TRIAL VIDEO: Ex-Gay JONAH Witness Explains How Naked Dance Parties With Men Totally Made Him Straight

Via the SPLC:

This is a condensed version of a sworn video deposition presented at a June 2015 trial in New Jersey: Ferguson v. JONAH. Conversion therapy provider JONAH offered Hoffman as a “success story” witness claiming that conversion therapy works to change sexual orientation from gay to straight. A jury unanimously decided that JONAH is liable for consumer fraud for misrepresentations including that its program was effective in changing sexual orientation from gay to straight.

You have GOT to watch this. "It's literally just a fun 'boy' atmosphere where men are just having a lot of fun together experiencing their wild side. By the time the 'wild party' comes along everybody just kind of joins the fun unclothed. After the 'wild party' they are led to the showers."

(Via Equality Case Files)

Christopher Doyle Has The JONAH Sadz

"Because of the lack of respect by Judge Bariso for JONAH’s spiritual practices, it was practically impossible for the jury to hand down a not-guilty verdict. At nearly every point before, during and after testimony was given, the judge undermined JONAH’s freedom of religion. Potential jurors who believed homosexuality is a sin were screened out; defense attorney Charles Limandri was not allowed to discuss JONAH’s 1st Amendment freedom of religious expression in his closing arguments; and Judge Bariso effectively handicapped JONAH’s ability to defend itself by cutting out the ability to argue with a synthesis of faith and science, which would have been a true reflection of their religious counseling program. In order to mount an appeal, JONAH’s attorneys, the Freedom of Conscience Defense Fund, will need upwards of a million dollars. This is in addition to the three million it already cost for the initial defense, and the nearly four million JONAH might have to pay for the Plaintiff’s legal costs should the guilty verdict be upheld." - Ex-gay crackpot Christopher Doyle, in a money beg posted today on BarbWire.

BREAKING: SPLC Wins Fraud Suit Against New Jersey "Ex-Gay" Torture Group

NJ.com reports:

A New Jersey jury on Thursday found a non-profit group that provides gay-to-straight conversion therapy guilty of consumer fraud for promising clients they could overcome their sexual urges by undressing in front of other men, pummeling an effigy of their mothers, and re–enacting traumatic childhood experiences.

In the first case in the nation to put the controversial practice on trial, the jury concluded that Arthur Goldberg and Elaine Berk, the founders of Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing in Jersey City and life coach Alan Downing to whom JONAH referred patients, "engaged in unconscionable commercial practices" and misrepresented their services.

The verdict requires JONAH and Downing to refund thousands of dollars paid by former clients Michael Ferguson, Benjamin Unger, Sheldon Bruck, Chaim Levin, and parents Jo Bruck and Bella Levin for the individual and group counseling sessions and the "journey into manhood" weekends in the woods. Downing charged $60 to $100 for group and individual sessions but shared 20 percent with JONAH to help defray its administrative costs.

The SPLC says they will now seek an injunction to force JONAH from operating. They'll also seek legal fees. What a terrible, terrible month for Maggie Gallagher!

NEW JERSEY: SPLC Attorney Shreds Head Of "Ex-Gay" Group During Fraud Trial

The SPLC's fraud lawsuit against the New Jersey-based "ex-gay" group JONAH has been underway since last week. Via New Jersey Jewish News:

On the trial’s second day, the plaintiffs’ lawyer Lina Bensman pointed out that Goldberg was a disbarred attorney who in 1989 was incarcerated for six months on federal tax fraud and conspiracy charges while heading a New York underwriting firm. She asked why he had occasionally identified himself as a “doctor,” although he was not a physician and had no PhD. “I am a JD, a juris doctor,” he explained. Goldberg also acknowledged that he used the title “rabbi” on occasion, although he was not ordained. “I was not a rabbi,” he said. “I have no formal religious training other than going to a yeshiva in grade school.”

Goldberg also testified, “I have never been a licensed counselor. I give advice.” But after being shown a signed document projected on a video screen, Goldberg acknowledged he had applied to the American Psychotherapy Association to become a certified relationship specialist and a certified professional counselor. “But these certifications were revoked?” asked Bensman. “Yes, ma’am” he replied. “And the certifications read, ‘I certify I have not been convicted of a felony’?” “That is correct,” he said. Under questioning by his own attorney, Goldberg said he believed that his felony fraud and conspiracy convictions were essentially nullified more than 20 years after his guilty pleas in 1989, allowing him to check “no” on the application.

