Frank Schaeffer once produced propaganda films that helped launch the Christian right. Now he feels regret for what he calls an 'anti-family' movement. #CNN #News
Was just thinking the same thing. It must be a dreadful weight on his conscience- the suffering he caused. Ironic he’s now making amends by sharing the truth. That’s the starting point or ought to be- especially for Christians professing belief in a god who self defines as Truth.
As someone who came of age in the 1980s and who was a fundamentalist Christian in that decade, I can attest to the history of what Mr. Schaeffer is describing. I was in the thick of it. Yet, even as a teenager, something did not "smell right" about this "movement." Suddenly, "you will know we are Christians by our Love" morphed into "you will know we are Christians by our politics." Having attended Jerry Falwell Sr.'s Liberty University in the mid-1980s, I saw firsthand how student's were leveraged to advocate for Falwell's politics and propping up his coffers. Required ministerial service could be satisfied by engaging in political activism, like picketing abortion clinics. Seeing what has transpired since that time, has only confirmed the wisdom in leaving this "movement." I am thankful that I was able to see this train wreck at such a young age; yet saddened that most of those I grew up with are still trapped in its vortex.
In the name of Justice, explain why an innocent human being should be executed by starvation, burned alive, limbs torn off, head smashed in, or poisen injected into the heart, held responsible and blamed for the choices of another human being?
@New Jack City RNelson The only argument you’ve made is “ I am in medicine he’s wrong”. You sound fucking stupid make an actual argument or get off the comments. Sorry for my language this just looks weak
@@rebn8346 in the name of justice, explain why innocent women should be raped, forced to have a baby then send them into the world of foster care forever just a lost link in your family. Made half out of you and half out of your rapist.
Agreed. Power itself, a small group of people manipulating masses, lying to them, setting up a scenario where a King is bestowed Divine Power by the Religious Pious, again repeating history as the f We the People never fought, our ancestors never fought, a Kingdom for a US Constitution to proclaim personal and private Rights and Freedoms. Drunk on power l, they are and this man has called them out on their own level. Ps...spellchecker makes us all illiterate. We should ban this technology which changes our words and makes it impossible to be understood.
I am a mother of 3 children. I am a woman. I remember the moment when the fertilized egg implanted in my uterus THE FIRST MONTH. it hurt and was a pinching feeling inside. Those who do not act responsibility to PREVENT getting pregnant in the first place have zero say in this, in my opinion. You all can still use abortion as a form of contraception, just not after a certain developmental state, which makes logical sense if you are a responsible human. If you can vote, you should be sane about this. Not holding my breath. #2020Reality
@@CARidingAcademy great story. Then how come republicans want 12 year olds who were raped by their dad to carry children to term? What does that have to do with taking preventive measures to stop a pregnancy? And what’s with Republicans not wanting to perform abortions for women with ectopic pregnancies? That’s not pro life! That’s straight murder.
You don’t even know what the words fascism and theocracy mean. Your definition of fascism is “anything other than endorsing the agenda of the left”. Your definition of theocracy is “failing to completely eliminate faith from the public square.” Neither is correct.
@@CARidingAcademy I am a lesbian. My partner became pregnant. I felt that. I told her she was pregnant. It took a month for her to figure out that I was not joking. I also take deceased souls to the Light. I walk people through their Life Memories while as a Being of Light, I open the Tunnel at the End of the Light. What you experience is not for everyone to be and do. Just as what I have experienced all of my life, taking Souls to the Light is not for your soul to do or be. In fact, being a lesbian, and not of any religion because no religion today accepts the truth of this ancient knowledge, you likely do not even believe my truth exists.
@@justsomeguy9280 Even if most of them don't change opinion right now it would still saw seeds of doubt in some of them. Definitely a good thing if his message reaches them.
It takes a certain level of self awareness, empathy, and compassion to admit your mistakes...thanks to Frank for his willingness and ability to be accountable for his actions.
I really do appreciate people willing to expose the rotten core of these groups we put up on a pedestal. I grew up in it and it’s toxic. I watched those videos he talks about and I learned how to judge people really well. It’s a memory I’m saddened by, but can’t be ashamed of because I was just one of the many many kids getting indoctrinated from birth. The real world and good honest people, from all sorts of faiths, taught me far better. I’m just grateful that some see the lies for what they are and can get out. What a mess it all is 😞
I am grateful to you, Lynette, for speaking out with an insider’s knowledge. I watched a video with Rev. Schenke, a man who was also involved in the anti-abortion movement for many years, who said there are many people who’ve been raised in that world who privately question the ‘pro-life’ view. So interesting to hear from this man and others who see that the pro-life movement was co-opted by the power and money mongers, and is no longer based on true Christian values. Schenke says also that he is now pro-choice, because choice is an issue like no other as the economic realities for women are so different, and the Christians who vote as they’re told by their pastors are not voting from compassion and love, but from contempt for those who are at the center of this issue.
@@terredee - Schenke and the Bonhoeffer Institute is fantastic. He is publicly shunned by many who privately tell him they WISH they could do what he’s doing. But they are too tied to their money.
Indoctrination is an issue everywhere, but at least you had the intellect to take a critical look and the common sense to then distance yourself from it. I applaud you for that! I was brought up a Christian and was therefore subjected to some minor form of indoctrination, but it wasn’t anywhere near as extreme as it is with American evangelicals. We had religious knowledge in school, which was standard at that time, but didn’t go to church regularly or anything like that. It was therefore easier for me to step away from it in my late teens/early twenties than it is for someone who has been subjected to extreme indoctrination throughout their lives. A few years after I left home, my mother became a Jehovah’s Witness, and my younger brother - 17 years my junior - grew up in that cult since early childhood. He maintains that he believes in it, although I don’t see actual proof of that, seeing as he is now 50 and is still studying the Bible without showing any signs of getting baptized. I personally think he doesn’t want to do the preaching work the JWs have to do, lol. He does, however, show some signs of the zealous views the JWs have. Maybe not as extreme as what I’ve heard from JWs in the US or UK, though. He lives in Cyprus and the Cypriots are generally more laid back.
@@edwardmontoya50 They don't even really care about the unborn either. If they did they'd support universal prenatal care which would cut the number of miscarriages, but they don't. It's all about control.
One of the best interviews I have ever heard. Trust the woman. If you dont want an abortion, don't get an abortion! But you DO NOT have the right to make that choice for every woman. Abortion is the BEST choice for some women and needs to be safe, legal, and accessible.
In 2006 democrats still said safe legal and rate. I actually think Hillary Clinton also said rare in 2016 while campaigning. When did rare change to accessible? When did "men can get pregnant" change back to "men have no say"?
@Mathew Thomas You think men should have a say in the outcome of a woman's pregnancy and force a woman to give birth against her will? What police measures should be used to enforce that?
@@Mathew_Thomas Accessibility does not affect rarity, but abortion can be made rare by limiting accessibility. And men indeed have no say. Nor does anyone else. A woman is the one who makes the choice. Nobody should be able to force her to make a particular choice.
I will simply say you do not know when consciousness starts, or what consciousness is, murdering people in mass because their life sucks is not a very good way of helping people and if it is keep your help away from me. Africa, Lots of starving people, so instead of trying to make their lives better they should all die before they are born. Thats logic in 2022... and you wonder why i won't touch your vaccine pretty sure saving lives isn't what your doing imo... An unborn child has the right to live. A name. A grave. most important a chance to live even if that life may suck.
Criminals choose crime. Crimes are punishable. A womans right over her own person is not a crime, nor punishable. The "law" has no place in this matter.
I went to those seminars in the late 70s and saw Francis and Frank in person several times. They used the same techniques as cult recruitment. And it worked...until I saw the hate-based, brainwashing, power-hungry roots of the movement that was not about life but about the oppression of women, the poor, and minorities in order to preserve their dominance in society. It was about money and power. And it still is. Why has this issue gained so much momentum right now? Because fascism is on the rise in order to preserve outdated power structures and oppress people's rights - outlawing abortion will take us back to the middle ages and that's just how they want it.
George Carlin warned us about how fascism would enter America if it ever did, people wouldn’t realize it. Now there’s a growing rise in authoritarianism in America. It’s becoming very scary.
"...in order to preserve their dominance in society." DAMN. Yours is the first comment I've seen anywhere that closes in on the truth. It's not about anti choice. What common thread tied most of the 1/6 terrorists together? "The Great (White) Replacement". Voting restrictions, gerrymandering, school book bans, anti-choice, mass incarceration, immigration restrictions (the Wall), and other actions are all in service of a single goal: maintaining White Supremacy. RACISM is driving ALL of the GOP actions. Think about it.
