technology. Right, on behalf of the rational free-thinking population, I am hereby ordering you to turn over your computers. We invented this schizz, and we can bloody well take it back. Meanwhile, you can go pray to your imaginary friend to send you a glowing box that will only reinforce your stone age beliefs.
PT #35 & Jim #32
Yes, I did. I have gay friends, I have even at times felt the urge to experiment - which I didnt.
I could have taken a different path in life, being one where I found men attractive rather then women, but I made a choice not to.
You would be right to say that Homosexuality is an evolutionary response as when there is an overpopulation of one sex there is often more same sex canoodling. I would say this is just so they can get laid though. either way, people can become ungay , but I imagine it would be like giving up smoking - a complete and absolute lifestyle change.
Andrea #23 - what the hell are you on about? nobody ever said gay was a 'choice of freedom', the rest of the comments on here are about it not being a choice
Sniffles #46 Homosexuality is natural and normal, documented in thousands of species around the world. For those who claim it is against natural evolutionary process and is counter productive - you obviously dont understand how behavior and social interaction come in to influence evolution.
Using ants as an example, using your logic 99.9% of the population of ants excluding the queen and 4 or 5 males that exist per hive are going against the evolutionary ideal as they are non breeders and serve no purpose. However ants are one of the most numerous and wide spread species on the earth, they operate as a large unit. Humans can compare also. A woman will have a baby, get old, then go through menopause. But why? men are active their whole life but menopause allows the older woman (in evolutionary terms) to stop breeding and help raise her grand children with her daughter while the men are out hunting. Homosexuality can fall in to this role also, a human group is more likely to pass on its genes if the children survive, they are more likely to survive if multiple adults are looking after a few children than if a few adults are looking after multiple children. Working together rather than against each other means their genes are passed on.
male black swans have been known to mate with females and when the eggs are layed, chase the female off and pair up with another male. The chicks raised by two males are more likely to survive in the wild than those with mixed gender parents as the males are more aggressive towards attackers and rival swans.
in evolutionary terms- the goal is not for every living thing to breed with everything else. its passing on genes to future generations, although not always in a direct vector from parent to child as there may be more effective ways using group tactics in which case, everyone within the group wins when grandchildren are born as their genetic traits are passed on.
dillard #18 02:41 am Sep 01 2010 ""Jesus is Jesus, whether you believe in Him or not! His words are true! His Word tells us that ALL liars, fornicators, adulters, homosexuals shall NOT enter into heaven. He loves all of us, but He will not lie! Sin will not enter heaven!!!""
Unless, of course, they are a Catholic priest and 'confess' their sins every sunday after mass.
Why is it for a lot of these comments, I can hear banjos playing in the background?
@ Rex #42, never heard that before - it is gold! thanks :)
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If any of the homophobes wish to inform themselves about REAL perversion and disordered sexuality, I suggest the book Perversion Of Power:Sexual Abuse in The Catholic Church by Mary Gail Frawley-O'Dea, and I suggest they focus much of their attention and compassion on the folk on the receiving end of this evil behaviour.