Pastor Sean Harris Says He Was Only Joking About Beating The Gay Out Of Children

[brooklynite]

Source: On Top

Pastor Sean Harris has given a halfhearted apology for calling on parents to discipline their children to conform to gender stereotypes during a sermon in support of Amendment One on Sunday.

“If I had to say it again, I would say it differently, no doubt,” Harris told The Fayetteville Observer. “Those weren't planned words, but what I do stand by is that the word of God makes it clear that effeminate behavior is ungodly. I'm not going to compromise on that.”

Harris' sermon on Amendment One was part of a campaign encouraging religious leaders to reach out to congregants in support of the amendment, which would ban marriage, civil unions and possibly domestic partnerships for gay and lesbian couples in North Carolina.

After insisting that marriage equality is not a civil rights issue – no one was born gay, he said – Harris called on parents to quash non-confirming behaviors out of their children.

Read more: http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=11692&MediaType=1&Category=26

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Admittedly, I'm not a Christian, but the humor escapes me.

[Dont call me Shirley]

1. The thing you've got wrong Pastor Sean Harris is that YOU are the one who is ungodly!

[goclark]

82. He needs to be arrested

and HE is most certainly Ungodly!

[The Magistrate]

2. He Meant It, Sir: These Shit-Heels Just Say 'I'm Joking' When Caught

He should 'man up' and take every punch he has coming for this; heck, who knows what it might save him from....

[zbdent]

5. wait ... he's an "entertainer"?

isn't that the usual excuse?

[freshwest]

30. It's always 'a joke' until someone gets killed and turns into 'it's not my fault...'

[newspeak]

76. anyone remember the little boy who was murdered by his father?

I think he was two or three years old, and the father thought he was already showing signs of "gayness" so he killed him. I believe it happened in florida.

[Butterbean]

38. Exactly. He's not sorry, he's just sorry he got caught.

[avebury]

60. Agreed! nt

[christx30]

81. Because the best time

to joke about commit domestic violence is when you are talking to a bunch of easily led, violence prone anti-gay people. I mean... what's the worst thing that could happen?

[Stratosgc]

3. The great James Dobson is absolutely serious about beating your children

Great come back when you notice that the world thinks you are a sh*t for what you just said, "It is a joke."
James Dobson sells the idea of beating your children all the time. He interviewed a serial killer a few years ago and announced that the guy was violent because he watched porn. He claimed the violent behavior had nothing to do with the fact that as a child the killer's parents beat him regularly. Dobson influences a lot of people in this country from his compound near the Air Force Academy in Colorado.

[mac56]

47. Hey, Dobson, focus on your OWN damn family.

[Wind Dancer]

62. That serial killer was Ted Bundy.

I remember that interview vividly. Dobson is deranged, pure and simple.

[JoePhilly]

4. If anyone deserves a beating, its this Pastor.

Not that I think anyone should do that.

[Swede Atlanta]

42. No but we can virtually visualize...................

I don't like to observe or even think about physical pain and torture being imposed on any human being but this guy needs the proverbial crap kicked out of him.

[JoePhilly]

43. After posting I realized I should have phrased it better ... see ...

This Pastor does need an ass kicking ... but ... he would also BENEFIT from an ass kicking.

And so ...
1) Given that ass kickings are violent, we should not no that, and ...

2) Given that an ass kicking would hep this guy ... again ... we should not do that.

I say we let him soak in the acid of his own hate.

[crunch60]

57. This asshat and Dobson should both be put away, somewhere they can't spew out their very

dangerous ideology.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

6. Thus, Pastor Sean identifies himself as a true republikkkan

Did I say something hateful, violent, regressive, despicable?


Ohhhhhhh, I was just joking!!!!!!! Silly YOU!

[Jamaal510]

7. Typical RW alibi--saying that something was a joke once they get reprimanded.

I'm a Christian, and I must say that people like this DO NOT represent every follower of Christianity. True Christians believe in collectivism and the philosophy of live and let live, not forcing your principles onto others as these people do. Personally, I could care less whether someone else is gay or not.