Well I didn't know if there is a God, but if there is I'm pretty sure taking a human life would not be acceptable whether it coincides with anyone's own desires or not. Keep making this about a religion if that's your best argument. My objection to abortion is about humanity. Let's keep pretending that the intelligent choices that led to an unwanted pregnancy will lead to even better choices about the taking of another human life. If the guy in this interview is the best pro-abortion can come up with, the anti-abortion people are most likely feeling pretty optimistic.
@@thomaswhite5928 What about the 2% of women who get pregnant and the baby dies in the womb or will die after and the doctors know the baby won't make it? The consequences of those women being FORCED to carry that to term are numerous and all outcomes risk the mother dying. So anti-abortion laws will force TENS OF THOUSANDS of perfectly healthy human beings...WOMEN...and guess what...some of those women will go to your church...to carry to term pregnancies that are already doomed. Are you willing to let those women die because of a law that forces them to carry a baby the doctors already have told them won't make it? A blanket abortion ban MAKES NO SENSE! This law is based on Christian beliefs whether you want to admit it or not. Well guess what buddy...your freedom of religion only includes your right to practice it...it does not mean you get to FORCE IT ON ME OR ANYONE ELSE YOU BAFOON!
@@thomaswhite5928 you have no legitimate argument either though. Pro-life is irresponsible, it pushes people into a situation of a forced pregnancy when A. The world is already starting to see the effect of overpopulation. B. The Child care system that would find a home for unwanted children is already a failure of an institution. And adding an influx of infants into that system will cause it to collapse.
The most interesting interview I have EVER heard. I was rivetted to it from start to end. Kudos to this man for his clear-mindedness today and for having the courage to say, "I WAS WRONG". He made his case. Taught me a lot about the dangers of the deadly combinaton of religion and politics and where we are heading back to.
I love that he was able to articulate that he was not in a position to tell anyone how to make that decision because his parents were financially helping him, he was living rent free at a mission, and he basically had a solid social structure around him. Factors that a lot of women nowadays who are seeking abortions do not have and also have no future access to. he was doing it for a cheque, encouraged by persons who had political agendas
@@tet7497 I agree, which is why I assume you support the child tax credit, universal pre-k, free school lunch, Medicare for All, UBI, increasing Social Security, and no foreign wars, correct? Or do you just want to control women and punish them for having sex?
@@tet7497 pro choice does protect all live...do you consider a cancerous tumor life? It's constantly grown and it something has body parts in it...so is removing cancer murder in your eyes?
@@ninij9692 So you are against what he was saying? But hey: let's tell women what to do with their bodies to save clump of cells that are smaller than a lime.The life of those cells are a priority, the life of the mother matter less, once born they don't exist. Are those restrictions proven to increase the already alarming rate of maternal mortality rate in the US by a lot?Lalalala: not hearing this - I'm saving lives
On that note, it should be my body, my choice, MY MONEY! Brutal but real. If charities want to cover abortions for minors who have been molested and other victims of rape or mothers at risk of death, they and the states that want to provide services should be legally able to do so.
"The wrong kind of Christian" There you have it. The purity test. Proving that being Christian isn't going to be enough to pass the test. Ultimately the test will replace the Constitution. Frank said it's not about Christ. Its about money and access to power.
"Looking back, it was totally unfair. We were living in a community, we had support. My parents were helping me, we were living free of charge in the mission. The kind of idea that somehow we had had this child and everything turned out okay and so everybody aught to be able to do this was really--- You had to be a kind of an idiot, 20-21-year-old, 22-year-old that I was at the time, selfish, self-involved, to not be able to understand that that was not the position that most people who were facing difficult pregnancies were in." "Jerry Falwell... was a nasty piece of work." "They were far more interested in the politics than they were in---if you want to put it in evangelical terms---sharing the love of Jesus."
His view of Carter is one that I have always held. Carter was, and continues to be a thoroughly moral and decent human being. Unfortunately for America, he was not the quality of president they wanted.
His work in the last years have saved thousands of lives in Africa .Guinea worm was an insidious disease which was cured for a couple of dollars .Too bad none of the evangelicals prioritized Africa until Carter took it upon himself and wiped the disease out .
Jimmy Carter was a true believer whose mission was justice, forgiveness, loving people of all stripes, and who was working to take the influence of dark money out of politics. He and his beautiful wife were outspoken advocates of racial equity, human rights, anti war. They lived their faith openly in the light. They were true Christians. I cried when Regan was installed by the Religious Right. We have never recovered.
@@sandrairick7942 no no don't be fooled, it's not half it's barely 20% but it seems to be the entire Republican party in Congress and in every red state and they're just louder than everybody else. But Democrats better start getting loud or we're going to lose this country as we've known it our entire lives. We're going to be living in North Korea if everybody doesn't get out and vote their their lives in November. You will be voting your very life, you won't be voting for candidates as such. That's over for now. We're voting for our lives and if you love America you have to vote blue to keep anything remotely resembling the freedoms we have always enjoyed
I laughed when I heard him say Jimmy Carter was "too decent a human being" to be co-opted into the anti-choice movement. This guy has grown a lot. I'm very sad that what he started has been so hard to extinguish. A toxic idea can live long after the human who thinks of it.
I'm not a Christian anymore but Jimmy Carter is everything Evangelicals today should have been more like , you know helping the poor ,not judging gays, trans , non binary people etc , against racism and anti semitism.
Who was using who? That man and his dad gave a few suggestions and the right took them and ran wirh them and made these ideas last for forty five years. It's even scarier that we haven't been able to come up wirh any new ideas since then.
@@miggans21012 More than suggestions, it became an obsession with Schaeffer, but corrupt evangelicals and politicians saw the opportunity. And there are other ideas -- most ideas are recycled -- but leaders on the right don't seem to care for them.
There has ever been an, “anti choice” movement, but there has been a pro life movement for a very long time. The pro life movement really picked up momentum in response to the well known racist, bigot, and Democratic hero, Margaret Sanger and her campaign to exterminate what she referred to as, “undesirable races” and “human fungus”. She embraced the values of the Democratic Party and is a great representation of what that party stands for. The guy in the video has lost his mind. He hasn’t grown at all, but rather he has regressed. He was right before, but now he is wrong. Based on experience, I believe that he is suffering from a mental breakdown. It is very important to never forget that the facts do not care about your feelings. Feeling “sad” over the pro life movement will always remain completely and utterly irrelevant. The toxic idea is the devaluation of human life. Hitler, Lenin, Stalin, Mao, Ho Chi Minh, Castro, Che, and others were in favor of abortion as well. Their values led to the actions they decided on. The Democrats have become the Brownshirts.
He's right. There's a big difference between being "pro-life" and "anti-abortion". Republicans and Evangelicals hijacked the term "pro-life" and just turned it to only mean "anti-abortion". I say this as someone who, once I truly became pro-life (e g. support of universal health care, support of school vouchers for low-income families, support of universal basic income, etc.), realized that pro-life overlapped more with Democrat policies than Republican policies.
@@sista363 whether or not someone supports abortion is nobody else’s business. It’s also nobody else’s business what a person chooses for their own body and health, especially if it is related to their economic status, medical issues, or if they can provide health care for a child (even if they do want to keep it).
@@f.g.a9078 i wish this was real since it doesn't seem like people are keeping their opinions to themselves. They are forcing their religious fanaticism on others who are not even following that religion. Its fucking authoritarian and disgusting.
@@BrendaFosterMedia The full passage from 1 Timothy 6 10 is "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" It's the desire/love of money and power that's behind all of this - and all the other corruption on the planet tbh
He's just being honest which is getting rare in this day and age especially when it comes to "conservatives". I'm not saying the Dems are perfect by any means, but they are a hell of a lot better than the current GQP and "evangelical Christian conservatives" in this country. The thing is ever since Reagan, and, to an extent Nixon, the Democrats have been left with the job of cleaning up "conservative" fiscal disasters and have had to be the adult in the room when they are in power.
Every Chinese woman could have foreseen the outcome of the CCPs one child policy but they weren’t the ones in power making the decision. Those making the decision were the beneficiaries of the system that turned a blind eye to the murder of girl babies in the quest for male children.
And we also knew the anti-abortionists were coming from a place of jealousy, anger, and bitterness at their own lives and choices. It's the foundation for everything for them. Now it's all about a lust for power and control over us, then the next group, and the next. But once the lid is off pandora's box it's only a matter of time before IT comes for them.
