In my Jan. 3 column at Gazette.com, I write about the reaction by conservative Christian groups to GOProud, a Republican gay-rights organization, being a co-sponsor  to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, D.C. in February. 

Below is a sampling of executives I interviewed with passionate views on the controversy. 

AGAINST GOPROUD’S INCLUSION IN CPAC:

* Catholic Families for America is a CPAC 2010 co-sponsor. Kevin Roberts is executive director of the organization. Here’s what he says:

“From a religious standpoint, I have a big problem being in CPAC. We hate the sin but love the sinner, but the problem is we disagree with the big-tent theory proposed by CPAC. We are flummoxed. We are not quite sure what to do.”

“It would be really easy for us to blow this wide open, but we don’t want to harm CPAC permanently.”

* American Family Association of Michigan is not on the current list of CPAC 2010 sponsors. Its president is Gary Glenn.

“GOProud wants to integrate homosexuals into barracks and fox holes (i.e., into the military). They promote their agenda that will cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.

“We are hopeful that CPAC will rethink this shallow decision.”

* Alliance Defense Fund is a sponsor of CPAC 2010. Its director of national media relations is Greg Scott.

“It is disappointing that a conference committed to conservatism would include a group that so obviously, on so many fronts, contradicts conservative principles. A quick review of this group’s Web site reveals a far left agenda on social, economic and national security issues that does not align with the core values of CPAC.

“The concerns of multiple Christian groups, including ADF, are well reasoned and very serious. ADF looks forward to answering the misguided ideas advanced by that group with the good ideas ADF shares with a vast majority of Americans.”

BELOW ARE SUPPORTERS OF GOPROUD AS A CO-SPONSOR:

* Conservative Republican Web site The Next Right. Jon Henke is one of three site editors.

“It is absurd that (GOProud) is not considered conservative simply because of a disagreement on gay marriage. It is a very bad sign for the conservative movement and Republican Party if there are factions that refuse to be in the same room with gay people.”

“I also think this is a good sign that some of these issues are coming to a head and will be addressed sooner than later.”

“Sometimes transition requires confrontation.”

* JunkScience.com, a Web site that attempts to correct scientific errors as they relate to Republican politics, is a co-sponosr of CPAC 2010. Steve Milloy is founder and publisher of the site.

“If the group is for free enterprise, individual liberty, sound science and limited government and is against socialism and central government, it’s OK with me.”

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