THE word “Christian” pops up with disconcerting frequency in relation to an “expert” who has just been sacked from his new job as a Government drugs adviser.
First, there his name: Dr Hans-Christian Raabe. Then there’s his political stance: he is a member of the Christian Party. He is also a member of the Christian Peoples Alliance. Finally, there’s this headline from the Daily Mail:
Raabe, according to the Daily Mail, was thrown off the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs before he had even taken up his post after the Home Office said he failed to disclose a contentious article he wrote in 2005 in which he  suggested a link between homosexuality and paedophilia.
The rabid Raabe now says he is the “victim of discrimination” and is considering taking legal action against the Government.
According to the Mail, “the married GP” said he had been the target of “vicious, hate-filled personal abuse” over his reported views.
Fundie fool Dr Raabe
…. Ultimately this has got more to do with a small number of activists who I appear to have offended than my ability to make a constructive contribution towards the debate on drugs. I don’t think the Home Office will have me back, but I’m concerned about the implications for public debate, so I would consider taking it to court on a point of principle.
The appointment of German-born Raabe, 46, had been welcomed by anti-drugs campaigners. He has called for ministers to aspire towards a drug-free society rather than concentrate on managing the harm caused by addiction.
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper last night said Labour had warned Dr Raabe was an unsuitable candidate for the ACMD from the start. She said:
I call on the Home Secretary to release any papers that reveal advice given by officials and others on the suitability of his appointment.
Pink News reported that the Manchester GP is a member of the Maranatha Community, a Christian movement which believes homosexuality can be cured.
Raabe is a medical co-ordinator of the Council for Health and Wholeness (CHW), a Christian organisation based within the Maranatha Community. In a briefing documents from 2005 written by Raabe for the CHW, homosexuality is described as “destructive” and is associated with disease and drug use:
The media and the gay movement portray the homosexual lifestyle as happy, healthy and fulfilled. However, the homosexual lifestyle is associated with a large number of very serious physical and emotional health consequences.
Another paper, co-authored by Raabe, claimed:
While the majority of homosexuals are not involved in paedophilia, it is of grave concern that there is a disproportionately greater number of homosexuals among paedophiles and an overlap between the gay movement and the movement to make paedophilia acceptable.
It also stated:
Despite the impression given by the media, the actual number of homosexuals is quite small. Essentially all surveys show the number of homosexuals to be only 1-3 per cent of the population.
Meanwhile it is reported that a “rude and obnoxious” Christian podiatrist refused to treat a man who was HIV-positive because he did not approve of homosexuality.
Steve Hardie also failed to provide proper treatment to a diabetic patient he thought was “effeminate”.
The foot doctor faces several charges relating to his treatment of patients and colleagues he “perceived” were homosexual between May 2005 and June 2009.
Hardie is appearing before his governing body, the Health Professions Council, where he is accused of misconduct while working for Peterborough Community Services.
Hat tip: BarrieJohn
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
February 8th, 2011 at 11:37 am
He should have lost his job not because he’s a idiotic homophobic bigot (yes, because of his religion) but because he’s an idiot WRT drugs (which just happens to also be because of his religion) and incapable of doing the job he was expected to do.
Being an embarrassment to the government shouldn’t be a criterion for being rebuked, even if it’s because one is a raging gay-hater: hell, if that were the case, half of the conservative back benches should be shown the door.
A good result, but very badly executed.
February 8th, 2011 at 11:37 am
Christianity is the cancer of the World
February 8th, 2011 at 11:54 am
And no heterosexual has ever been sick or mentally ill.
Being straight is great – sure look at this guy, he’s straight (allegedly) and he came second in the local gymkhana.
February 8th, 2011 at 12:00 pm
Silly little man. All this homosexuality can be cured business reminds me of when left-handedness was considered an abnormality requiring correction. One day sexuality will be seen in the same light as handedness and the Daily Mail will move onto some other scandelous behaviour such as a fondness for Country Music.
February 8th, 2011 at 12:03 pm
=However, the religious lifestyle is associated with a large number of very serious physical and emotional health consequences.=
I suggest this is more accurate. For evidence you could consider the consequences of their lifestyle for those exemplars of christianity, Roman Catholic priests.