@Rhonda Busby You said "men can have an opinion. They just don't have a right to force it on anyone"... First. It's not "forcing" when the law TELLS people what to do or not do... e.g. if you decide you don't want your baby you cannot abandon them to die. Is that "forcing" you to bring the baby to a fire station against your will or "forcing" you to stay with them until the police comes or is that PROTECTING a vulnerable human being? Second: Men and women are allowed to vote. Men and women are allowed to pass legislation (as long as it's Constitutional). Nothing in the Constitution that says men are excluded from voting on issues related to women or vice versa.
That's because "Amanpour and Company", which is what this interview by Christiane Amanpour is, is not a CNN property. It also airs on PBS, for whatever that's worth.
20 year olds are still very much influenced by their parents. I respect this guy for owning his part in the whole “pro life” movement. I remember protesting against planned parenthood as a teen in my teens when I was in the evangelical church. I regret my actions but I was told lies just like most of these people are. When I started working in healthcare I was able to see the human side of things. It became real and I realized that agree with abortion or not, it’s not my place to make that choice for another person. It’s definitely not the role of the government to be making blanket decisions like that. Evangelical churches need to lose their tax exempt status. They tore down the wall of separation of church and state.
I just learned a year or two ago that Roe v. Wade was a conservative court decision and that pro-life groups had been lying about it all these years, and it was the final straw for me. I also work in healthcare, with neonates and their mothers, and it caused a massive perspective shift.
I remember protesting too, I think I was around 12 at the time. I also regret my former stance, but I realize that I was a kid who'd been indoctrinated and lacked the experience to realize it so I can't really be ashamed of it. But yeah, once they get involved in politics they should lose their tax-exempt status. But I bet if it were even suggested they'd whip their followers into rioting for them.
Thank you for saying all this. I was in the pro abortion walks. I'm one of those who needed one, it was a year before Roe, I had no choice. I was forced to have the child of a schizophrenic (he was young, we didn't know yet, tho his mom was full blown paranoid schizophrenic). The child grew up, and though eventually raised by a minister, he's now a criminal, is all that I am not. He almost killed his adoptive father as a teen! So even the "you don't know the plans of God " argument fails here too. I wish every day I'd been able to get the procedure. My life would have been completely different. I was poor. Though white, a female in the 70s and 80s couldn't even go to college without her husband's permission. So I never went. In fact, I had to work to feed the child, his father, and that whole family. I was the only one not mentally ill. The first 40 years of my life was wasted. All because I could not get an abortion.
@@merannicuill6435 oh wow...you have an incredible testimony to tell! Post this as widely as you can...it's an important story. Put it in your copy file so you can post it as much as you can without having to write it over and over. I'm so sorry you had to go thru this and how it affects you to this day. Share it far and wide!
I think it's how people are raised my son is 21 and my daughter is 20. They both will tell me if I'm wrong and vice versa. They wouldn't follow me if they didn't agree with me and they would try to explain why I was wrong. I raised them to think for themselves and do what they feel is right even if that means going against me
This guy is great! He's very knowledgeable about the history of that time about the abortion topic and is very brave for speaking out about his regrets. Respect!
Frank, I appreciate you and you speaking out now more than you could ever know. I hope to see you on many more interviews in the coming days, weeks and months to bring light in these dark days.
anybody speaking on CNN about ANYTHING for ANY reason is a strong indicator to go the opposite way, or believe the opposite thing. anything that comes out of this drivel media outlet is meant to steer YOUR thoughts and emotions. i came here for a cup of liberal tears but the comments here are sad, ignorant, and misguided. When trump comes back, will you guys promise to actually really move to canada? pretty please? or maybe mars. Musk will have a ship there soon. I'll even start the kickstarter!
he is very interesting. i've followed him for years now, after i awoke from his fathers spell. his father also had somewhat of a change of heart. Frank himself walked away from a lot of money. this was a good interview and i'm happy to see him on such an esteemed show, but one that is even more in-depth is Fresh Air and its free to download.
I applaud his change of heart and the courage of his convictions in speaking out. Sadly, too many women will be persecuted and some will die because of an erroneous ideology he helped force into the mainstream. Those persecuted and dead women are what haunt me still, even while key figures do redemption laps.
I watch a lot of this guy's videos, he's on top of what's going on with the radical evangelicals. I appreciate Schaeffer's brutal honesty. Evangelicals are "anti-life" not "anti-choice"
a Jehovah's witness once had his kid bring me pro Jehovah's witness comic books while my then roomie and I were at the laundrymat. literally, we're doing our laundry and chatting away and this kid comes up to me "this is for you."
Wow, what an enormous thing to bear. I appreciate his self awareness and the growth that brought him to where he is now. I'm glad he's speaking on this
Amazing. You could see by his red face that it wasn't easy to do it. It's so great (especially in this day and age) to hear truth win over embarrassment. “speaking the truth in times of universal deceit is a revolutionary act”
@@edwardmitchell6581 I agree. And speaking the truth is always the right thing whether the times seem right or not. Hold fast. Always hold fast to the truth.
Pulling yourself out of the far-right rabbit hole might be the most difficult thing you can do...and this man has done this, and much, much more. Very inspiring.
It gives me the impression that greed has always been something that drove those groups for years. No matter what someone may say, if there's a lot of money involved, greed is always looking to win out.
Not only is this man incredible but the interviewer is as well! Two highly intelligent people having a discussion about the right to choose and where the US is headed in the future. I am so glad that Frank Schaeffer has done this interview and have shared on Twitter and FB. I hope others will share as well so this can get out there for everyone to watch!
I shared this. The BEST interview with this man I've seen. Thank you Mr. Schaefer. All points sooo well made here! How can they claim to be pro-life and all the things you mention, but also, if it comes from the reasoning they give, then how can they be pro-death-penalty!? Right? And don't get me started on automatic weapons and pushing pregnant Mexican women into the water and barbed wire. Sooo many ways. Great interview!!
I agree, I am convinced that this whole thing is not about abortion as it is about taking a wrecking ball to the 14th amendment which is the foundation of guaranteeing all personal privacy rights and freedoms. The right wing of our politics has shown more sympathetic to the ideology of Fascism, Totalitarianism, and Authoritarianism over Democracy. When Fascism is the ultimate goal then they start with eliminating the Constitutionaly guaranteed personal rights and freedoms one at a time. They are starting with the easiest most controversial first, but it won't stop untill individuals have no rights and all power is in the few in the government. It is up to us alone to fight for truth, our rights, and a just government!
You said a mouth full. I always said this is the first of what is to come. They won't stop there when they get all the power. Vote blue to live vote red we are dead.
Of course this is not about abortion. This is about ALL RIGHTS, which are gonna get scuttled because men, white men, what TOTAL CONTROL of EVERYTHING. Women's rights, gay rights, minority rights. They want it all gone. And they're starting with women's rights, because that's the "easier" hurdle to get over.
Those people cheering this on will get their comeuppance, there are hundreds of rights that are not specifically mentioned in the ancient constitution! it wasn't supposed to be an instruction book just a foundation to be added to, it was apt 300yrs ago but not today. Its always been about politics and never about them caring about babies lives, republicans reps are probably as gutted as anyone else about this, what will they use to bribe the few evangelicals that support it with now.
What could possibly go wrong when an unwanted child in a society without any social support for the deprived grows up with hatred, poverty, and crimes, later wants his revenge from the cruel society?
@RealityCheck MY POINT EXACTLY. SO IF A WOMAN DOES NOT WANT HER BABY, SHE CAN GIVE IT UP FOR ADOPTION, SINCE THERE IS A NEED FOR THOSE KIDS IN THE UNITED STATES.
Frank is great.... I'm surprised that people are just now founding out about him. I remember when he made this big switch to becoming a liberal democrat, it was in the 90's.
@@AC-mp7cx what are their names? Show us some social security numbers? How about some dirty diapers or a spit up cloth 🤔 No? Then you don't know what you're talking about.
Totally with you there. It feels really hard to see many over in America that actually are willing to learn from their mistakes and change their mind. Usually with age comes wisdom but that isn’t always the case with many people as people can just become more and more stubborn with age.
Frank Schaeffer (Jr.) is disgustingly disappointing. He's a typical, liberal progressive whose theology (much less sociological positions) doesn't make any cohesive sense. The speech his father (a very honorable, principled man, by contrast) delivered forty years ago ("The Christian Manifesto") was very prophetic; and the things he said and predicted have been happening before our eyes today.
