Michele Bachmann's Christian Counseling Center Targeted by Pro-Gay Group
Bachmann & Associates, the Christian counseling center owned by Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) and her husband Marcus, is coming under fire from a radical, pro-homosexual group for allegedly ministering to homosexual clients.
Truth Wins Out sent someone posing as a patient to the clinic and secretly recorded a counseling session, asking one of the counselors if homosexuality could be cured through prayer or therapy.
According to the group’s mission statement on their website, “Truth Wins Out is a non-profit organization that fights anti-gay religious extremism. TWO monitors anti-LGBT organizations, documents their lies and exposes their leaders as charlatans.”
In a press release issued by TWO on July 8, the group took aim at Marcus Bachmann by saying he practices what is known as “reparative therapy,” and that Dr. Bachmann denied using reparative therapy in his practice.
“The results of our investigation should end all doubt whether Marcus Bachmann’s clinic endorses and practices reparative therapy aimed at changing a gay person’s sexual orientation,” said Truth Wins Out Executive Director Wayne Besen in a written statement.
Reparative therapy, as defined by Exodus International, is a holistic and specialized counseling approach that seeks to address unwanted same-sex attraction.
“Pro-gay groups and secular media incorrectly lump everyone advocating biblical sexuality, namely those who offer alternatives to homosexuality, into the reparative therapy category,” said Alan Chambers, president of Exodus International, a Christian group that ministers to individuals and families impacted by homosexuality.
“I don’t know Dr. Bachmann personally, and I don’t know that his clinic is engaging in reparative therapy. It appears they were simply advocating prayer, ministering to these men and letting them know there were other lifestyle options available to them.”
Chambers knows something about the homosexual lifestyle. He left it 17 years ago and now seeks to help those wanting to turn their lives around for Christ.
“I don’t think same-sex attraction is a choice,” said Chambers. “It is certainly not a choice I made. But I do believe we have a choice how to live our lives. What we do at Exodus is help people live their life first through the filter of faith as opposed to their sexual preferences.
“It’s clear to me that groups such as TWO do not want anyone who is socially or fiscally conservative in the White House and they’ll do anything they can to stop them. Attacking the Bachmanns is just part of their strategy.”
Rep. Michele Bachmann has clearly stated throughout her political career that she opposes same-sex marriage and has taken strong stances on many pro-family issues. Since she has ascended to frontrunner status, Bachmann has been criticized by a number of liberal celebrities, including Whoopi Goldberg and Sen. Al Franken for her political positions.
Bachmann has to several media outlets declined commenting specifically on the issue regarding the clinic’s work. But a spokesperson told MSNBC, “The clinic honors and respects all people for whatever issue they come in for, and if there is a conflict, they refer elsewhere.”
Peter Sprigg, senior fellow for Policy Studies at Family Research Council, told MSNBC that he is surprised this is even news. “If this is indeed a Christian counseling center then it should not be surprising that the counselors there seek to help their clients to live their lives in a way consistent with Christian teaching.”
The Minnesota congresswoman hit the campaign trail again today, saying she wanted to focus the nation’s attention on the two most important issues at hand – jobs and the economy.