Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 23, 1995 TAG: 9502230094
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium
The Rev. Mel White said in an interview in the Virginia Beach Jail he will remain in the isolated cell where he has been since Feb. 15 and refuse food until Robertson publicly condemns violence against homosexuals.
``I don't think Pat Robertson wants anybody hurt or beaten or killed,'' White said. ``But when you get up in a theater and yell `Fire' and people get trampled, you are responsible for those deaths.''
Gene Kapp, a spokesman for Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network, said Robertson already ``condemns violence of any kind'' and White was trying to create ``a media event to publicize himself.''
Kapp said White showed up on a day when Robertson was out of town and refused to meet with other ministry executives who were willing to discuss homosexuality with him.
White, a volunteer clergyman in Dallas for the Los Angeles-based Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, a national gay denomination, said he has tried for three years to meet with Robertson. He was arrested on a charge of trespassing at Robertson's CBN offices.
White was a ghost writer for a Robertson book in 1986. He said he acknowledged his homosexuality in 1991, the year all ties with Robertson were severed.
``You have every right to say what you believe,'' White wrote in a letter to Robertson. ``But ... so much of what you say is misleading and dangerously inflammatory.''
Robertson wrote White a letter this month refusing to meet with him. Robertson, who condemns homosexuality as a sin, nonetheless wrote in the letter that the Bible directs him to ``have love in my heart toward homosexual and lesbian people.''
Despite the refusal, White showed up at Robertson's headquarters on Valentine's Day carrying flowers and candy and was allowed to sit in the lobby. White stayed outside the building overnight and was arrested the next day.
White said he will refuse offers of bail on the misdemeanor charge because he would have to agree to stay away from CBN headquarters or to pay any fine if he is convicted when his case is heard on March 28.
Instead, he sits in a cell that is isolated from other inmates, drinking only water and other liquids in a prayer fast that he hopes will convince Robertson to change his mind and see him.
``If I can't walk across that campus, if he has to call the civil authorities to arrest me, you can see how frustrated I am,'' White said.
Robertson ``cannot and will not take responsibility for the actions of extremists who are bent on committing acts of violence, whether the issue is homosexuality or abortion,'' Kapp said.
by CNB