@@nostalkingzone Hmm, I think the opposite. It's the GOP and the so-called conservatives and a lot of those Evangelical Christians whose theology I think doesn't make cohesive sense. How come they against abortion but ALSO AGAINST Covid-19 vaccine? Those vaccines have been proven to save life. The number of death and hospitalization because of Covid-19 is decreasing in a lot of countries, in parallel with the number of vaccination. If those Evangelical Christians are truly "pro-life" they will not against vaccines, they will not against paid parental leave, against child tax credit, and so on. Like Frank Schaeffer (Jr.) has pointed out, they are inconsistent in their stances.
@@nostalkingzone anyone using their religion to create laws around are scumbags. Christianity is to blame for a lot of the things wrong with the world today, especially in the USA, that I hope to see changed in the near future. The whole prophetic word thing is not anything other than people lying about talking to a god figure and using their own prejudiced thoughts to spread hate and ignorance which is used to change laws and influence those in power
@@jacklinks6097 will you say that to women that got raped or pregnancy that affects the mother’s health? What happen when drug addicts have kids? Do you even think? Or just listen to your religion?
@@xzmrquanzx rape or health reasons I understand. Abortion as birth control is morally wrong and you don’t need to be religious to see that. There has to be a medium somewhere. This would take power away from the federal government and return it to the states but people’s reaction isn’t equivalent.
@@jacklinks6097 unfortunately, banning abortion has no middle ground. Banning means no abortion regardless of the reason. People will seek abortion through the black market which will be even more dangerous. Your support for abortion ban is very wrong my friend.
He looked very sincere when he said he looked bad and is regretting the part he played. He has empathy that most self-righteous anti abortionist lack, to put himself in the shoes of others who are much less fortunate and literally this is a life vs death situation.
I was very influenced by his film in early 70's and the church. I was a volunteer counselor at a Christian pro-life counseling center and believed everything I was told and felt so righteous. Fifty years later I am appalled and aghast at that stance. Each woman is sacred and so are her choices
The tragedy here is that Iron Age mythology and supernatural deities that live in the clouds continue to shape our policies 2,500 years later, instead of rational thought and science. The mode of thought should center chiefly on the primary moral question: "Who Suffers?" The science shows that prior to 24 weeks, a baby has insufficient thalamocortical circuitry and connectivity to the cortex, which is the seat of all sensory perception and self-awareness, and so while pain receptors instantiate before this, there is no evidence that a fetus has any kind of perception of it nor would it "feel" any pain upon being aborted at this stage. On the other hand, we have plenty of empirical evidence that women exist, can suffer, and can experience liberty if given the opportunity. It's a true tragedy that the Federalist Society has organized a coup on the Supreme Court of the United States. Separation of Mythology and State is dead.
Absolutely excellent interview! I'd like to see more of Frank Schaeffer all across the airwaves. He said everything I have been thinking for so long, but so much more succinctly. Just like everything, it always comes back to the love of money!
The pro-life (really anti-choice, forced-birther) crowd does not care about fetuses, the pre-born, either. If they did, they would support funding for prenatal care, which they absolutely do not. This video is enlightening, to say the very least. I have shared it. Thank you very much!
Wow….. he gets my respect. It takes a grown, mature person to get on CNN and admit regret for being involved in a movement so polarizing. I’m a progressive too. It gives me hope when I see people change for the better.
Frank, I have been reading you books for years, listening to you speak, and applauded you for your courage and ability to self reflect. I met Jesus in 1970, had a very real encounter with Christ, and then watched in dismay as biblical teachers pushed what I understood as a fascist white supremacists theology. The union of religion and political power mirrored the Lutheran Church's insinuation into politics during the atrocity that was Nazi Germany. There is a resurgence of this apostasy. I was a war protester, a civil rights advocate, and other social causes. I saw my Jesus being all about justice, truth, mercy, love. The fear mongering I heard preached from pulpits sickened me. The Evangelical Religious Reich has worked tirelessly and patiently to control government, by insinuating themselves into the highest echelons of power. It is all about power, greed, lust, Patriarchy, and pulling down democracy., brick by brick. This is the beast with the fatal head wound come back to life. Keeping my eyes on the real Jesus. I have not attended church for awhile. I have not been able to stomach the hypocracy. Thank you for boldly speaking out. Truth matters. God keep you.
@@b.w.1386 As a follower of Christ, I will say that the atheists I know behave more Christ-like then the majority of those calling themselves Christians today.
The Jesus part is the most important one. This current "Christian" ideology of dominionism is as far removed from Christ as darkness is to light. Do not mistake the person of Jesus for a religion. It was religious authoritarianism who had him crucified. Today, he would be called a socialist. Not a communist, His aim is to love people to himself. The Kingdom he builds is not a political structure, but inside a person's heart. He is all about justice, loving one's neighbor as oneself, caring for the weak, the sick, the poor, the marginalized, the alien refugee. It us about feeding the hungry, and pulling down oppression, and about stewarding the earth and its resources, not raping it for profit. One other thing, the powers that be today in the evangelical community would crucify him again. But the really amazing thing is, he overcame them and rose from the dead. He is alive. They failed. Justice, mercy, grace, forgiveness, truth, kindness, love. This was his message then and it is his message today. I pray you have your own encounter with him. Thanks for responding to my first comment. Respectfully, Lani
I commend this man for reversing his viewpoint, and admitting his mistakes and growing wiser with age. abortion isnt just about not wanting a baby. there are deadly health risks with some pregnancies.
It’s so true that the attitude, “I did it so anyone can do it “. Is totally wrong. Some people have much more support and better conditions than others. It’s complicated. There’s huge wealth inequality and health care inequality. Everyone should have good health care and freedom to make their own choices
I live in a country with free health care...18 month parental leave...free good education...etc... I can't imagine not having the right to chose especially in a country where those basics are jot a given
@@juliec5309 I would imagine your abortion rates are probably fairly low, too. Ours would be lower if conservative idiots would quit trying to make contraception illegal and would support programs to help women who keep their babies.
Every "church" taking part in political action needs to lose their tax exemption. How the exemption doesn't violate the Constitution's Establishment Clause is mind boggling.
@@TrumpAgenda47Only church is very different from clinics that provide healthcare to women. It provides much more than abortions. Churches on the other hand provides beliefs that can't be proven. Also there are other beliefs namely Jewish and Muslim.
To the person that leaked these papers. *It was the right thing to do* Even if it could get you in trouble. This person is brave. *I thank you for your bravery & your Service to the citizens of America* 🇺🇸🫡 You’re the kind of person that helped built are nation. Love from this citizen that believes in the dreams of our founding fathers of America, the ones we should truly believe in. Freedom
I agree. Despite all the yelling and screaming on the right, what the leaker did was 100 percent legal. There is a risk of threats and violence against the leaker, but no threat whatsoever of legal action. The leaker is good, upstanding citizen.
I agree with the theory that this was more likely a leak from a right wing insider looking to cement the decision in. A progressive would be more likely to respect the process and allow for the secret deliberations to run their course in hopes that an opinion could be persuaded and change the result.
I was 18 in 1980 and my family and church was sucked into this movement. My family is still very much all in. I completely left religion and the conservative movement 15 years ago.
I am a British citizen in the UK, and all I can say is that I am extremely appalled that your Supreme Court might be making this decision. It is one of the things unfortunately that epitomises why we look so lowly upon the US judicial and electoral system. We cannot believe that this remains still such an issue in the US but glad at least this man was able to change and learn from his mistakes. Just hope it’s not too late to actually make some meaningful change now across your country. I truly hope all of you over in the US can stop this from happening the right to abortion needs to remain a constitutional right, not a state by state right otherwise the rights of individuals that need to be unilateral will be set back decades again. Please America, do not allow this to happen.
you have a lot to learn about America - I am afraid it is too late - it was as soon as Kavanaugh was appointed and solidified with coney barret - just wait this is just the beginning and they are going to be able to repress life here for a couple generations unabated
The problem is the senate. It makes little sense, in the modern era, that California and New York have the same number of senators as Wyoming and Idaho. We need a system that encourages rural and urban parties to seek more common cause. If I had a magic wand, I would keep the House of Representatives the same, maybe change it to 4 year election cycles instead of 2 to get rid of perpetual fundraising and running for office, and change the Senate to a proportional system based on a nationwide vote. Assuming a party meets a threshold level of vote (maybe 5%) then they would get to seat the number of candidates consistent with the percentage of vote that they get.
