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THREATS TO BAN CHRISTIAN BOOK IN SOUTH AFRICA
(see Christian News release)
Tuesday, 22 January 2002
A new book co-authored by missionary Peter Hammond is being reviewed for
banning by the South African government's Film and Publications Board
(FPB). The FPB has received complaints from homosexual organisations
against "The Pink Agenda - Sexual Revolution and the Ruin of the
Family." If the book were banned, it would be the first non-porn book
banned since the ANC took over in 1994. The militant homosexual
activist organisation, The Gay and Lesbian Equality Project, has
declared that the book "instils hatred and prejudice" that they believe
it is unsuitable reading "for young minds that are still being formed"
and that it is "the worst homophobic hate speech ever published in South
Africa"!
A FPB official confirmed today that the Board will hold a hearing on the
book this Friday morning, 25 January. The book publishers, Christian
Liberty Books, are invited to put their case, in defence of the book, to
the Board at 10 am. The complaints are that the book contravenes the
"prejudice" and "hate speech" clauses in the Film and Publications
Act.
Co-author Christine Mc Cafferty says that this attempt by The Equality
Project to ban the book is typical of the intolerance of homosexual
activism worldwide. "Our book shows how homosexual activists' constantly
attempt to ban and censor anything that disagrees with their view on
homosexuality or anyone who attempts to stop the promotion of
homosexuality in society. When they call for "freedom", it is only
"freedom for their own agenda."
Co-author Peter Hammond called on Christians to please pray that freedom
of speech will be protected in South Africa. He said, "It would be a
scandalous irony if all types of obscenity are protected, but genuine
research and academic endeavour is banned. Pray that we will be able to
continue to distribute the book widely and to get the truth out about
the radical homosexual agenda."
Please find below an article published on the Mail and Guardian's
Q-online in January this year, and replies from authors Peter Hammond
and Christine Mc Cafferty. An official complaint about the article has
been made by Africa Christian Action to South Africa's press ombudsman.
PRAYER ACTION: Please pray for the outcome of the Film and Publications
Board hearing into The Pink Agenda and against attempts by homosexual
activists to ban the book and so stifle open debate on the homosexual
agenda and its far reaching implications.
Pray that the complaint ACA has made concerning the Mail and Guardian's
poor and unethical journalism to the press ombudsman be effective.
For more information, please contact Jeanine McGill or Christine Mc
Cafferty on acaction@intekom.co.za. To
order your copy of the book (R58
per copy in South Africa; $8 overseas) before there is any possibility
of a ban on distribution, please contact Christian Liberty Books at
clbooks@global.co.za (or in the USA contact
ITMI, Tel: 1-888-918-4100 or
e-mail itmi@intouchmission.org).
MAIL AND GUARDIAN Q-ONLINE ARTICLE (www.q.co.za)
15 January 2002
*****************************
Religious right attacks gays in new book
Reverend Peter Hammond, accused by the Sudanese government of gun
running in 1999, has launched an attack on gays who are, according to
him, on "The Slippery Slope to Paedophilia".
------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Own correspondent
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Johannesburg -- A new book regarded by many as the worst homophobic
hate
speech ever published in South Africa, has hit the shelves. Sexual
Revolution in South Africa: The Pink Agenda The ruin of the Family
warns
that gays and lesbians are on "the slippery slope to paedophilia."
The book, co-authored by Christine McCafferty, attacks gay rights as a
human right.
Some chapters sensationally contain hate speech language such as "The
Slippery Sloap to Paedophilia" and "Protecting Society from
Homosexuality".
Evert Knoesen of the Lesbian and Gay Equality Project warns that this
kind of language will be illegal under the Equality Act that was passed
in 2000, but that has not come into effect yet.
"The book paints a picture of all gay men as paedohiles. It suggests
that homosexuality is curable disease, and that lesbian and gay people
are conspiring to destroy the church, the family and society," says
Knoesen.