More about Goldberg from the Village Voice:

In 1987, prosecutors accused Goldberg of orchestrating a massive municipal-bond fraud scheme, essentially selling more than $2 billion in bogus bonds between 1985 and 1986 to finance public works projects in smaller, rural, and often poor communities in the Midwest. Most of the projects were never completed, and Goldberg was eventually charged with 52 counts of bribery, fraud, and conspiracy, among other things, by a federal grand jury. He later pleaded guilty to three counts of mail fraud in California. The scheme cost the U.S. Treasury millions in lost taxes, and Matthews & Wright Inc. lost its license to sell securities and later dissolved completely.

Goldberg, who testified before a jury on June 8, declined on several occasions to speak on the record for this article. One day at the JONAH offices in Jersey City he confronted a Voice reporter, asking her to leave the building and calling her presence "absolutely inappropriate and out of line." He would later agree to answer a few questions, through his lawyer, via email. "Over 100 people lost their jobs and a good career because of what Arthur did, and that's just pure greed," Goldberg's former colleague says. "And he never apologized to anyone. I hoped he'd get life [in prison]. If I'd run into him on the street, I'd grab him by the throat."

Hit the first link for more about the trial and the second for an excellent and lengthy history of the "ex-gay" movement. Equality Case Files is attending the trial and is posting transcripts of the proceedings. JONAH is being defended by a legal group headed by Maggie Gallagher.

UPDATE: Check out how hate group leader Austin Ruse characterizes Goldberg over at Breitbart:

All his life Arthur Goldberg was a liberal New York Jew, almost stereotypical. He fought for civil rights for African Americans, he fought for better housing for New York’s poor, the whole schmear of respectable liberal causes. And then his son came out as gay and Arthur wanted to help him. When they founded JONAH, neither Goldberg or Berk knew that choice in sexual orientation or choice in psychological counseling would become a third rail in progressive politics. Now they are the target of one of the richest and most powerful left-wing groups in America. The Southern Poverty Law Center — with $340 in the bank and revenues of $50 million a year — is a group with almost limitless money to spend on litigation and it, along with activist Wayne Besen of a group called Truth Wins Out, have spent millions to put JONAH out of business and to punish Goldberg and Berk for trying to help those with unwanted same-sex attraction.

NEW JERSEY: Jury Hears Openings In "Ex-Gay" Fraud Suit Filed by SPLC

Via the Associated Press:

The four plaintiffs sued Jersey City-based JONAH in 2012, claiming the group violated state consumer fraud laws by characterizing homosexuality as a mental disorder and claiming it could successfully change patients' sexual orientation. The plaintiffs say they underwent treatment that included being told to spend more time naked with their fathers and participating in role-playing in which they were subjected to anti-gay slurs in a locker room setting. "My clients needed help but JONAH lied and JONAH made it worse," plaintiffs' attorney David Diniello told jurors. "All they got was junk science and so-called cures."

Three of the four plaintiffs were young men from Orthodox Jewish families in Brooklyn, Diniello said, who were grappling with their sexuality in a culture in which "there were no gay people" and there was pressure to marry and have children. The fourth, Michael Ferguson, is a Mormon who sought out JONAH. Attorney Charles LiMandri, representing JONAH, said none of the four asked for their money back at the time. "All four of these men left JONAH on good terms, speaking glowingly" of their experience and referring it to friends, he said. It was only after being contacted by activists that they denounced the organization, he said. "The plaintiffs became aggressors after they left JONAH to destroy JONAH," LiMandri said.

One plaintiff reports that the "therapy" included beating a pillow with a tennis racket while screaming about his mother. (You might remember "ex-gay" nutter Richard Cohen demonstrating this on CNN.) In 2012 plaintiff Chaim Levin told Truth Wins Out that his JONAH treatment included "removing my clothing and touching myself in a locked room" while the counselor watched.

Cancer Charities Hit With Fraud Charges, Feds Say They Stole $187M From Donors

Via USA Today:

Charities that claimed their funds were helping patients fighting cancer but were actually spending the bulk of donations on vacations, concerts and other luxurious perks are facing federal charges that they stole more than $187 million from consumers in one of the biggest charity fraud cases ever filed. The Federal Trade Commission, along with law enforcement officials throughout the U.S., filed the complaint against the Cancer Fund of America, Children's Cancer Fund of America, The Breast Cancer Society and Cancer Support Services, along with several of those organizations' executives.

"The defendants' egregious scheme effectively deprived legitimate cancer charities and cancer patients of much-needed funds and support," Jessica Rich, director of the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a statement. "The defendants took in millions of dollars in donations meant to help cancer patients, but spent it on themselves and their fundraisers. I'm pleased that the FTC and our state partners are acting to end this appalling scheme."

