"And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift of God?" -- Thomas Jefferson

"And yet the same revolutionary belief for which our forbears fought is still at issue around the globe, the belief that the rights of man come not from generosity of the state but from the hand of God." -- John F. Kennedy

"Because of their belief that power had come from God to each individual, the Framers began the Constitution with the words 'we the people'" -- Newt Gingrich

"There's never been a nation like the United States, ever. It begins with the principles of our founding documents, principles that recognize that our rights come from God, not from our government." -- Marco Rubio


Friday, August 23, 2013

Gov. Chris Christie Torpedoes Future Presidential Bid And Harms Children To Boot

Liberty Counsel
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT - 800-671-1776 or Media@LC.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 23, 2013
(audio clip) Gov. Chris Christie Torpedoes Future Presidential Bid And Harms Children To Boot
LC.org
Trenton, NJ—“New Jersey Governor Chris Christie torpedoed any chance at the White House when he used junk science to legitimize his politically motivated attack on children, families, and licensed therapists this week,” said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel.

Gov. Christie cited an American Psychological Association (APA) 2009 Task Force Report when he signed legislation barring licensed therapists in New Jersey from helping children overcome unwanted same-sex attractions. The APA Task Force Report was admittedly inconclusive as to the effectiveness of Sexual Orientation Change Efforts (SOCE) on children because no study has been done with minors.

The APA Report says that “sexual orientation issues in children are virtually unexamined,” and it recognized that “there is a dearth of scientifically sound research on the safety of SOCE.” Furthermore, the APA Report points out that sexual orientation, behavior, and identity are “fluid,” and thus capable of change, and “[e]arly and recent research studies provide no clear indication of the prevalence of harmful outcomes.”.

“It’s unconscionable that Gov. Christie would sign this politically motivated legislation, putting himself in every counseling setting telling therapists what they can say and children and their parents what counseling they can hear, based on absolutely no evidence!” said Staver. Despite the fact that the task force was made up of known homosexual activists and self-identified gay psychologists, it found zero evidence that reorientation therapy hurts minors. In fact, the report even admitted that there is evidence of some good from these efforts.

Yesterday, Liberty Counsel filed a lawsuit on behalf of several licensed mental health counselors who provide such counseling and their clients and parents who are receiving and benefiting from such counseling; the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH); and the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC). Liberty Counsel is currently litigating a case challenging California Senate Bill 1172, which is virtually identical to the New Jersey law, and has obtained an injunction against that law from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono legal assistance and representation on these and related topics.
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