Lesbian and gay people are being portrayed as a pestilence and
inevitable victims of pestilence," he says.
The book also claims that homosexuality is nothing other than "a moral
choice" for immorality.
The Equality Project has responded saying that "The book is nothing but
homophobic hate speech presented as scientific fact."
Christine McCafferty and Peter Hammond have links with the extreme
religious right and McCafferty was the media spokesperson for the ACDP
(African Christian Democratic Party) - the only party that opposed the
Equality Clause in the South African Constitution.
Hammond himself has been accused by the Sudanese government of
gun-running two years ago, being a vocal supporter of the pro-gun lobby
in South Africa.
Knoesen points out that the Film and Publications Act also prohibits
certain forms of hate speech and expects public complaints being filed
with them because of the book.
"We are opposed to censorship in general. We do not believe, however,
that this book makes suitable reading for young minds that are still
being formed. We believe it instills hatred and prejudice," he says.
REPLY FROM PETER HAMMOND
Dr. Peter Hammond
P.O. Box 74
NEWLANDS
7725
January 17th, 2002
Please allow me the opportunity to respond to the Mail & Guardian
article "Religious Right Attacks gays in new book", as the article
includes some slanderous accusations against Christine McCafferty and
myself as the authors.
The M & G article doesn't deal with any of the issues raised in our
book: "The Pink Agenda - Sexual Revolution in South Africa and the Ruin
of the Family", but instead it proceeds to attack the persons writing
the book.
The "shoot the messenger and ignore the facts" tactic is surely beneath
any serious journalist. It is never acceptable to attack the person
instead of dealing with the arguments raised by that person. Nor was
there any attempt to obtain quotes from those being attacked - to get
the other side and present a balanced and fair article.
Your correspondent describes our book as "the worst homophobic hate
speech ever published in South Africa", "hate speech", which "instills
hatred and prejudice" and should be "illegal" under the Equality Act!
All of these emotive comments seem quite excessive. Did the person who
accused us of all these things even read the book? As we made clear in
The Pink Agenda, we are not against the individuals involved in
homosexuality, but are opposing the radical agenda of homosexual
extremists, such as turning our schools into homosexual recruitment
centres. The book actually promotes Christian love and concern for
people involved in homosexuality. The book ends with a testimony of a
homosexual who was converted to Christ. It has a positive message of
hope and freedom for people involved in homosexuality.
It is also quite bizarre that the author of this article should have
wanted to align itself with the Government of Sudan, by making use of
its slanderous accusations of "gun-running" against myself. I've been a
missionary to persecuted Christians in restricted access areas for the
last 20 years. I have never been involved in any gun-running anywhere.
When arrested by the socialist governments in Zambia and Mozambique in
the 1980's, these governments concerned were forced to release me after
thorough investigation. If there had been any shred of evidence for
these outrageous accusations of gun-running, I would probably still be
locked up. I would not waste my time, disgrace my missionary calling or
displace 1kg of Bibles or medicines to take weapons of war into these
desperately needy countries. They have more than enough weapons in
Sudan already. What Sudan needs is the Gospel of Christ and healing
from medicines and the Word of God.
I have been responsible for smuggling in over 200 000 Bibles and
Christian books in 21 languages into Sudan. However, the radical
government of Sudan, which is involved in bombing schools, hospitals and
churches in the South, could not accuse us of what we are really doing -
smuggling Bibles and medicines to their own citizens who are being
subjected to aerial bombardments by their own government. So, as one
would expect from a government, which came to power through a violent,
military coup, and stays in power by terror and atrocities, they have
manufactured a slanderous accusation, which it would seem that your
correspondent is eager to believe. Does this mean, that the anonymous,
"own correspondent" supports the National Islamic Front government in
Sudan and its repressive policies towards, not only homosexuals, but all
the other people unfortunate enough to be under their control?