February 8th, 2011 at 12:10 pm
Well, clearly his views on homosexuality have no bearing on his fitness to be a member of a Drug Misuse Council. His error was failing to disclose the paper he wrote. So the problem is not his views, so much as the fact that he isn’t honest and open.
February 8th, 2011 at 12:15 pm
I agree with Nullifidian. I would normally have some sympathy, but I can’t in this case – and not just because it’s homophobia nor even because it involves religion. He should have turned the post down flat as he obviously has strong personal views which would have made it impossible for him to make balanced, unbiased, fact-based judgments. I had many Christian friends and colleagues who – like this man and his supporters – thought it their duty to try to influence public policy wherever they could under the guise of being “right-thinking people” and self-appointed guardians of public morals (see my earlier comments re school governors!).
February 8th, 2011 at 12:20 pm
Somebody who believes being gay is a “lifestyle” choice, despite more than 30 years of medical consensus to the contrary, is not qualified to make evidence-based decisions. His belief in a link between homosexuality and pedophilia shows his inability (or worse, unwillingness) to accurately analyze statistics. Someone who can neither understand medical literature or analyze statistics is unqualified for the position.
February 8th, 2011 at 12:29 pm
“the married GPâ€
Any bets on what the future ex-wife will have to say about him?
February 8th, 2011 at 12:36 pm
Of course, if he had been a death cultist, he would have got the job.
February 8th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
1/He lied on his application.
2/He is not qualified for the position.
WTF is he complaining about?
February 8th, 2011 at 12:43 pm
I cannot undeerstand how these bigots get their jobs in the first place, surely before they are taken on their backgrounds should be thoroughly investigated. I wonder how much is swept under the carpet in order to give jobs to the old boy network. The same for Judges who can make decisions on life and death should be scrutanised.
February 8th, 2011 at 1:26 pm
@ Anonymous As usual with religiots, this loon has a set of unshakable beliefs which he then strives to concoct theories and evidence to support. By starting with the answer and working backwards not only are his methodologies the complete antithesis of all accepted scientific procedure, they make him utterly incompetent and completely inappropriate for the post he held.
What’s the betting the lovely old Christian Legal Centre is or will get involved with this one?
February 8th, 2011 at 1:44 pm
In this proper newspaper report two weeks ago, it was revealed that Raabe was the only GP on the ACMD and he had never had any peer review research on drug addiction published. So how the feck did he get the job?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/scie.....committees
February 8th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
How do applicants, like this man, get appointed? Not too difficult to answer, I suggest. That fact is that fundmentalists like this GP, while not revealing the extremes of their religious obsessions, produce a favourable response in many members of appointment panels. Get some christian or christians on a panel and a man like this comes across as a straightforward believer, with no ifs and buts, and that is then interpreted as being sound and ethical.
That the opposite is the case is not explored. This kind of man, like his co religionists, knows from the outset what is the “truth” and all information, facts or differing views twisted and distorted to fit in with that.
February 8th, 2011 at 2:53 pm
The media and the gay movement portray the homosexual lifestyle as happy, healthy and fulfilled.
On what planet? Over the last twenty or so years, virtually any plot centered on gay male characters in TV drama or film has been rife with unhappiness, infidelity and self-destruction.
Marcus, the CLC have grabbed it with both hands.
February 8th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
We have Dr Evan Harris to thank for this action, evidently!
http://www.anglican-mainstream.....-properly/
February 8th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
As Stuart W says, Andrea Minichiello Williams is now going at it hammer and thongs (sic):
http://christianlegalcentre.com/view.php?id=1238
February 8th, 2011 at 3:39 pm
The Maranatha Community are a very interesting outfit, with depressingly predictable views on sodomy, but Dr Raabe’s views come about as the result of independent and replicable scientific study, no doubt, and not as a result of preconceived, primitive, ignorant bigotry!
Research into Healing
In addition to learning from others who are involved in inner healing ministry, we have written material outlining our experience of healing in the following areas:generational healing, healing homosexuality, healing in Northern Ireland.
http://www.maranathacommunity......osexuality
February 8th, 2011 at 4:14 pm
Working with substance abuse in the homeless community I only new if one person being gay from hundreds in system…
February 8th, 2011 at 4:41 pm
‘Christian drug expert’?
Bwahaha!!!!
Has anyone ever met a drug dealer who tells people his product offers everlasting life, or a smackhead dumb enough to believe it?