[IggleDoer]

74. The story of the virgin birth - just a joke

The story of the resurrection - just a joke

Why should his flock believe anything he says?

[obxhead]

8. I wonder how many children were beaten due to his "joke."

People of faith should string people like this up (metaphorically) . They give your religion a very bad name.

[freeplessinseattle]

9. oh, the hilarity! n/t

[Liberal Veteran]

11. I know. And you could hear how tongue in cheek he was making his vile comments.

No one with a modicum of humanity would have mistaken his comments for humor.

So we can add insulting our collective intelligence to the list of things that he should be called out on.

[wendylaroux]

10. Hey pastor Harris your a scumbag

and I'm NOT kidding.

[Iliyah]

12. Hey what about that

radio host who told a father to get a man to repeatedly rape his gay daughter, huh. Or Tony Perkins (not the actor) but the so called "Christian" minister who tells fathers to shower with their young sons. Seriously, I think these guys are closets....

[obamanut2012]

37. These guys are "closets"? What does that mean?

[LeftyMom]

52. They mixed up Tony Perkins and James Dobson too.

The shower thing is Dobson.

[obamanut2012]

70. Exactly

I noticed they never answered me.

[loudsue]

13. I have been soooo ashamed of North Carolina since the repukes took over.

The fact that they took over our legislature for the first time in over 100 years just brought all the loonies into the streets doing their happy dance about rightwing bullshit, and now they've got this amendment thing going on. I'm so sick of this shit. The Tea Partiers are being HEAVILY financed in North Carolina, because they know the churches are going to help them whip everyone into a frenzie....and the churches are doing just that.

I'm so afraid we're going to become another South Carolina....which is even worse, at least so far.

[CRK7376]

18. Yes our state has

gone crazy. Unfortuantely for me, up in the 5th District we've been dealing with V. Foxx for way to long and she doesn't seem to ever stop being crazy. Now this Amendment One debacle....cast my absentee ballot opposing the amendment back in early April. Hope it fails completely!

[yardwork]

24. Thank you for your vote! I phonebanked against the amendment last weekend.

We have a chance to defeat it if the people opposed go out and vote. Thank you very much.

[obamanut2012]

39. It's going to pass, and then be overturned as against the NC Constitution

The Business Powers That Be are not happy with this, and nor are many other people. I have even heard commentary that having the vote now and not in November is also against State law. People have already volunteered to be the Plaintiffs.

When you tell people how it will really eliminate laws for non-married straight couples, they are like, what? for real?

I am betting it will be overturned after a year or so, at great cost to the State, financial and otherwise.

[Skittles]

77. I am sorry to hear that

some years back I did a work TDY to North Carolina and was pleasantly surprised by its unique mixture of hick and hip. I had assumed they'd be rabid bush lovers but that was far from the case. So much lovely greenery too. I had a good time!

[Enrique]

14. Pastor Harris has jokes!

“Can I make it any clearer? Dads, the second you see that son dropping the limp wrist, you walk over there and crack that wrist. Man up. Give them a good punch. OK?”

take my wife.... Please!

[muriel_volestrangler]

15. Least believable excuse ever. We have the audio.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002633518
http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2012/05/video-amendment1-pastor-gives-parents-special-dispensation-to-use-violence-against-lgbt-kids-4marriagenc.html

The congregation was actually willing to laugh at first - when he said "get outside and dig a ditch, because that is what boys do", they laugh (well, it is a bit of an absurd thing to say). But then his tone gets serious. There are a few 'amens' after "crack that wrist". Then he says, with vehemence, "Give him a good punch. Ok?" There are one or two nervous laughs at that, from people who think "surely he can't mean that". But listen to him - he is in a deadly serious rant. The biggest laugh is from "You are authorized. I just gave you a special dispensation this morning to do that". Which his audience finds funny because so many of them don't really think they need 'authorisation' from anyone to abuse their children.

