Who, me, cynical?

Yeah, OK, I know I'm more cynical nowadays, but I think that even in my most charitable moods I would tend to see this as nothing more than a case of the Christian nuts being mercenary:

$6 million budget shortfall forces Focus on the Family to drop Ex-Gay program

Citing a “serious budget shortfall” the conservative Christian group, Focus on the Family has been prompted to issue a special fundraising plea, and has also decided to hand over control of its contentious “Love Won Out” Ex-Gay program to another religious organization, a FotF spokesman said Tuesday.

Focus on the Family is looking at a $6 million short fall in its $138 million budget for this fiscal year- a budget larger than all national and regional gay-equality organizations combined.

From the Love Won Out website:

Focus on the Family's Love Won Out conference on homosexuality will be transitioning to Exodus International starting November, the longtime allies announced today. The move is a logical step not only for both organizations, but also for a movement that has educated and equipped Christians for decades about the reality that unwanted same-sex attractions can be overcome.

* * *

Gary Schneeberger, vice president of media and public relations for the ministry, acknowledged that financial realities played a role in the conference's transition to Exodus.

"Everyone knows these are challenging times for organizations and individuals all across the globe," he said. "It is not an inexpensive undertaking to put on a Love Won Out event; and contrary to what our detractors say, the conferences rarely have recouped the financial investment made in them. That is a cost we have always paid because of the positive impact the events have had."

But now that they know it's not a money-maker, well, gee, I guess it's time to give up on convertin' teh gays. It's more profitable to concentrate on their core mission of shearing their sheep.

Oh, and about that "reality that unwanted same-sex attractions can be overcome" stuff? It's bullshit:

Psychologists repudiate gay-to-straight therapy

Aug 5, 2009

NEW YORK — The American Psychological Association declared Wednesday that mental health professionals should not tell gay clients they can become straight through therapy or other treatments.

Instead, the APA urged therapists to consider multiple options — that could range from celibacy to switching churches — for helping clients whose sexual orientation and religious faith conflict.

In a resolution adopted on a 125-to-4 vote by the APA's governing council, and in a comprehensive report based on two years of research, the 150,000-member association put itself firmly on record in opposition of so-called "reparative therapy" which seeks to change sexual orientation.

Personally, I think Focus on the Family already knew this. But they thought there was money to be made by preying upon the gay Christians. Now that they know there isn't?

Well, draw your own conclusions.

Jim Downey

(Via dKos.)