Instead of recklessly accusing well-meaning people, (who are actually
doing something positive to help the unfortunate) of "hate speech", it
would be more constructive if your journalist actually read the book to
see what it really says.
Yours sincerely
Dr. Peter Hammond
REPLY FROM CHRISTINE MC CAFFERTY
19 January 2002
To the Editor
Read, before judging
I am disappointed by the unprofessional bit of emotive journalese
attempting to pose as an article on the newly released book on
homosexual activism, The Pink Agenda, in January's M&G Q-online. It was
obvious that M&G's 'own correspondent' had not read the book or done any
research himself. He did not even quote from any source other than the
obviously partial Equality Project and even worse, he did not even
contact the authors for comment although he felt free to make biased and
unsubstantiated attacks on them and the book.
'Own correspondent' incorrectly says that the book accuses gays and
lesbians of being on "the slippery slope to paedophilia". What the
authors did in fact say and document was that Western society has become
extremely sexualised and that the Western world is itself on the start
of a slippery slope to the acceptance of all kinds of sexual behaviour,
which includes paedophilia. In many politically correct circles
paedophilia is now referred to as "intergenerational intimacy" and by
homosexual paedophile activist organisations as "man-boy love".
An Equality Project spokesman Evert Knoesen says that the book paints
all gay men as paedophiles. This is a blatant lie. The Pink Agenda
cites six studies, among the many that have been published, that show
that one third of child molestations are homosexual, and that people
involved in homosexuality are 10-20 times more like to engage in
paedophilia, but it nowhere says that all people involved in
homosexuality are paedophiles.
Knoesen also says The Pink Agenda suggests homosexuality is a "curable
disease". A simple overview by the M&G's 'own correspondent' would have
shown that the book goes to great lengths to show that homosexuality is
not a disease and has no connection to any medical condition
whatsoever. Although 'pro-gay' researchers have tried for over thirty
years to show that homosexuality is caused by hormonal, genetic or
biological problems, they have been unsuccessful. The fact is that
homosexual behaviour, including sodomy, is exactly that - a behaviour.
And yes it is curable, and for that there is scientific proof. World
renowned psychiatrist Robert L. Spitzer said after his study of 200 men
and women who left homosexuality, ".. I thought that homosexual
behaviour could only be resisted and that no one could really change
their sexual orientation. I now believe that to be false. Some people
can and do change."
And that is the message of the book - there is a way out of the
homosexual lifestyle. 81% of the people interviewed in Spitzer's study
left homosexuality because they found that it was "not emotionally
satisfying" referring to widespread promiscuity and stormy, painful
relationships.
As a result of Spitzer's truthful, though "politically incorrect" stand,
he has been attacked and has had to cancel appearances citing "concern
for his family".
Homosexual activists typically attack anyone who dares disagree with
their narrow and claustrophobic ideas on homosexuality and sodomy, and
it is in this same spirit that Knoesen makes his threats about ensuring
that The Pink Agenda is not read by the public and especially the youth
- and that complaints will be filed with the Film and Publications
Board. There are many books similar to The Pink Agenda published across
the world, including in the United States and Europe. It would be a sad
day for SA if it becomes the only country to ban carefully researched
books that seek to promote debate on this very important topic.
Before you judge the book, make sure that you read it, unlike the M&G
reporter.
Christine Mc Cafferty
Co-author of The Pink Agenda
ACA'S LETTER OF COMPLAINT TO THE PRESS OMBUDSMAN
The Press Ombudsman
PO Box 47221
PARKLANDS
2121
21 January 2002
Dear Mr Edward Linington
M&G q-online article "Religious Right attacks gays in new book"
We hereby make an official complaint against the Mail and Guardian as
regards their Q-online (www.q.co.za) article entitled
"Religious Right
attacks gays in new book" in January 2002 (see attached). The article
is about Africa Christian Action's newly released book about homosexual
activism, The Pink Agenda: Sexual Revolution in South Africa and the
Ruin of the Family. Our complaints are as follows:
1) The writer of the article, 'Own correspondent', did not quote nor
cite the opinion of any source other than the obviously partial Gay and
Lesbian Equality Project.