[yardwork]

23. Thank you for posting the audio link. Here's the transcipt, from the same link:

Transcript:
TRANSCRIPT: "So your little son starts to act a little girlish when he is four years old and instead of squashing that like a cockroach and saying, “Man up, son, get that dress off you and get outside and dig a ditch, because that is what boys do,” you get out the camera and you start taking pictures of Johnny acting like a female and then you upload it to YouTube and everybody laughs about it and the next thing you know, this dude, this kid is acting out childhood fantasies that should have been squashed.
Can I make it any clearer? Dads, the second you see your son dropping the limp wrist, you walk over there and crack that wrist. Man up. Give him a good punch. Ok? You are not going to act like that. You were made by God to be a male and you are going to be a male. And when your daughter starts acting too Butch you reign her in. And you say, “Oh, no, sweetheart. You can play sports. Play them to the glory of God. But sometimes you are going to act like a girl and walk like a girl and talk like a girl and smell like a girl and that means you are going to be beautiful. You are going to be attractive. You are going to dress yourself up.”
You say, “Can I take charge like that as a parent?”
Yeah, you can. You are authorized. I just gave you a special dispensation this morning to do that."

[kenfrequed]

33. That doesn't sound like a joke.

That sounds a lot more like mind control to me. And abuse. And even using the term squashing cockroach brings to my mind all the nightmares of Rawanda.

[loudsue]

78. It IS mind control, and it's what churches are doing all across the country

these days. And the funding is there for these HUGE megachurches to spring up where no even small congregation existed before. I'm in the south, and the Baptists OWN the place, tip to stern. Our little country church got a wingnut as a preacher about 4-5 years ago, and now nobody wants to go there anymore.

[Rob H.]

35. It's shaming and abuse like Harris advocates

that leads LGBT teens to commit suicide. It's bad enough to be rejected and mocked by one's peers, but encouraging the parents to pile on? There's something fundamentally wrong with this guy, imo.

[Gormy Cuss]

63. What he said about girls was equally offensive but there's no discipline outlined.

What would his punishment for a "Butch" girl be, I wonder -- early marriage?

[yardwork]

67. "Corrective" rape, probably. In another thread I mentioned that his whole attack is on femininity.

The man's hatred is focused on gender and gender expressions. He advocates maiming and beating little boys who seem feminine. He's disgusted by girls who aren't stereotypically feminine, which he defines entirely on how they look (and smell). The man is a sick creep. This is a perfect example of how so much of homophobia is rooted in misogyny. It all comes back to a fear of men seeming to be like women, and a fear of women not knowing their places as subordinate objects.

Also, after reading the handbook of his church's school, I believe that he and wife are probably raising their son in accordance with the "Reverend" Pearl's advice on child rearing. The phrase "train up a child" appears in the pastor's comments in front of each handbook.

[Gormy Cuss]

69. Good catch

and ugh.

[Politicalboi]

16. He wasn't joking

Apparently he runs a school too. He needs to get his tax exemption revoked, and close his ass down.

Harris is the senior pastor of Berean Baptist Church in Fayetteville, which operates a kindergarten-through-12th-grade school, Berean Baptist Academy.

Scary!

[CRK7376]

19. It's a

big church/school in Fayetteville. Full of Crazies!

[Politicalboi]

20. Sounds like it

Those poor kids who may be gay living in that kind of an environment. This also tells the kids to hit the limp wrist too.

[obamanut2012]

40. I know someone who went there

About 15 years ago. The school is indeed run by crazies!

[AndyTiedye]

29. In Light of His Remarks, His "School" Must be Investigated

If his "school" operates the way he advocates, there is certain to be child abuse going on there!

[sarcasmo]

34. +1

[myrna minx]

17. What a monster.

[truthisfreedom]

21. What a worthless piece of shit.

Ugh.

[Journeyman]

22. Har, har, har. Such an entertainer. We should bring back crucifixions for preachers . . .

it'd be hilarious.

[yurbud]

25. violence is a pretty regular part of the humor on the right

They didn't mature past the Looney Tunes.

[LibertyLover]

26. Of course you were only joking Pastor -

afterall, aren't beaten children just the funniest thing in the entire world? I bet your comedy routine just has them rolling in the aisles at the Kit Kat Komedy Klub.

