Seems that Melissa Garvey and Emily Webster should be asked directly about the character and purpose of the Marin Foundation. Follow the money, or the intent to make money off of an unsuspecting gay community.

This disturbing information about getting money from the Bush administration, using people’s photos on a webside without permission, claiming donors that don’t exist…that is material information. Check the material. Evangelical money makers are nothing new, and the place is crawling with them.

Anyone who has a clever answer about gays being sinners etc, usually uses God says it, and that’s what they really think. Well intentioned or not, this is not in the best interest of the gay community.

So I’d like to know the material truth of Webster’s and Garvey’s charges.

Trying to see what else I can learn in the blogosphere I found friendlyatheist. Following onto this discussion track:

It seems fruitless to ask a man in Andrew Marin’s position “Do you think homosexuality is a sin?” and to expect a yes or no answer. Although it is a ciritical question in many contexts, I don’t a think straight, Christian who assumes the role of a scientific/theological “bridge builder” can afford, philosophically or socially, to give a firm, consistent answer to such a question. So be it.

But personally I am more disturbed by the allegation that Mr. Marin’s bridge building efforts could be viewed by him as little more than a personal wealth scheme….

“He always said he would make a lot of money and his foundation would make him rich,” says Melissa Garvey, a former college classmate, talking about the months preceding the foundation’s inception. “He even told my mom that.” -
(from The Advocate article)

I haven’t seen a rebuttal to that.

It was also alleged that Mr. Marin listed certain supportive GLBT groups amongst his financial sponsors and donors when that, in fact, was not the case. Creating a notion of money out of nothing belies a certain calculated, manipulation….or a significant naivete. I just wouldn’t give a donation to either character without more assurances.

Too bad, because in the big scheme of things I do believe there is a God who is sending a gospel (”good news”) message of unconditional love, and providing a life of eternal hope and inspiration to all concerned in this matter. And I believe that the Christian community, in spite of it’s many current and historic flaws, has known and offered this good news and manifested this hope very legitimately, time and time again, for 2000 years — and, with or without the Marin Foundation, will continue to be blessed to do so.

Finally….and free for the taking….from a straight woman….I believe homosexuality is not a sin.

THink of it this way … we don’t decide what is a sin and what isn’t. God (if there is one … I know this is an atheist site) does. If there is no God, there is no “sin.” But if there is a God, then maybe there is such a thing as sin. And God defines what is and isn’t sin, we don’t.

So asking Mr. marin whther or not he thinks homosexuality is a sin is really nothing mroe than asking him what he thinks God thinks. A God maybe you don’t even believe in (I don’t know you.) So with that in mind, the question is sort of inflamatory and is looking for a reason to pick a fight. If it’s a sin, it doesn’t matter what you or Mr. Marin think. It either is or isn’t, and apparently you disagree on what you think the answer is.

I just saw this blog and figured I’d pop in and give my 2 cents worth…whatever it’s worth. Where Mike O. quoted the portion of the article and spoke about Michelangelo asking me four times…in fact, all Michelangelo did was yell, accuse and blame me for about 15 minutes and never gave me the true opportunity to speak my mind. If that is what he means by asking, then I guess we have two different opions of what a conversation is.

Also, the most interesting part of the article was when Steve Forst, the President of Dignity was quoted as not being happy with the foundation and me misleading him. Well, the truth always comes out, and Steve is now on the record through the Advocate and the media as saying that he NEVER said any of what was printed in the article. How interesting?!

The Marin Foundation is here to build bridges, and we would love the opportunity to talk to anyone about what we do and who we are. I will never enter into their one-sided, he-said-she-said debate, so if you would like to learn the truth, feel free to contact me directly.

We have also posted a repsone on our website, http://www.themarinfoundation.org.

Thank you and God Bless.

Andrew Marin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYRhVcJsypg