Pat Robertson on Religion and Sex Changes

Pat Robertson on Religion and Sex Changes

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Published on Fri Dec 30, 2005 4:08 pm
Rift: eTransgender :: Transgender Forum

The following is a transcript of a segment on The 700 Club which aired October 5, 1999. This is reprinted by permission of the Christian Broadcasting Network. A spokesperson for the CBN noted that while Dr. Pat Robertson does not encourage or promote sex reassignment surgery, he does have compassion for the people who are struggling with this decision. On a personal note to this ministry the spokesperson added "Terri, we pray your ministry continues to reach people. We also pray that you continue to show the personal inner strength that you have, and God will use you in many powerful ways."

TERRY MEEUWSEN: Well, here's the last question, and this is a tough one.

(Graphic on screen)

I'm 40 years old and have had a sex change. I've been watching your program and wonder if God forgave me, should I live as I am now or go back to my birth gender? Goodness. I'm glad you’re answering this one.

PAT ROBERTSON: Oh, Terry, that's yours.

MEEUWSEN: No, you go.

ROBERTSON: No. Now this is a very serious question, and I--and I appreciate it.

MEEUWSEN: Yes, it is a serious question.

ROBERTSON: There are people who are born with various types of hormonal activity in their bodies and they feel more male than female or more female than male. I know a plastic surgeon here in this area who indeed does that sort of thing, and to accommodate what's going on in people's lives.

MEEUWSEN: Which is often a very legitimate hormonal thing happening.

ROBERTSON: Exactly. So it is not a sin, and so you don't need to feel guilty. But know also that if you want to go back to where you were, he--this man can get very graphic. His name is Dr. Charles Horton, and he's one of the most distinguished plastic surgeons and he specializes in urinary type activities and genital deformities. And he was telling me two twins--there were two boys and--and the surgeons, when they were doing circumcision burned off the male organ of this--one of these little boys. So they--they made him into a girl. The--you know, the surgeons actually--you know...

MEEUWSEN: Surgically...

ROBERTSON: Fixed him up so he was now a girl. And when he got to be 21 years old--he was a cheerleader and all that kind of stuff as a girl. He said, `Well, I'm a boy.' I mean, he started feeling these things. So they were able to reverse this and--and--and Horton has--has techniques to restore--it's amazing. He--he's pioneered, he's the most incredible things--there are many people in--in battle who have--who had their genitals actually blown off...

MEEUWSEN: Yeah.

ROBERTSON: ...and he can restore these. It's a remarkable what he can do. And so you say, is--would God forgive me? Of course he does. This isn't something that you've sinned and if you wish to get back, you're 40-some years old, it may be it's not exactly too late and I know, and I say, one man who could--who could do a sex change reversal if that's what you wanted to have done.

MEEUWSEN: But God's interested in his heart, attitude...

ROBERTSON: His heart and soul.

MEEUWSEN: ...and what he's seeking spiritually, right?

ROBERTSON: Not--not what your external organs are, one way or the other, whether it's male or female. The question is, where are you living? Are you living for God and yes, he forgives you and yes, he loves you and yes, he understands what's going on in your body.
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having read this, I was suprised! pat robertson, the conservative preacher , had told the transwoman this! wow! I know that at my own unitarian universalist soceity, we tend to be about the most open minded. well for UU's mattituck UU society of woodbury,CT is still a little sheepish and we have a few who still don't like the way I have worn my skirts to church . but they are getting used to it, more and more of them call me CHERYL and not ***** anymore . a lot of the women have accepted me into their world of womynhood , many of course being liberal feminists, and yes, everybody knows that yes, as cheryl lynne oropal , the woman with the wrong parts for the right job ; of course I use the room marked "dress" on the door and sit to " tinkle" like the rest of them.

Interesting! I have heard some of Pat Robertson's opinions about LGBT people (usually negative), but this puts an interesting light on the subject.

Genevieve

Actually, I think this just shows Robertson doesn't know what he's talking about. He bumbled over his words so much I don't know what he was talking about. And telling the story of David Reimer really has nothing to do with transexuals, surgery, or God's forgiveness. Obviously this is one of the few things he knows about gender and tried to legitimize himself.

However, I am glad he was as kind as he was. I'm pleasantly surprised.

Most of what I've heard Pat Robertson say is so narrow minded and uninformed, that I almost don't believe he actually said this. It's almost like Jerry Falwell saying that gay marriage is legitimate.

I'd like to ask the likes of Pat Robertson and others, how they can claim to know what God is thinking?

On what basis do these people presume to pronounce what is and isn't a sin.

Jesus taught us, quite clearly, what sin is. There are 10 of them. The only one relating to sex is adultry.

spacial wrote:I'd like to ask the likes of Pat Robertson and others, how they can claim to know what God is thinking?

On what basis do these people presume to pronounce what is and isn't a sin.

Jesus taught us, quite clearly, what sin is. There are 10 of them. The only one relating to sex is adultry.

"Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' 6Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. 7But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt[a] in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
12"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

This is how Pat Robinson knows what God is thinking-----However---Pat is a bafoon and a people pleaser....He should never condone this sex change crap---I was born a sinner---My old self loves porn, getting drunk, and all kinds of sin....but I'm not my old self anymore (I've been born again---the one requirement for entering heaven <---that's in the bible 2)----Being born gay, with male or female tendincies doesn't excuse peoples actions. Some people are born natural born killers but that doesn't give them the right to enter schools and blow people away. The apostle Paul said it this way ......live by the Spirit and you wont gratify the desires of your flesh.... sin isn't the issue...people don't go to hell for sin---all sin has been paid for----they got to hell for not receiving the payment (Jesus Christ). You can't say I receive the payment and do anything you like----It just doesn't work that way---If your truly born again...you receive a new spirit that changes your desires...Real Christians arn't acting good---it's the actual result of the Holy Spirit living within them.