Stay appalled. The British Monarchial system enslaves the population to an elite class that forces them to work and out of necessity abort their race in the name of control. When the government enshrines abortion it endorses it, funds it, and denigrates its own people. I support a hands off states decided view. We need to support women. His wholistic view of supporting choice is laudable.
I've listened to Frank for years and find him astounding and clear. Listening to him helped me understand those involved with The Lincoln Project, Republicans Voting Against Trump, Republicans For The Rule Of Law, and other groups. This shift in these individuals is so earthshakingly profound. I can't imagine how transformative it must be to totally shift from A to Y, understand that shift, be able to articulate to others the internal factors that they were conscious of and the clarity of their present work! Thank you Frank!
Wow. This man is impressively self-aware, passionate, and a gifted communicator to boot. Very informative. I particularly like it when he says at 12:22 that Jimmy Carter's problem was that he was "too decent a human being."
I’m very glad to hear that he’s not only sorry but really understands the entire issue. At the same time, what’s happening is really triggering my ptsd, I can’t get through any video without crying. I had 5 miscarriages that in some states I would go to jail for if I couldn’t prove that they were miscarriages. 😡 They’re taking away my rights, period. That should say enough, but they’re coming for everyone that isn’t a Straight Christian white male! On top of that, they don’t give a damn after that baby takes his first breath.
My family & friends were posting on Fb when they had miscarriages, just as some stars or wives of stars did! Now women will STFU now! Many say they’re Republican!
My SIL has had 3, two 20 week, one 10 week that she nearly bled out from and had to get a D&C. All were very wanted. All I fear would have gotten too much attention from the "pro-life" who wouldn't believe they were medical issues.
So sorry to hear that 💔 I imagine that must be very traumatic. Just want you to know that not all men are on their side. In fact I'd say quite the opposite. I'm a 29 year Dominican kid from New York City and I stand with you! 🙏🏽 Men should have ZERO say over what you girls do with your damn vaginas 🤬🤬🤬 PREPOSTEROUS!!!
PTSD? Really? I mean...REALLY? Stop looking for drama points, you don't have PTSD, you have perpetual victim syndrome. My mother had a miscarriage, ya know what she did, she got off her ass and didn't wallow and look for sympathy from internet strangers. She didn't wield her loss like a "look at me, I'm important" weapon. Get over yourself and stop using terms like PTSD that you clearly don't understand.
He needs to be delivering this message everywhere 365 days a year for the damage he’s done. He can start by coming to the planned parenthood in my neighborhood and speak to the anti choice assholes who harass women going to get their birth control. They’ll be coming for that next.
As a Fellow American that is the from the state of Pennsylvania that Voted for Democratic Josh Shapiro to be our next Governor against that Crazy Right Wing Wannabe Skinhead Republican Doug Mastriano Which I like to call Thug Monsterano I am very happy that I was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA were this nation was founded. I myself used to be a Republican for a few years and yes an Extreme Anti Abortion Christian Man during those times. I saw the error of my ways in that situation with guys like Frank Schaeffer having shown the that I saw How hypocrital it was for me as Man to call myself take a Woman's right to Choose when the Circumstances my call for it. Especially when So many so called men in this Country become irresponsible and don't want to be fathers to the kids that they fathered or let alone be there for them like they should. So how can we force women to have unwanted pregnancies. Especially when it involves Rape and Incest. It's really Sickening.
Actually he has been doing this for over a decade. He has his own TH-cam channel, show, podcast, and the like. He has written several books at least. I just wish more networks had him on to give him the airtime he deserves.
Thanks Frank, I was with you back in the 80s. I read your dad’s books. I voted. I became disenchanted over gay marriage opposition and left the right. And strangely I am completely with you now. Things do change and evolve and I am happy that you are speaking out. We are on a downward slide from a democracy to a theocracy that will limit the rights of so many people to health wealth and happiness. The threat to all who are not radical right Christians is real. We will all be affected by the loss of abortion rights. As for me, I’m recovered from that. Thank God!
The Radical Right is doing stuff that Al-Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden, Taliban and ISIS were once accused of doing when the USA did the Afghanistan war in the 2000's.
Yes huge props for Frank. He realizes that his activism is being used for the wrong reasons. He hit the nail on the head when he said that the state of America would be like those of the repressive states in Europe. Yes we do understand that there has to be limits to when an abortion is performed. Killing a nearly full term baby would be wrong. That would be the moral majorities argument to eliminate abortion rights all together. But to use it in all circumstances is backwards thinking.
In Europe?? You do realise the hardline Muslim states he speaks of are not in Europe - not a single one of them? Jeez, the ignorance of Americans about geography really does never cease to amaze.
"Backwards thinking" is the definition of conservatism. “A great democracy has got to be progressive or it will soon cease to be great or a democracy.” ― Theodore Roosevelt
@@octavia2 Hungary. Authoritarian. Not Muslim. Repressive countries can be found almost anywhere in the globe. Asia, Africa middle east, south America, Latin America, North America and Europe.
i mostly agree with you, except for the part where you suggest killing a full-term baby. that does not happen and would be considered murder. you must educate yourself on these things, please.
"Killing a nearly full term baby...." NOBODY DOES THAT!! Late-term abortions, after 22 weeks of pregnancy, are only done if the fetus is already dead or dying. If a fetus is healthy but the pregnant person has a health condition that requires that the pregnancy end, the fetus is delivered as a premature baby, and every effort is made to keep it alive.
It takes a big man to not only admit his faults and wrongdoing but to be sincerely remorseful for his actions. It takes an even greater man to take action to rectify those wrongdoings.
The man may have started off adulthood naïve, selfish, and unempathetic-but for whatever reason, it appears he gained the wisdom, perspective, and empathy to see the error of his ways and I’m glad he’s chosen to share that with us because it was a fascinating story. That stuff all happened before my time, but it seems as though the information that he shared about they way things were prior to the 1970’s has been lost for the ages. It’s as if everyone over a certain age has collective amnesia, because they hold the same understanding as folks that weren’t around, and that things have always been this way when they clearly were not. The older folks that have a vague recollection that things are definitely different now have never pinpointed the exact moment when it happened like this and I’m glad he shared, because younger generations need to know that things have been different which means that they could be moving forward. The only part of this interview I found lacking is that she never even asked the guy “what changed your mind?” or “what made you realize the impact of what you had done, and when did you begin regretting it?” People don’t often make such dramatic shifts in their thinking and our brains are literally wired to hold contrary views to protect our fragile egos from the embarrassment of admitting we were wrong about something so foundational to our world view and moral beliefs. It’s not hard to transition from favoring the orange and yellow Starburst flavors to the red and pink ones, and you could even understand it was a maturation of the palate-but it’s super rare for someone to fully abandon a religious, political, or cultural movement that was so integral to their identity the way this guy did. There is undoubtedly a fascinating story and somehow that part got left out of this interview. Him calling out their hypocrisy has a touch of Carlin to it, and I wonder if that was part of it. I was a young man in middle school back when Carlin recorded “Doin’ it Again” and it was not only brilliant stand-up, but it also left it’s mark on my world view-then a few years later, “You Are All Diseased” articulated the ridiculousness about religion that I’d always felt growing up, and hearing a brilliant mind like Carlin put those thoughts into words was life changing for a teenager that was still trying to get a handle on who I was and where I stood. In any case, I hope we see more of this guy making the rounds because maybe someone will ask those questions and maybe as more people hear it, the right people will hear it and reconsider what the hell even think they’re doing.
He does explain why he changed his mind. At 1:35 in the clip, he says the impact of what he was doing was utterly unforeseeable, up to the murders of the abortion doctors. He also stresses how shocking it is for him to see today the Republican operatives, helped by a packed Supreme Court, resuscitate Roe and Wade fifty years later. He compares that, rightfully so, to the 1930s in Germany when people were joining the Nazi Party and what it turned out to be during WWII. He also says it was totally unfair to think that if, at 20 years old, he and his wife were keeping their baby, why teens facing pregnancy shouldn't do the same? He later realized how self-centered and selfish it was for him not to see how privileged and supported he was, compared to them.
Admittedly, it is rare...but, I did it too. It can be done. It requires rigorous honesty, courage and most of all-listening to one's Higher Self AND acting in accordance to that inner voice of reason and heart.
Read his book, Why I Am an Atheist Who Believes in God: How to Give Love, Create Beauty and Find Peace. Great book! His change of mind (metanoia) happened gradually but I think it hit me really hard when he saw his innocent little grandchildren and remembered how had spanked in holy anger his own child, believing the harsh discipline was a Biblical mandate ("need to put the fear of God" in kids' hearts). Brainwashing is deep. The ego is strong. Yet sometimes a person has an awakening. I recommend Jungian therapists for everyone who grew up in evangelical world like me.