The Children's Cancer Fund of America and its president and executive director, Rose Perkins [PHOTO], along with The Breast Cancer Society and its executive director, James Reynolds II, and Cancer Support Services' chief financial officer, Kyle Effler, have agreed to settle the charges that they are facing. The three executives will be barred from managing charities, fundraising and overseeing charity assets. The Children's Cancer Fund of America and The Breast Cancer Society will also go out of business. The other parties in the complaint will continue to face legal action.

Todd Starnes Has A Fox Xmas Special

Pat Robertson: Gay Rights Are Destroying Everything The Pilgrims Worked For

Email Of The Day: Eugene Delgaudio

"Dear Joe, Congress's lame duck session begins today. As you're reading this email, the radical Homosexual Lobby is pulling out all the stops to bend the ear of Republican House leadership. They're desperate for a vote on the Gay Bill of Special Rights before the new Congress -- with a Republican Senate -- convenes in January. They know that right now -- while defeated and retiring representatives still have the power to vote on laws -- is their best chance they have to get a vote for at least two more years. Fortunately, this is also our best chance to derail their agenda. If Republican House leadership holds the line against the Gay Bill of Special Rights, it wipes out the Homosexual Lobby's success in passing it through the Senate for the first time ever. Public Advocate can make this happen. My staff and I have already drawn up a hard-hitting grassroots campaign to keep Republican House leadership's feet to the fire. But I need your help to raise our $15,000 program budget by midnight. And time is running out. Without your signed petition and financial support of $15, $25, or even $35, the Homosexual Lobby's dirty tricks might win the day. Joe, you and I can't let that happen." - Eugene Delgaudio, in his third money beg this week, the first of which claimed credit for the ruling by the Sixth Circuit Court.

Exorcism Of The Day

Clip recap: "Demons of Leviathan, Murder, & Sabotage declared, 'We own her!' But God had a different plan for a young woman named Sarah. As a child her father said she was worthless, but now Sarah finds the Lord’s wonderful plan for her life."

Eugene Delgaudio Vs Cory Brooker

Delgaudio is claiming that the misspelling was on purpose.

A Virginia-based group that opposes gay rights has sent out a postcard to New Jersey voters opposing U.S. Sen. Cory Booker’s re-election. But it spells the Democratic senator's name wrong. The postcard was sent out by Public Advocate of the United States, a non-profit group. On the front, it shows two men kissing and, in big white letters on a pink background, these words: “Is this Cory Brooker’s (sic) plan for New Jersey?” The president of the group, Eugene Delgaudio, said that was intentional.

“It’s a tactic to get attention, which we did get. You’re calling me,” he said of the ad campaign, which he said was “very low budget” and included about 50,000 postcards. His group is attacking candidates in other states as well. The back of the postcard says that Republican U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Bell filled out the group’s survey and “earned a 100% pro-family rating.” The postcard also incorrectly calls Bell, who has never won an elected office, a senator. It goes on to say that Booker did not answer the survey “and has earned a 0% Pro-Family rating due to his praise for homosexual ‘marriage’ and co-sponsoring the Gay Bill of Special Rights.”

Booker is leading Bell by double-digits. You should call Delgaudio and ask him for a souvenir copy of the above postcard. Also, here's a photo of ole Eugene and a giant cookie.

Pat Robertson: Gays Are Terrorists

Via Right Wing Watch:

These people are terrorists, they’re radicals and they’re extremists. No Christian in his right mind would ever try to enforce somebody against their belief or else suffer jail. They did that during the Inquisition, it was horrible, it was a black mark on our history, but it isn’t being done now. There’s no Christian group I know of anywhere in the world that would force somebody to do something contrary to their deep-held religious beliefs or else face criminal penalties, but that’s what the homosexuals are trying to do here in America and I think it’s time pastors stand up and fight this monstrous thing. If the gays want to go out and do their gay sex, that’s one thing, but if they want you to force you to accept it and solemnify it by marriage then that’s a different matter and it’s an infringement on people’s religious belief.

Watch the full crazy.

Robertson: You Can Get AIDS From Towels

Exorcist Bob Larson: I Make House Calls

Bob Larson will perform an in-home exorcism for you and in "just one hour" all those pesky demons will flee your body. Somebody call and get the rate.