February 8th, 2011 at 5:47 pm
The ACMD is a farce anyway, since the sacking of Prof. David Nutt for criticising politicians for “distorting” and “devaluing” research evidence. This was followed by wholesale resignations of good and honest doctors. All the government want now is a committee that will endorse government policy.
February 8th, 2011 at 5:57 pm
@David Anderson: Quite correct. No one of an independent mind would touch the job with a barge pole now!
February 8th, 2011 at 6:33 pm
@David Anderson: That needed emphasing. The government want a bunch of compliant members of the ACMD. Anyone with a robust, independent outlook is not wanted. What they will get, of course, are also the less able doctors: it goes with the territory. They can sit around chewing the fat and feeling important.
February 8th, 2011 at 6:44 pm
BTW: Just as a point of interest, “Maranatha” is supposed to mean “Our Lord cometh” or some such drivel, and is a word much beloved of evangelical Christians!
February 8th, 2011 at 6:44 pm
A different angle: I expect Roobe went into this job with bad intent. Xtians are known to stalk prisons and rehab centres under the guise of helping people get off drugs or alcohol; they may achieve this, but only to substitute a different and dangerous addiction – religion.
February 8th, 2011 at 7:04 pm
Angela_K
Quite right. Only pre-approved cultists are welcome, though. Otherwise it may cause a fuss.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/ho.....jails.html
February 8th, 2011 at 7:20 pm
Anonymous: Evangelical Christians have been doing the same thing for at least fifty years with the likes of their very popular Emmaus correspondence courses. The courses are childish in the extreme, and a certificate is awarded upon completion of each, with the puerile assumption that by reading each chapter and answering the questions the participant has absorbed the “spiritual lessons” therein!
http://www.emmausbibleschooluk...../index.htm
February 8th, 2011 at 8:00 pm
Doing Time With Jesus
bwahahaha! Thanks for that, barriejohn!
February 8th, 2011 at 8:40 pm
The xtian right have been brainwashing prisoners for years in the States. It took off big time when the loveable George W Bush gave it his (and therefore god’s) official blessing.
http://www.cephaslibrary.com/i.....oners.html
February 8th, 2011 at 9:18 pm
I don’t think they are being brainwashed all the time. A lot of them know that if they appear to be “new men” then their chances of parole shoot skywards. You have no idea how gullible some Christians can actually be!
February 8th, 2011 at 11:04 pm
@ barriejohn Point taken.
February 9th, 2011 at 12:29 am
I am beginning to wonder whether Andrea Minichiello Willians is a closet homosexual as she seems to have an obsessive fascination with the subject. Are there no other issues that she could gainfully employ her time investigating like christians who batter their wives!
February 9th, 2011 at 12:30 am
Rabbe said:
“Despite the impression given by the media, the actual number of homosexuals is quite small. Essentially all surveys show the number of homosexuals to be only 1-3 per cent of the population.”
How laughable is it? Go to a gay or lesbian bar in a population center on a weekend. Then multiply that by the number of gay or lesbian establishments in that population center. Then consider the number of homosexuals that don’t care for music too loud to have a conversation, and ridiculously priced drinks, before the obligatory tips. Then consider those who have settled down in a relationship and have grown out that scene. Then consider those who fear being seen by coworkers entering or leaving such an establishment. Then consider bisexuals who linger on the fringe of the culture.
I lived in San Diego for ten years. I had several gay friends. That was just enough to give me a glimpse from the outside of what is an enormous social movement. So huge, that even right wing fanatics like George W. Bush are afraid to confront them. He wants to save the word, “marriage” for the god blessed union of a man and a woman.
That offends a lot of gay people. And I have never understood that. I say, give Bush his religious institution and shove it sideways up his ass. The relevent issue is equal rights, no matter which label you place on it.
I know their are confused people out there who want to be christian and gay at the same time. Okay, FINE!!!!! It’s seems like an oxymoron to me, but, you can form your own church. ANYONE can do it. And your pastor can bestow god’s blessing on your relationship, and the beauty of it is, it’s tax free.
Your equal rights are out there for grabs. You have the political clout. The biggest step in that direction is to stop trying to steal a religious institution from the fundies, and create your own definition for your relationships.