@@celinedussault3623 "up to the murders of the abortion doctors." That's a lie. Francis Schaeffer was a principled, godly man who never would've excused (much less advocated) such a thing. -_-
I give this man serious props for doing this interview. Honestly, I can not imagine how difficult it must have been for him. I for one thank him profusely!
Reminds me of someone in recovery who realizes how much pain they have put others through, looking in the mirror and seeing themselves and their selfish self serving behavior. Kudos to @Frank Schaeffer! (Full disclosure, I'm 8+ years sober.)
I guess it’s easy to forget about the life of the child an abortion ends. Odd to realize that a innocent baby should sacrificed to protect a woman’s right to choose if she wants to be burdened or not
This man needs to be in every US newscast there is forever. The history and context he brings to a religious movement corrupted by secular power and greed needs to be heard long and loud.
In the name of Justice, explain why an innocent human being should be executed by starvation, burned alive, limbs torn off, head smashed in, or poisen injected into the heart, held responsible and blamed for the choices of another human being?
I'm already doing that with copying the link to this CNN interview to send to all my pro-choice friends around the country to help awaken the pro-choice giant to reverse this legal tragedy.
@@toe2toe22 Good idea, I’ll follow suit. The only problem is that those who need to see it, just won’t. Even if they see my post, they’ll just see the title and leave nasty comments without listening to what this man has to say.
I read Schaeffer's memoir "Sex, Mom and God: How the Bible's Strange Take on Sex Led to Crazy Politics--and How I Learned to Love Women (and Jesus) Anyway." It's the story of his rapid rise to being the architect of the Anti-Choice movement and his defection from it. He has some worthwhile reflections on better abortion policy in America. He has withering contempt for Billy Graham's sons, and recounts a story of standing up to his father, Francis, for being violent toward his mother. In the book, Schaeffer recalls that one of the reasons he left the movement is that, in spite of all the money he and others were making, he was spending all of his time with people he didn't trust and didn't think were good people. Meanwhile, social media platforms are churning with Millennials and Gen Zers urging women of their generation to avoid motherhood altogether. The battle is on.
I remember knowing a couple that we used to socialize with: out of the blue the ONLY conversation topic they were interested in was abortion. They were involved in early organization of this. A few years later, I visited their home briefly and witness the father pulling a child under five into a hallway with a glass door. I could hear the child being hit and heard his excoriating rage at his child. The wife didn't intervene at all. Years later I learned that the child grew into a man with severe depression and suicide attempts. This was an individual who is focused on the mote in everyone else' eye: emotionally he destroyed his son's spirit. Who is he to judge others?
The people who rail against abortion and gays--- they have to do this to make themselves feel " holier than thou" -- believing that if they are more "moral" than others, God will bless them and the keys to heaven are theirs. They also don't care to contribute to the welfare of children born due to their anti-abortion effects. How many foster kids are they raising or have they adopted? After reading this comment, it seems one could conclude they are horrible parents to their own children. Literal bible interpretation of " spare the rod" described here.
It was never about the children. It was about power, money and control.
correct, and body parts.
…and your uterus. Let it rest.
I just said that. The Neflex movie or documentary "The Family." The worst of them are trying to gain statnic power over US democracy. Wow!
@RealityCheck Huh?
@@johnbrattan9341 Realitycheck is a troll. Ignore and move on.
It takes a lot to admit you were wrong, but it takes even more to make up for the damage you've done.
Was just thinking the same thing. It must be a dreadful weight on his conscience- the suffering he caused. Ironic he’s now making amends by sharing the truth. That’s the starting point or ought to be- especially for Christians professing belief in a god who self defines as Truth.
you're right, he's been preaching for years.
i first heard him on Fresh Air and was astounded.
Like killing 50 million children?
He is obviously trying his best to do this thought. Cudos to this man 👏
That's rich coming from a bunch of baby killers.
As someone who came of age in the 1980s and who was a fundamentalist Christian in that decade, I can attest to the history of what Mr. Schaeffer is describing. I was in the thick of it. Yet, even as a teenager, something did not "smell right" about this "movement." Suddenly, "you will know we are Christians by our Love" morphed into "you will know we are Christians by our politics." Having attended Jerry Falwell Sr.'s Liberty University in the mid-1980s, I saw firsthand how student's were leveraged to advocate for Falwell's politics and propping up his coffers. Required ministerial service could be satisfied by engaging in political activism, like picketing abortion clinics. Seeing what has transpired since that time, has only confirmed the wisdom in leaving this "movement." I am thankful that I was able to see this train wreck at such a young age; yet saddened that most of those I grew up with are still trapped in its vortex.
It takes a big man to admit when they are wrong.
This man has earned my respect.
I second this. This interview should be essential viewing.
Mine too
In the name of Justice, explain why an innocent human being should be executed by starvation, burned alive, limbs torn off, head smashed in, or poisen injected into the heart, held responsible and blamed for the choices of another human being?
@New Jack City RNelson The only argument you’ve made is “ I am in medicine he’s wrong”. You sound fucking stupid make an actual argument or get off the comments.
Sorry for my language this just looks weak
@@rebn8346 in the name of justice, explain why innocent women should be raped, forced to have a baby then send them into the world of foster care forever just a lost link in your family. Made half out of you and half out of your rapist.
Schaeffer is absolutely right. This isn't just about banning abortion. It's about instating theocracy and fascism in America.
Agreed. Power itself, a small group of people manipulating masses, lying to them, setting up a scenario where a King is bestowed Divine Power by the Religious Pious, again repeating history as the f We the People never fought, our ancestors never fought, a Kingdom for a US Constitution to proclaim personal and private Rights and Freedoms. Drunk on power l, they are and this man has called them out on their own level. Ps...spellchecker makes us all illiterate. We should ban this technology which changes our words and makes it impossible to be understood.
I am a mother of 3 children. I am a woman. I remember the moment when the fertilized egg implanted in my uterus THE FIRST MONTH. it hurt and was a pinching feeling inside. Those who do not act responsibility to PREVENT getting pregnant in the first place have zero say in this, in my opinion. You all can still use abortion as a form of contraception, just not after a certain developmental state, which makes logical sense if you are a responsible human. If you can vote, you should be sane about this. Not holding my breath. #2020Reality
@@CARidingAcademy great story. Then how come republicans want 12 year olds who were raped by their dad to carry children to term? What does that have to do with taking preventive measures to stop a pregnancy? And what’s with Republicans not wanting to perform abortions for women with ectopic pregnancies? That’s not pro life! That’s straight murder.
You don’t even know what the words fascism and theocracy mean.
Your definition of fascism is “anything other than endorsing the agenda of the left”.
Your definition of theocracy is “failing to completely eliminate faith from the public square.”
Neither is correct.
@@CARidingAcademy I am a lesbian. My partner became pregnant. I felt that. I told her she was pregnant. It took a month for her to figure out that I was not joking. I also take deceased souls to the Light. I walk people through their Life Memories while as a Being of Light, I open the Tunnel at the End of the Light. What you experience is not for everyone to be and do. Just as what I have experienced all of my life, taking Souls to the Light is not for your soul to do or be. In fact, being a lesbian, and not of any religion because no religion today accepts the truth of this ancient knowledge, you likely do not even believe my truth exists.
This man needs to go on every show possible and tell this story
Totally agreed
Especially FOX NEWS ‼️
@@BrendaFosterMedia Especially Fox Faux News!
Unfortunately, the damage is done. Anti Choicers won't listen to him
@@justsomeguy9280 Even if most of them don't change opinion right now it would still saw seeds of doubt in some of them. Definitely a good thing if his message reaches them.
It takes a certain level of self awareness, empathy, and compassion to admit your mistakes...thanks to Frank for his willingness and ability to be accountable for his actions.
I really do appreciate people willing to expose the rotten core of these groups we put up on a pedestal. I grew up in it and it’s toxic. I watched those videos he talks about and I learned how to judge people really well. It’s a memory I’m saddened by, but can’t be ashamed of because I was just one of the many many kids getting indoctrinated from birth. The real world and good honest people, from all sorts of faiths, taught me far better. I’m just grateful that some see the lies for what they are and can get out. What a mess it all is 😞
I am grateful to you, Lynette, for speaking out with an insider’s knowledge.
I watched a video with Rev. Schenke, a man who was also involved in the anti-abortion movement for many years, who said there are many people who’ve been raised in that world who privately question the ‘pro-life’ view.
