"Repent, America!" Screech the Theofascists

October 18 2005
Counterbias.com
Mel Seesholtz

Michael Marcavage, the director of the evangelical Christian organization Repent America, was interviewed for the February 3, 2005 cover story of Philadelphia City Paper. What he said defines theofascism: “Homosexuals are to be put to death. The wages of sin is death. But I want to make it clear that I’m not advocating the independent killing of homosexuals ... I’m saying that the Government’s duty is to uphold God’s law.”

Not surprisingly, Marcavage was among the first to claim hurricane Katrina was “God’s wrath” against homosexuals. Aside from Mardi Gras, Marcavage was certain a pissed-off “God” had targeted New Orleans because it was scheduled to host a gay event over Labor Day weekend. But what of the men, women and children killed and injured or left homeless and hopeless by Katrina?

Marcavage’s answer: too bad, screw ‘em, they deserved it. In his own words…

Although the loss of lives is deeply saddening, this act of God destroyed a wicked city. From “Girls Gone Wild” to “Southern Decadence,” New Orleans was a city that had its doors wide open to the public celebration of sin. …

 

Let us pray for those ravaged by this disaster. However, we must not forget that the citizens of New Orleans tolerated and welcomed the wickedness in their city for so long.

At OutFest 2004 – Philadelphia’s annual celebration of National Coming Out Day – eleven members of Repent America were arrested for refusing to move from in front of a stage performance. Repent America also took its evangelical homophobia to a Philadelphia Phillies game when the team held its third annual Gay Community Night. They were lauded by a Christian Right “news service” for doing so.

Marcavage seems to have modeled himself and his organization on Rev. Fred Phelps of Westboro Baptist Church and godhatesfags.com infamy. Like Phelps and his cult, Marcavage and his enjoy appearing at events where they are not welcome and for the sole purpose of screeching their message of hate to provoke and incite violence. They’re like the KKK or a Neo-Nazi white supremacy group holding a scripture-quoting rally in Harlem.

Do the KKK and Neo-Nazi white supremacy groups have a right to hold such rallies. Yes. Freedom of speech and assembly. Are their motives constitutionally noble? No. They’re racists, plain and simple.

Does Repent America have a right to protest and express their views at OutFest or a Phillies baseball game. Yes. Freedom of speech and assembly. Are their motives constitutionally noble? No. They’re theofascist, plain and simple, as Marcavage made so very clear: “Homosexuals are to be put to death. ... I’m saying that the Government’s duty is to uphold God’s law.”

Hate groups hide behind and use freedom of speech and assembly to provoke violence so that they can then claim to be “victims” and garner even more publicity for their perverted causes. Wrapped in racism, Nazism or religious fundamentalism, their common message is the same: hate. Randall Terry made that abundantly clear: “I want you to just let a wave of intolerance wash over you. I want you to let a wave of hatred wash over you. Yes, hate is good... Our goal is a Christian nation. We have a Biblical duty, we are called by God, to conquer this country. We don’t want equal time. We don’t want pluralism.”

The fifteenth annual OutFest was held in Philadelphia on October 9, 2005. Repent America was there with banners flying and bullhorns blaring. Before the day’s events began, Frannie Price, executive director of Philly Pride Presents, put the best light on the pending confrontation: “For the last two years we’ve been faced with protesters that have been showing up with signs like ‘abomination,’ ‘sodomites,’ … [and] with bullhorns, but this is a day of celebration. It’s not a rally. It’s not a protest. We’re not a violent or destructive community.” The “Photo Gallery” on Repent America’s web site provides ample evidence to support Ms. Price’s descriptions of their tactics.

This year, Repent America was joined by members of the Street Preachers’ Fellowship, based in Johnstown, PA. The two groups yielded about thirty protestors. Although there was no violence this year, the “Christian” hate was as strong and nasty as ever, as noted in the Philadelphia Inquirer’s October 10 story:

“At this point, you’re not going to get converts. This is their [gays and lesbians] big day. But I’m here to rain on their parade,” said street preacher Ruben Israel, 43, who had flown in from Los Angeles. He carried a sign that said the letters in gay stand for “God Abhors You.”

Reactions from those targeted by these “Christians” and their message of hate were civil, unlike the actions of those targeting them: “I’m just going to walk around the block to avoid them,” said one OutFest celebrant, noting that “My God accepts everybody.” But those attending OutFest did have an auditory response to Marcavage’s bullhorned messages:

Carol Cavanaugh, 58, and her partner of 20 years, Fran Beam, 65, enthusiastically blew the free whistles provided by festival organizer Philly Pride Presents to drown out the megaphone-amplified voice of Repent America director Michael Marcavage. Between blasts could be heard such fragments as “we’re just here to warn you” and “judgment day” and “atonement” and “sin.”

 

“We’re here to have some fun, celebrate our gayness, not bother anybody,” said Cavanaugh, of Rhawnhurst. “It’s a shame they have to be here.”

Yes, Ms. Cavanaugh, it is a shame, but it’s also “good.” That fundamentalist “street preacher” Ruben Israel would fly from Los Angeles to Philadelphia just to vomit vile hatred on people he doesn’t know defines him and his “movement” and furthers the cause of separating church and state. It also documents the need to legislate equality for all Americans. That Michael Marcavage, who calls himself “Servant of the Lord Jesus Christ,” would use a bullhorn to belch his supposedly bible-based hatred exposes his theofascism that has absolutely nothing to do with spirituality or faith or, for that matter, the words of Yeshua as set down in John 8:7: “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone...”

Marcavage might also want to have a look at the Bible and what is says about intentionally lying with malice aforethought. The October 10 posting on Repent America’s web site featured this:

Robert Breaud from New Orleans shared his testimony of how Jesus Christ set him free from nearly 20 years of homosexuality. At one point, a [sic] enraged man shoved Brother Breaud. The police intervened and a scuffle broke out as the man tried to gain possession of an officer’s handgun. The attempt was foiled when about a dozen police officers leapt upon the man and hauled him off to jail. We rejoice and give thanks to the Father for His protection.

As reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer and other media, the police had a different take on the incident:

One man, whose name was not available, was arrested on accusations that he punched a protester in the back, but the alleged assault did not appear to have been related to the message the victim was preaching. The man and his mother were rolling a refrigerator through the crowd when they got stuck, which apparently angered the man, police said.

Perhaps Marcavage was frustrated he and his cronies were not able to spark the violence their hate-mongering was design to evoke, so he just made it up… replete with “scuffle” and “gun” histrionics.

How disgusting. How perverted. And how like theofascists.