NeoWolfe
February 9th, 2011 at 2:28 am
I met christians belonging to TFT (True Freedom Trust)One member had attempted suicide, another on antipressant and another from Moorelands Bible College who hid his sexualality through fear of christian criticism. The problem seemed that despite prayer and the promise that God could do anything through faith, the feelings of attraction continued to occur. Either God was unloving and didn’t want to heal, or something was fundamentally wrong with a belief system that promised something but didn’t deliver. If there is a level of unhappiness it is fuelled by the shameful actions of certain high profile christians who forget that their actions can be damaging, hurtful and nasty.
February 9th, 2011 at 3:19 am
Even taking a slurp of a nice red in church on Sunday can spread …disease, ‘coz they give the big brass thingy they serve it in a cursery wipe with a bit of tissue, probably blessed by the god Dettol. But at least we know these days what causes it and we don’t blame a mythical godly thing. And who knows who’s been handling the crackers…I bet they’re generic. perhaps strawers are the answer.
February 9th, 2011 at 6:21 am
NeoWolfe: Even worse, I saw a clip of a US news programme recently in which the anchor’s claim that the proportion of atheists in the country lay between “one and three percent” went entirely unchallenged!
February 9th, 2011 at 6:54 am
Walter: Moorlands Bible College – hahaha!!! I was looking them up recently, as they were very popular with the Plymouth Brethren when I was a young man. They sent a student to assist with a “tent campaign” in Hampshire in the 1960s, and he became known as “Roger the dodger” – due largely to the fact that he far preferred prayer and Bible study to actually doing any real work! That confirmed all my suspicions about such “seats of learning” and the type of person who is drawn to them. I knew far too many “full time workers” who were anything but: most of them knew when they were onto a good thing – especially when they stayed free of charge with Christians who did a proper job every day, and saw the struggle that they had to support their families as well as those idlers. One with whom I used to stay never got up before late morning, and then did practically nothing until it was time to get ready for the occasional speaking engagement in the afternoon or evening. (“Studying The Word” of course!)
On a more serious note, I spent years of self-loathing pleading with “God” to deliver me from my “vile and disgusting” homosexual feelings, and cannot believe even now how stupid and gullible I was to believe that “prayer” was somehow going to change my innate nature!
February 9th, 2011 at 9:20 am
Interesting stats.
Now, we know that “ex-gays” are something like 20 times more likely to be abusers than the rest of the population combined. I wonder what percentage of the gay peadophile group Mr Raabe believes he has identified are in fact trying to reject their homosexuality? Could it be that denying your sexuality makes you a threat? It would certainly explain all the nominally asexual religious abusers.
February 10th, 2011 at 1:08 am
Bjohn said:
” Even worse, I saw a clip of a US news programme recently in which the anchor’s claim that the proportion of atheists in the country lay between “one and three percent†went entirely unchallenged!”
Let me guess, Bill O’Reilly’s interview with David Silverman. B.O. doesn’t do interviews, he conducts lectures, even with Obama, and the guest(?)is left to try to get a word in edgeways. Fox network’s brand of supposed journalism.
But, even the most accurate and unbiased study to find how many people label themselves as “atheists” will render no clue as to how many freethinkers there are. There are millions of people out there in the world who are disgusted with organized religion, but, that doesn’t mean they believe that the universe is an accident. And just like being gay, being an atheist carries with it a certain social stigma, an assumption of being amoral, and having no desire to be charitable. Erroneous, yet coming out of the closet as an atheist, even if they have satisfied themselves that scientific evidence is strong enough to assume that the existence of everything is an accident, there are many who will keep their opinions to themselves. To save their jobs, their friendships, their clientele. Obviously, the actual number is unquantifiable.
Thanks for baiting me, and giving me another chance to be that scratched vinyl disk, yet again.
NeoWolfe
February 10th, 2011 at 6:26 am
Thanks for baiting me, and giving me another chance to be that scratched vinyl disk, yet again.
Did you REALLY read that into my comment? I’m beginning to feel sorry for you, NeoWolfe! (You’re spot on about the scratched vinyl disc though!!)
PS That wasn’t the clip, BTW, as that wouldn’t
have surprised me at all.
February 11th, 2011 at 1:28 pm
Is PC Vendetta a relation to Judge Dredd?
February 11th, 2011 at 9:57 pm
Same crap, different idiot.