So interesting to hear from this man and others who see that the pro-life movement was co-opted by the power and money mongers, and is no longer based on true Christian values.
Schenke says also that he is now pro-choice, because choice is an issue like no other as the economic realities for women are so different, and the Christians who vote as they’re told by their pastors are not voting from compassion and love, but from contempt for those who are at the center of this issue.
You should check out Jesse Dollemore's videos. He was indoctrinated as a child into a radical Christian family, as well.
@@terredee - Schenke and the Bonhoeffer Institute is fantastic. He is publicly shunned by many who privately tell him they WISH they could do what he’s doing. But they are too tied to their money.
Indoctrination is an issue everywhere, but at least you had the intellect to take a critical look and the common sense to then distance yourself from it. I applaud you for that!
I was brought up a Christian and was therefore subjected to some minor form of indoctrination, but it wasn’t anywhere near as extreme as it is with American evangelicals. We had religious knowledge in school, which was standard at that time, but didn’t go to church regularly or anything like that. It was therefore easier for me to step away from it in my late teens/early twenties than it is for someone who has been subjected to extreme indoctrination throughout their lives. A few years after I left home, my mother became a Jehovah’s Witness, and my younger brother - 17 years my junior - grew up in that cult since early childhood. He maintains that he believes in it, although I don’t see actual proof of that, seeing as he is now 50 and is still studying the Bible without showing any signs of getting baptized. I personally think he doesn’t want to do the preaching work the JWs have to do, lol. He does, however, show some signs of the zealous views the JWs have. Maybe not as extreme as what I’ve heard from JWs in the US or UK, though. He lives in Cyprus and the Cypriots are generally more laid back.
@@terredee Very well put! Do you remember the name of that documentary? It sounds interesting, I would like to see if it’s on YT anywhere.
Aren't these the same people that just cut the child tax credit, don't want paid family leave, or raise minimum wage? SMH
Exactly! You're 100% correct, they are those same people
Yep, those same pos
That's them.
They only care about the dead and the unborn. These 2 groups never complain.
@@edwardmontoya50 They don't even really care about the unborn either.
If they did they'd support universal prenatal care which would cut the number of miscarriages, but they don't.
It's all about control.
One of the best interviews I have ever heard.
Trust the woman. If you dont want an abortion, don't get an abortion! But you DO NOT have the right to make that choice for every woman. Abortion is the BEST choice for some women and needs to be safe, legal, and accessible.
In 2006 democrats still said safe legal and rate. I actually think Hillary Clinton also said rare in 2016 while campaigning.
When did rare change to accessible?
When did "men can get pregnant" change back to "men have no say"?
@Mathew Thomas You think men should have a say in the outcome of a woman's pregnancy and force a woman to give birth against her will? What police measures should be used to enforce that?
@@Mathew_Thomas Accessibility does not affect rarity, but abortion can be made rare by limiting accessibility. And men indeed have no say. Nor does anyone else. A woman is the one who makes the choice. Nobody should be able to force her to make a particular choice.
@@zs4673 the police should make her get one to spite them both and shame them into agreeing with them or they are bigots
I will simply say you do not know when consciousness starts, or what consciousness is, murdering people in mass because their life sucks is not a very good way of helping people and if it is keep your help away from me.
Africa, Lots of starving people, so instead of trying to make their lives better they should all die before they are born.
Thats logic in 2022... and you wonder why i won't touch your vaccine pretty sure saving lives isn't what your doing imo...
An unborn child has the right to live. A name. A grave. most important a chance to live even if that life may suck.
Criminals choose crime. Crimes are punishable. A womans right over her own person is not a crime, nor punishable. The "law" has no place in this matter.
This man should be speaking on every platform possible. Such an important message.
I went to those seminars in the late 70s and saw Francis and Frank in person several times. They used the same techniques as cult recruitment. And it worked...until I saw the hate-based, brainwashing, power-hungry roots of the movement that was not about life but about the oppression of women, the poor, and minorities in order to preserve their dominance in society. It was about money and power. And it still is. Why has this issue gained so much momentum right now? Because fascism is on the rise in order to preserve outdated power structures and oppress people's rights - outlawing abortion will take us back to the middle ages and that's just how they want it.
What a brilliant opinion
I couldn't agree more 👏👏👏
Today the GOP is all about fascism, power, money, and brainwashing. Any topic they can co-opt to promote their fascist agenda is just fine with them.
Arm up in any way that's feasible for you (including non-gun options), organize, and prepare. They are.
George Carlin warned us about how fascism would enter America if it ever did, people wouldn’t realize it. Now there’s a growing rise in authoritarianism in America. It’s becoming very scary.
"...in order to preserve their dominance in society." DAMN. Yours is the first comment I've seen anywhere that closes in on the truth. It's not about anti choice. What common thread tied most of the 1/6 terrorists together? "The Great (White) Replacement". Voting restrictions, gerrymandering, school book bans, anti-choice, mass incarceration, immigration restrictions (the Wall), and other actions are all in service of a single goal: maintaining White Supremacy. RACISM is driving ALL of the GOP actions. Think about it.
“I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do, because I notice it always coincides with their own desires.”
~Susan B Anthony
Um...you know she was anti-abortion, right?
@@JP2GiannaT the quote can still apply for many other things
Well I didn't know if there is a God, but if there is I'm pretty sure taking a human life would not be acceptable whether it coincides with anyone's own desires or not. Keep making this about a religion if that's your best argument. My objection to abortion is about humanity. Let's keep pretending that the intelligent choices that led to an unwanted pregnancy will lead to even better choices about the taking of another human life. If the guy in this interview is the best pro-abortion can come up with, the anti-abortion people are most likely feeling pretty optimistic.
@@thomaswhite5928 What about the 2% of women who get pregnant and the baby dies in the womb or will die after and the doctors know the baby won't make it? The consequences of those women being FORCED to carry that to term are numerous and all outcomes risk the mother dying. So anti-abortion laws will force TENS OF THOUSANDS of perfectly healthy human beings...WOMEN...and guess what...some of those women will go to your church...to carry to term pregnancies that are already doomed. Are you willing to let those women die because of a law that forces them to carry a baby the doctors already have told them won't make it? A blanket abortion ban MAKES NO SENSE! This law is based on Christian beliefs whether you want to admit it or not. Well guess what buddy...your freedom of religion only includes your right to practice it...it does not mean you get to FORCE IT ON ME OR ANYONE ELSE YOU BAFOON!
@@thomaswhite5928 you have no legitimate argument either though. Pro-life is irresponsible, it pushes people into a situation of a forced pregnancy when
A. The world is already starting to see the effect of overpopulation.
B. The Child care system that would find a home for unwanted children is already a failure of an institution. And adding an influx of infants into that system will cause it to collapse.
The most interesting interview I have EVER heard. I was rivetted to it from start to end. Kudos to this man for his clear-mindedness today and for having the courage to say, "I WAS WRONG". He made his case. Taught me a lot about the dangers of the deadly combinaton of religion and politics and where we are heading back to.
And don’t forget the god of all gods… MONEY.
I was riveted, too! Like wow.
You mean a day where baby killing isn't allowed. Sounds great to me!!!
Jesus loves all of you repent of your sins which is bad things and put your faith in Jesus for salvation
Jesus loves all of you repent of your sins which is bad things and put your faith in Jesus for salvation
I love that he was able to articulate that he was not in a position to tell anyone how to make that decision because his parents were financially helping him, he was living rent free at a mission, and he basically had a solid social structure around him. Factors that a lot of women nowadays who are seeking abortions do not have and also have no future access to. he was doing it for a cheque, encouraged by persons who had political agendas
Kudos to this man for having a change of heart, and taking responsibility for the outcome.
🤰= 👶
That’s what happens when your a Demonocrat forget God and follow Satan
Ok grommer
Seriously?
And what is he going to do now to reverse the damage he caused? I'm not impressed to say the least.
"These are choices for the individual, not for the state"
simple truth, plainly spoken.
The state should protect all life.
@@tet7497 I agree, which is why I assume you support the child tax credit, universal pre-k, free school lunch, Medicare for All, UBI, increasing Social Security, and no foreign wars, correct?
Or do you just want to control women and punish them for having sex?
@@tet7497 pro choice does protect all live...do you consider a cancerous tumor life? It's constantly grown and it something has body parts in it...so is removing cancer murder in your eyes?