2) He did not contact the authors for comment although he felt free to
attack both them personally and their book. This is a violation of
journalistic ethics as the subject of accusations should be given an
opportunity to respond.
3) There were a number of blatant falsehoods in the article, none of
which the authors of The Pink Agenda were given opportunity to respond
to. 'Own correspondent' falsely states that the book accuses gays and
lesbians of being on "the slippery slope to paedophilia". What the
authors did in fact say and document was that Western society has become
extremely sexualised and that the Western world itself is on the start
of a slippery slope to the acceptance of all kinds of sexual behaviour,
which includes paedophilia. This was not an attack on people involved
in homosexuality per se, but a comment on Western civilisation in
general.
4) 'Own correspondent' writes that the book is "regarded by many as the
worst homophobic hate speech ever published in South Africa." He
however never qualifies who the "many" are and never cites any other
source in the article except The Gay and Lesbian Equality Project.
5) Christine Mc Cafferty did not "attack gay rights as a human right",
but in the book questions whether rights should be granted on the basis
of certain types of behaviour, whether sexual or non-sexual, as opposed
to rights being based on innate inborn characteristics. This is not
"hate speech" but is a standard legal argument and one that was accepted
by the courts in the United States, for example, (Bowers v. Chadwick,
1986) when the sodomy laws were unsuccessfully challenged in the US
Supreme Court.
6) 'Own correspondent' also did not seek comment on The Equality Project
Evert Knoesen's statement that "this kind of language will be illegal
under the Equality Act.." The statement is not challenged nor is
further comment sought even though it is in blatant contradiction to
Judge Albie Sach's ruling in the Constitutional Court decision on sodomy
that "those persons who for reasons of religious or other belief
disagree with or condemn homosexual conduct are free to hold and
articulate such beliefs."
7) Equality Project spokesman Knoesen then proceeds with at least two
blatant lies: that the book "paints all gay men as paedophiles" and that
homosexuality is a "disease". The Pink Agenda cites six studies, among
the many that have been published, that show that roughly one third of
child molestations are homosexual, and that people involved in
homosexuality are 10-20 times more likely to engage in paedophilia, but
nowhere does it say that all homosexuals are paedophiles. Knoesen says
The Pink Agenda suggests homosexuality is a "curable disease". A simple
overview by the Mail and Guardian's 'own correspondent' would have shown
that the book goes to great lengths to show that homosexuality is not a
disease and has no connection to any medical condition whatsoever.
Although 'pro-gay' researchers have tried for over thirty years to show
that homosexuality is caused by hormonal, genetic or biological
problems, they have been unsuccessful. The book states that homosexual
behaviour, including sodomy, is exactly that - a behaviour and not at
disease.
8) 'Own correspondent' cites accusations against co-author Peter Hammond
involving gun-running to Sudan without seeking him personally for any
comment. When the Government of Sudan made the unsubstantiated
accusations in 1999, and the Mail and Guardian printed them, Peter
Hammond's refutation was published in full - without further comment -
by Mail and Guardian the week after. The accusations were not printed
again in Mail and Guardian until this article.
9) 'Own correspondent' quotes Knoesen saying that the book "instils
hatred and prejudice", and once again does not allow the authors to
explain their intentions as regards the book, or the positive feedback
and reactions they have had from readers of the book.
We are concerned that the Mail and Guardian reporter has not read the
book and the inferior style of journalism does the institution of media
in South Africa no justice. We are concerned about the violation of
journalistic ethics that includes not allowing the subjects of the
article's criticism the right of reply. We look forward to your
response to this official complaint.
Yours sincerely,
Charl van Wyk
Africa Christian Action Director
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