[usrname]

27. Someone ought to beat the

Christian-ness out of Sean Harris.

[Skittles]

28. effeminate behaviour is ungodly?

this man is SICK

[NickB79]

68. Of course. Everyone knows Jesus was a manly man, built like a brick shithouse

He'd go Chuck Norris on your ass if your eyes drifted below chin-line on any fellow dude. It's well known that the painting of the Last Supper was redone to take out the scene of Jesus sodomizing Apostle Thomas with a loaf of French bread because he proclaimed the food "fabulous" with a tiny bit of lisp.

[Botany]

31. ATTN Pastor Harris

I want to to stomp your stupid head in and beat the idiot out of you
w/ my bare hands because I know God will give me the strength to
do it. Sorry i was only joking

BTW me (straight) 5'9" and 195 LBS of landscaper .... w/ a gay



How many poor gay and lesbian kids commit suicide every year because their
family listens to hate talkers like Pastor Harris telling them that God has told
him that being gay is a sin? BTW part 2 if being gay is so wrong then how come
an all powerful God keeps letting gay babies be born every day?

[kenfrequed]

32. Moron.

Seriously.

And why is he assuming that homosexual automatically indicates effeminate stereotypes. Pardon me while I get my time machine so I can introduce this jerk to Alexander the Great.

[NYC Liberal]

36. I never understood how being a "joke" makes something like this better.

Not that he was actually joking.

[awoke_in_2003]

41. And someone should beat the religion...

out of this pastor. Oh, I'm only joking.

[AlbertCat]

44. Yeah! Hilarious!

[AlbertCat]

45. effeminate behavior is ungodly.

Even in girls?

And what chapter and verse does god say that?



So now we're supposed to act "godly"? That's hubris, isn't it?

[Broken_Hero]

46. Jesus,

the are no words for this type of fucking crazy. His apology is a fucking joke.

[DesertDiamond]

48. I don't know where in the Bible he is getting his info the effeminate behavior is ungodly.

[Sentath]

61. Try Matthew 11:8

http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/mt/11.html

Or try a google search for 'bible wearers of soft clothing', you'll find all sorts of riled up people.

[madrchsod]

49. jesus did`t have a problem with gay people....

so why the fuck does Sean.

[Initech]

50. This asshole is about to learn a harsh lesson: "I'm just joking" =/= undo.

[steve2470]

51. This man is not a Christian but an anal sphincter that can preach nt

[47of74]

54. If I could R this post I totally would

Because you hit the nail right on the head, as it were.

[beac]

53. Hardee-har-har hate crime.

“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
-Mahatma Gandhi

[steve2470]

55. +1000 nt

[FedUpWithIt All]

56. Bullshit. I listened to the audio. The little man got caught.

[BlueIris]

58. What a psychotic asshole. "'I was joking'" doesn't make him look any less psychotic.

Or anything less than an asshole.

[blkmusclmachine]

59. Beat the hate of others into these kids,

and make them "good little xtians;" Dominionists mostly. Scarred, defective souls forever lashing out; forever vengeful. SAD!

[panzerfaust]

64. Sad how modern Faith is Corrupted: Christians should Kill their gay children, not beat them. Sheesh.

Lev 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

There are several other passages in God's Holy Word which make it it clear that He ain't kidding ... but it is too nice a day to dwell on the primitive and savage hatreds of the God of Abraham - and of those who worship Him.


Christians discussing how best to embrace the Love of God.

Do not kid yourself - given the chance those like the Godly Mr. Harris would bring this all back.

[obamanut2012]

71. That passage in Leviticus doesn't mean that n/t

[LynneSin]

65. Are we allowed to suggest beating the stupid out of this asshole?

Just wondering.

Oh and please point me to the scripture where it says 'word of God makes it clear that effeminate behavior is ungodly'.

Or are you just making shit up to justify being a stupid asshole?

[goclark]

66. I am a Christian and he must not be reading

the same Bible that I know ~ " do unto others etc."

What a evil man ~ as my elders would say, " God don't like ugly."

[FiveGoodMen]

72. Read the whole thing from cover to cover

You'll be shocked.

