I must admit I’m tickled pink that Pat (would-be-president, diamond-mine-owning, media-mogul, 700-Club) Robertson is under attack by a group founded by a one-time employee. Perhaps attack is the wrong word. Soulforce and its founder Mel White are the epitome of peaceful persuasion. Regardless, I’m still pleased to see Pat on the other end of the hook for once.

Mel had lived a lie, denying his homosexuality. He married, fathered children, and did everything that was expected of him. He was (and is) a deeply religious man, and had worked for Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell and even Oliver North. Things changed however, when he "came out". When he published the book Stranger at the Gate, which deals with the exclusion of homosexuals from religious life, he was thrust into the media spotlight. Rather than shrinking from his newfound fame, he embraced it, and used it to found Soulforce.

Soulforce is "Determined to help change the hearts and minds of religious leaders whose anti-homosexual campaigns lead (directly and indirectly) to the suffering of God’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender children". I like it.

Soulforce has had some success, meeting with Jerry Falwell and actually reaching some degree of agreement. After the meeting, Mr. Falwell publicly said "We can have friendship with homosexuals. We can have friendship with people we disagree with". Gawd, next he’ll be admitting we’re actually human!

Presently Soulforce is targeting Pat Robertson and the FoxFamily network. The FoxFamily network was founded in 1998 when Pat Robertson sold his Family network to FoxFamily Worldwide for 1.9 billion dollars. As part of the deal, Pat was named co-chairman of the network, and the network would continue to broadcast the 700 Club.

Is it just me, or does this seem hypocritical that Pat controls that kinda dough, yet spends three hours a day pleading for donations???

Soulforce had approached the FoxFamily network, and were rebuked for eighteen months. On march 8^th, the network agreed to a meeting, if only to prevent "direct action and possible civil disobedience" by Soulforce. The meeting was a qualified success, with the board of FoxFamily listening to the proposals offered by Soulforce.

Among the proposals (a favorite of mine) is that the network air a disclaimer prior to each episode of the 700 Club, explaining that the views of Mr. Robertson are not necessarily those of the network, or other religious people.

It is not the intent of Soulforce to interfere with Pat Robertson’s first amendment right to free speech, "Our goal is to help Pat, his viewers and our friends at FoxFamily to understand the truth about sexual minorities, and to help end Robertson’s tragic misinformation campaign against us."

More power to you guys!