In just one hour you can the life you’ve always wanted. Bob Larson will help you overcome the obstacles holding back your spiritual destiny. Stop the cycles of failure, poverty and sickness. Break family curses at the root! Discover the cause of destructive habits and addictions. Get rid of demons. Uncover hindering issues. Be healed of infirmities. No pastor, priest, or counselor has dealt with more spiritually bound people and seen them set free. This isn’t counseling. This isn’t therapy. This is intervention to get answers NOW! Your lifetime of suffering will end. Your torment will stop. The job you need, the relationships you desire will finally be within your reach. The choice is simple–stay stuck or move on to spiritual fulfillment and success in every area of life. Get free, stay free, and live free! Need help right where you are? Is your house haunted? Are you unable to travel? Bob makes house calls. If you can’t get to Bob, he will get to you. To arrange for your time with Pastor Bob, email Bob@boblarson.org or call 303-980-1511.

Exorcism Of The Day

Clip recap: "Energodar, Ukraine is home to the largest nuclear plant in Europe. It will also be remembered as the place where a drug addict name Anton with violent demons came the Christ and was delivered. Watch as seven men struggle to restrain Anton. This exorcism is translated into Russian." Acting! In Russian!

Live Faith-Healing By Pat Robertson

Right there over the tee-vee!

Pat Robertson: When Faith Healing Fails, It's Because People "Enjoy Their Sickness"

NIGERIA: Multimillionaire Pastor Sends Planeload Of "Holy Water" To Cure Ebola

Multimillionaire faith-healer T.B. Joshua has sent a planeload of "holy water" to Sierra Leone because it will cure ebola. Via Vocative:

Sierra Leone just got a big gift from a strange man. To help the West African country fight the escalating Ebola crisis, Nigerian Christian preacher Temitope Joshua says he has sent the Sierra Leone government 4,000 bottles of his patented holy anointed water and $50,000 in cash in a private jet, which also cost $50,000 to charter. Sierra Leone will, one would assume, take every penny it can get to stem the Ebola outbreak, which has claimed more than 1,000 lives worldwide, with the majority of the victims in West African countries. Such odd largess does certainly beg the question, though: Who the hell is this guy? For starters, Joshua is a millionaire. Forbes reported that with an estimated net worth of $10 million to $15 million, Joshua is one of the richest pastors in Nigeria. He’s also one the most controversial. He’s the founder and head of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), and has been dubbed a prophet by some. Joshua has claimed for years that he has healing powers that can tackle a myriad of incurable diseases such as cancer and HIV—and that he can peek into the future.

Hemant Mehta weighs in at Friendly Atheist:

This isn’t just ineffective, it’s harmful. It’s possible that people suffering from the disease — who need to be quarantined and given whatever scientific treatment options are available — could “anoint” themselves with the water, wrongly think they’re cured, and then go out in public again, spreading the virus even further. I never thought I’d say this, but Joshua would be doing more for Ebola patients by praying for them, only because it would have no effect on them whatsoever.

PREVIOUSLY ON JMG:  Four people were killed in Ghana in 2013 in a church stampede to get "AIDS-curing holy water" from T.B. Joshua. In 2011, three women died in London after pastors from Joshua's church convinced them to throw away their HIV medications.

Exorcism Of The Day

"Casting out demons isn't easy, especially what that demon is a tough one like Jezebel - who doesn't want to give up her host!"

IRELAND: US-Based Church To Hold HIV "Cure" Sessions Using Industrial Bleach

Via the Independent:

A controversial American Church which is coming to Ireland this weekend is promising a “miracle” cure for patients – but it is, in fact, industrial-strength bleach. The Genesis II Church will hold an event in Monkstown in Dublin over the weekend. On its website it is advertising the event as including access to its “miracle mineral solution” which, it claims, can “remove” a number of serious conditions including cancer, HIV and autism. However, the product – which is also known as MMS – has been banned in a number of countries including the US and the UK because tests by health and food watchdogs identified it as an “industrial-strength bleach”. Health watchdogs here, contacted by the Irish Examiner newspaper, have also issued warnings. It is understood that those planning to attend the seminar over the weekend will be asked to pay a €295 compulsory donation. The church has a number of Irish members.

From the church's "our beliefs" page:

Spirituality is beyond definition by governments. It is the stuff of natural law, which is shaped by immortal forces and not by humankind. Statutes, constitutions and judicial rulings are created by humankind based on their best, but limited, understanding of how things work. Natural law was here before we humans arrived and will be here long after we are gone. It cannot be governed by mortal minds. The Genesis II Church is unique, as it was formed for the purpose of serving mankind and not for the purpose of worship. Thus the religious beliefs of our members and of other churches are not our business.