[MountainMama]

73. You know..

as someone raised in a pretty fundamentalist church, I've had to do a lot of thinking about things over the years, and homosexuality is one of them.

After a lot of thought, this is what I think: homosexuality is not a choice. That's become pretty apparent as more gay people speak out; I have no doubt about this.

I was talking with my mom about Ellen and she said something about Ellen being gay. I said, "She can't help it. That's how it is." Mother said, "It's still sinful."

Great. Now my youngest nephew has come out. He's 18 and a senior in high school and my family's not being very supportive. He has to move out after he graduates. He's not allowed to ever bring any boyfriends around. I'm on the other side of the country and I feel horrible about this. Fortunately, his dad is supportive and he's going to live with him.

So, I said all that to say this: if you're gay, you're gay. No one should have any right to deny you anything--marriage, adoption, whatever. Who really knows what God thinks if He even exists? There are so many interpretations of scripture. Your life is between you and your God.

And if God is on the side of these intolerant, hateful bigots, then screw God. I don't want to worship that guy. Some other spiritual leader said to love your neighbor as yourself. I've never heard that interpreted to mean "except the gay ones." I live by that guy.

[jmowreader]

75. I've actually met this "Pastor" Sean Harris

He beats Bibles to death at one of the two biggest Baptist churches in Fayettenam, NC, and he is as big an asshole in person as he appears to be from the stories about him. His name is not in the Book of Life.

[sgsmith]

79. I wonder.

Did Pastor Harris stand in front of his congregation today and say that he was wrong in advocating physical violence against perceived gay children?

I think we all know the answer to that.

[goclark]

80. Will somebody tell that SOB to shut up!

I am a Christian and this is a FINISHED FOOL!

Where do they find these idiots?

[KamaAina]

83. Hardy har har. That was so funny I forgot to laugh.

[TruthMatterDee]

84. Response to Panzerfaust

Wow, this is quite a string of comments! Pastor Harris should NOT have spoken like that! Especially considering that he knew people would be listening around the globe; his congregants may get it but I can see why non-congregants find it offensive! Please don't condemn Christianity because of his unfortunate comments, though. Certainly we mustn't mock God, who holds our future in His hands. Both Democrats & Repubs say "God bless America," and most of us recognize the importance of the Bible. So let's not forget this.

We can be Democrats and still believe in the God of the Bible. We just have to understand that the government of Israel 3 or 4 thousand years ago was very different than now. Theirs was a theocracy, ruled and guided by God. God confirmed this with mighty acts & miracles. He showed clearly through His law how He felt about certain issues; but, the extremeness of & impossibility for anyone to keep the law just showed everyone how much we all need someone to save us. God didn't make the law b/c He wanted to kill people; He made the law because He wanted to show us how much we all need Him. Whether we're gay or straight, we all need Him.

When Jesus (God in the flesh) came 2,000 years ago, He offered mercy and grace to all. He was (and is) our savior! He TOTALLY DID NOT condemn people for being different. He didn't compromise on the law of God, but still He was gracious to all. His death has covered us all, & His resurrection confirmed the validity of His message of salvation and hope--hope for gays and straights alike. A straight person can become Christian, and a gay person can become Christian; Christ died for all. So if any person claiming to be Christian advocates murdering someone who transgresses against Old Testament law, they are NOT representing a true follower of Christ. Today, it is NOT the job of ANYBODY to become a vigilante and persecute (stone, burn, abuse in any way) ANYONE who doesn't abide by Old Testament Law. We do NOT live in a theocracy, and God does NOT force us to behave a certain way. He has given us choices. He lets us see the results of our own actions, and decide for ourselves what to do with our lives. He lets us be individuals. I'm not gay/lesbian, but I would never condemn anyone for being so, and neither would Jesus! Just read the New Testament. Please don't confuse Christianity with intolerance; Christianity is a most tolerant faith. True Christians will lead by clean example and by love, not with abusive behavior or hate speech. And the best of Christians would rather die themselves then to be the first to cast a stone at somebody who believes differently than them.