Lord Help Us

[c9]

Exodus International lies. They claim things that are demonstrably untrue, and their founders actually left the group to get gay married! (bad grammar, fun phrase)

I learned today ("Curing Gays Isn't Charity") that Exodus Global Alliance (their new name, reason unknown) is a registered charity in Canada. That's a shame. Personally, I think that using my tax dollars to promote something known to be untrue kinda sucks and ought not to happen. Of course, that would require governments to also not do it I suppose, and god knows (pun intended) that's not going to happen.

I researched what I could find about the directors of the Canadian operation of Exodus International / Global Alliance, and it wasn't much. I also researched revoking charitable status, but didn't find anything helpful.

Exodus International:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exodus_International
(now known as Exodus Global Alliance)

Canadian branch is a registered charity, unlike in some other countries. The Directors and Trustees from the last CRA filing, for 2008, were:

Jack Hannah, Chairman (2000-2008)
- Pastor of http://www.westneyheightsbaptist.ca/ in Ajax, ON
- Canadian rep for CreationResearch.net - believes evolution is brainwashing.
"He has done research in USA, UK, Europe, the Caribbean, New Zealand, Australia, Pacific Islands and Asia on the evidence for Creation, Noah's Flood and Babel"
http://www.creationism.org/topbar/linksI18L.htm
- Had the church's "Theologian-In-Residence" Craig Carter preach for a month about how homosexuals, gay marriage, and the sexual revolution are all bad.

Doug Coultis, Director (2008)
Can find no confirmed record of existence online outside CRA filings.

Tony Resendes, Director (2008)
Can find no confirmed record of existence online outside CRA filings.

John Mahaffey, Secretary / Treasurer (2000-2008)
- Lead pastor of http://www.westhighland.org/ in Hamilton, ON
- Church's website states they believe Bible "as originally written" is "entirely free from error." Also, surprisingly, "We believe in the entire separation of church and state."

Paul Allen, Vice-Chairman (2000-2005, 2007-2008)
Can find no confirmed record of existence online outside CRA filings. Microsoft co-founder shares name, so internet searches especially challenging. Listed in older CRA filings as "Clergy" or "Pastor".

Dave Karram, Vice-Chairman (2004-2008)
- "Retired educator, Ajax" is all I can find.
- Wrote and performed church hymn, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwpTcEOOwlk
 

I'll just close by saying that gay/lesbian/bisexual/justquestioningthings kids and teens account for a HUGE proportion of youth suicides. This can be traced back to lack of community support. One form of "support" that does not help is telling lies to kids about their feelings, as Exodus does.

All of which makes me very upset. Not "burn down their church" upset -- that's not acceptable, and actually already happened to Hannah's church! -- but I do want them to lose the power of speech or something. No wait, I know: I want them to finally figure out / accept not only that we're gay, but also that they're gay, and then shut the fuck up.


Best twitter conversation so far:
@c_9 (that's me): Well that was a bust. Spent some time researching Exodus International's bullshit parade in Canada, but found nothing worth obsessing about.

@scottdagostino (a friend): That's just because you refused to listen hard enough to their message of hope and change! Oops, I said "hard." I have to go pray now.

Comments

[thespos]

Isn't there a difference between a charity and a PAC in Canada?

[c9.livejournal.com]

We don't have PACs, at least not by that name I don't think. The "revocation" link I included leads to definitions, and they just have to be doing charitable work. This group in Canada doesn't get political, so it's hard to show cause for revocation.

[thespos]

It may be a little... manipulative, but it seems to me that a religious group acting against a group of people protected by law in Canada - even under the guise of "charity" - is acting politically. Their goal is to convince enough people that your playing with other boys' penises can be "cured", eliminating any protections you currently enjoy under the law.

This is where "religious" groups have gotten into trouble in the US, and part of the recent Prop 8 case, as "churches" contacted and/or preached to their congregants as to how to vote. There are several competing movements here to strip such groups of their charity (i.e. tax-exempt) status as a result.

[c9.livejournal.com]

Oh I agree absolutely that they are acting in a sense politically. But they are not trying to effect political change under that banner - i.e. "vote for bob" - they are just trying to change societal attitudes.

The US approach a) wouldn't work very well here I think, attitude-wise (read up on Canada's abortion lack-of-debate for more), and b) has probably been noted and carefully avoided by charities that are pushing the limits here.

But if it were up to me, religious charities would have to run everything past me for approval first. Or they'd get hit with sticks.

[thespos]

Or erect penises.

I mean, you have them handy.

:-D

[jessie-c.livejournal.com]

May I link to this and boost the signal?

[c9.livejournal.com]

Please feel free! Also, welcome!