Religion Today Summaries - July 4, 2007

Gay-Friendly Religious Groups Accused of Apostasy

OneNewsNow.com reports that the president of a pro-family group says leaders of religious groups who are using the name of God to try and justify homosexuality are full-blown apostates. Last weekend, a number of liberal religious groups took part in New York City's annual LGBT Pride Parade. Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, who was one of the parade's grand marshals, said those who use religion to advocate "an anti-gay agenda" are "right-wing religious bigots" who are blaspheming God's name. Phil Magnan, president of Biblical Family Advocates, responds: "We've now entered into an era where we're in what I would call full-blown apostasy, where people have embraced sin and have called it good -- and Christ calls us to repentance and not to embrace sin. It does not seem to be backing down by any stretch; It's continuing to grow exponentially."

Gay Rights Leader Quits Homosexuality; Says God Liberated Him

Michael Glatze, once a rising star in the "gay rights" movement, declares he's no longer neither an activist, nor a homosexual. Glatze wrote an article and did an interview on his testimony for WorldNetDaily, which he says likely will surprise some people. Glatze recalls his change began with inner "promptings" he now attributes to God. "I hope I can share my story. I feel strongly God has put me here for a reason. Even in the darkest days of late-night parties, substance abuse and all kinds of things – when I felt like, 'Why am I here, what am I doing?' – there was always a voice there." After a decade in which his leadership role in homosexual activism grew, Glatze says he finally was "liberated," and that "'coming out' from under the influence of the homosexual mindset was the most liberating, beautiful and astonishing thing I've ever experienced in my entire life."

Summer Heat Puts Excess Pressure on Homeless

Where can a homeless person escape the extreme temperatures that occur at this time of year? One place is Albuquerque’s Joy Junction (or the rescue mission in your area). Joy Junction is currently housing about 300 people nightly, ASSIST News Service reports, while serving three full meals each day. "We offer those with nowhere else to go a place out of the sun," says Joy Junction's Founder and CEO Dr. Jeremy Reynalds. "We encourage our staff to look for any signs of heat related illness among people coming in off the streets. We hope that if people come to Joy Junction initially to escape the heat, that they will end up joining our life recovery program. That is the backbone of everything we do at Joy Junction." Reynalds offered some useful suggestions for helping homeless during summer: Don’t give monetary handouts; consider giving bottled water and refer the person to an agency such as Joy Junction that provides food, shelter and other assistance. Also, donations of food and travel-sized toiletry items to shelters are always welcome.

Archbishop of Wales Makes Urgent Appeal for Dental Project in Gaza

ASSIST News Service reports that a humanitarian project in Gaza, supported by people in Wales, is in danger of collapsing following increased violence in the area this week and lack of funds. The Archbishop of Wales, Dr. Barry Morgan, is appealing for more money to keep a mobile dental clinic on the roads of the troubled area, where BBC journalist Alan Johnston is still held captive, to help people in desperate need. The story said, “The mobile clinic, which has been funded by donations to the Church in Wales since 2000, travels around Gaza embossed with Welsh flags, treating more than 3,500 people a year who have little access to any health care facilities. It costs £15,000 a year to run but that sum looks set to rise as tension in the area grows and fuel costs soar.”