@@ninij9692 So you are against what he was saying? But hey: let's tell women what to do with their bodies to save clump of cells that are smaller than a lime.The life of those cells are a priority, the life of the mother matter less, once born they don't exist. Are those restrictions proven to increase the already alarming rate of maternal mortality rate in the US by a lot?Lalalala: not hearing this - I'm saving lives
On that note, it should be my body, my choice, MY MONEY! Brutal but real. If charities want to cover abortions for minors who have been molested and other victims of rape or mothers at risk of death, they and the states that want to provide services should be legally able to do so.
"The wrong kind of Christian"
There you have it. The purity test.
Proving that being Christian isn't going to be enough to pass the test.
Ultimately the test will replace the Constitution.
Frank said it's not about Christ. Its about money and access to power.
"Looking back, it was totally unfair. We were living in a community, we had support. My parents were helping me, we were living free of charge in the mission. The kind of idea that somehow we had had this child and everything turned out okay and so everybody aught to be able to do this was really--- You had to be a kind of an idiot, 20-21-year-old, 22-year-old that I was at the time, selfish, self-involved, to not be able to understand that that was not the position that most people who were facing difficult pregnancies were in."
"Jerry Falwell... was a nasty piece of work."
"They were far more interested in the politics than they were in---if you want to put it in evangelical terms---sharing the love of Jesus."
His view of Carter is one that I have always held. Carter was, and continues to be a thoroughly moral and decent human being. Unfortunately for America, he was not the quality of president they wanted.
His work in the last years have saved thousands of lives in Africa .Guinea worm was an insidious disease which was cured for a couple of dollars .Too bad none of the evangelicals prioritized Africa until Carter took it upon himself and wiped the disease out .
Jimmy Carter was a true believer whose mission was justice, forgiveness, loving people of all stripes, and who was working to take the influence of dark money out of politics. He and his beautiful wife were outspoken advocates of racial equity, human rights, anti war. They lived their faith openly in the light. They were true Christians. I cried when Regan was installed by the Religious Right. We have never recovered.
@@hapennysparrow We can only hope that we will.
It seems that about half the country doesn't even pretend to want those qualities any longer.
@@sandrairick7942 no no don't be fooled, it's not half it's barely 20% but it seems to be the entire Republican party in Congress and in every red state and they're just louder than everybody else. But Democrats better start getting loud or we're going to lose this country as we've known it our entire lives. We're going to be living in North Korea if everybody doesn't get out and vote their their lives in November. You will be voting your very life, you won't be voting for candidates as such. That's over for now. We're voting for our lives and if you love America you have to vote blue to keep anything remotely resembling the freedoms we have always enjoyed
I laughed when I heard him say Jimmy Carter was "too decent a human being" to be co-opted into the anti-choice movement. This guy has grown a lot. I'm very sad that what he started has been so hard to extinguish. A toxic idea can live long after the human who thinks of it.
I'm not a Christian anymore but Jimmy Carter is everything Evangelicals today should have been more like , you know helping the poor ,not judging gays, trans , non binary people etc , against racism and anti semitism.
Who was using who? That man and his dad gave a few suggestions and the right took them and ran wirh them and made these ideas last for forty five years. It's even scarier that we haven't been able to come up wirh any new ideas since then.
@@miggans21012 More than suggestions, it became an obsession with Schaeffer, but corrupt evangelicals and politicians saw the opportunity. And there are other ideas -- most ideas are recycled -- but leaders on the right don't seem to care for them.
There has ever been an, “anti choice” movement, but there has been a pro life movement for a very long time. The pro life movement really picked up momentum in response to the well known racist, bigot, and Democratic hero, Margaret Sanger and her campaign to exterminate what she referred to as, “undesirable races” and “human fungus”. She embraced the values of the Democratic Party and is a great representation of what that party stands for.
The guy in the video has lost his mind. He hasn’t grown at all, but rather he has regressed. He was right before, but now he is wrong. Based on experience, I believe that he is suffering from a mental breakdown.
It is very important to never forget that the facts do not care about your feelings. Feeling “sad” over the pro life movement will always remain completely and utterly irrelevant.
The toxic idea is the devaluation of human life. Hitler, Lenin, Stalin, Mao, Ho Chi Minh, Castro, Che, and others were in favor of abortion as well. Their values led to the actions they decided on. The Democrats have become the Brownshirts.
@@miggans21012 The pro life movement is much older than 45 years.
He's right. There's a big difference between being "pro-life" and "anti-abortion". Republicans and Evangelicals hijacked the term "pro-life" and just turned it to only mean "anti-abortion". I say this as someone who, once I truly became pro-life (e g. support of universal health care, support of school vouchers for low-income families, support of universal basic income, etc.), realized that pro-life overlapped more with Democrat policies than Republican policies.
So you support abortion right? Or I'm getting it wrong?
@@sista363 whether or not someone supports abortion is nobody else’s business. It’s also nobody else’s business what a person chooses for their own body and health, especially if it is related to their economic status, medical issues, or if they can provide health care for a child (even if they do want to keep it).
@@f.g.a9078 i wish this was real since it doesn't seem like people are keeping their opinions to themselves. They are forcing their religious fanaticism on others who are not even following that religion. Its fucking authoritarian and disgusting.
I recommend listening to the testimony of Dr Anthony Levatino
Sir, I applaud your honesty and courage.
One of the fundamentals of wisdom is knowing and accepting when your wrong.
their methods might have been sketchy but they were never wrong.
Indeed
@@stephj9378 of course they were. ITs this processes called Learning that allows you to see it....have you ever heard of it?
Maybe. And one of the fundamentals of doing too many drugs is speaking gibberish and spouting opinions as facts.
M83... what the F does that mean?
Wow!!! That’s the most truth I’ve ever heard in one interview.
Morale of the story: Money has and will always be the root of all evil(s)!!!
No. Money is not the root of all evil. SELFISHNESS is the root of all EVIL. Money is an inanimate object.🤷🏿‼️👍
Actually according to the Bible, it is the "love of money" that is the root of evil.
@@BrendaFosterMedia The full passage from 1 Timothy 6 10 is "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows"
It's the desire/love of money and power that's behind all of this - and all the other corruption on the planet tbh
@@bennieo5gs393 money for too many humans through time has equaled power.....thus evil comes..
Money is simply easily portable power. And power focused is control. And that is the aim of oligarchs of all types -- for the few to control the many.
"Nepotism plain and simple" wow. I think I've never heard anyone actually admit that! 👏🏽
He's just being honest which is getting rare in this day and age especially when it comes to "conservatives". I'm not saying the Dems are perfect by any means, but they are a hell of a lot better than the current GQP and "evangelical Christian conservatives" in this country. The thing is ever since Reagan, and, to an extent Nixon, the Democrats have been left with the job of cleaning up "conservative" fiscal disasters and have had to be the adult in the room when they are in power.
What an incredible life story! A profound life experience! Life’s consciousness elevated! Spiritually as it should be!
"We had no way to foresee this". Every woman out there could foresee this.
True - we women were the people DYING.
Every Chinese woman could have foreseen the outcome of the CCPs one child policy but they weren’t the ones in power making the decision. Those making the decision were the beneficiaries of the system that turned a blind eye to the murder of girl babies in the quest for male children.
And we also knew the anti-abortionists were coming from a place of jealousy, anger, and bitterness at their own lives and choices. It's the foundation for everything for them. Now it's all about a lust for power and control over us, then the next group, and the next. But once the lid is off pandora's box it's only a matter of time before IT comes for them.
@@kayallen7603
Dying? From WHAT??
@@clairebordeaux read a book
Give this man a bigger podium and a bullhorn! More people need to hear this.
Agree!
SHARE THIS EVERYWHERE, PEOPLE! DO NOT LET THESE PEOPLE WASH THEIR HANDS OF THIS!!!
But if he's pro-life it's 'no uterus, no opinion', right?
@Rhonda Busby So they cannot vote at all? or hold political office?
@Rhonda Busby You said "men can have an opinion. They just don't have a right to force it on anyone"...
First. It's not "forcing" when the law TELLS people what to do or not do... e.g. if you decide you don't want your baby you cannot abandon them to die. Is that "forcing" you to bring the baby to a fire station against your will or "forcing" you to stay with them until the police comes or is that PROTECTING a vulnerable human being?
Second: Men and women are allowed to vote. Men and women are allowed to pass legislation (as long as it's Constitutional). Nothing in the Constitution that says men are excluded from voting on issues related to women or vice versa.
Fascinating. What an incredibly eloquent and wise man. Great interview.
I never knew this information and I am thankful to Frank for coming forward to help us understand.
Possibly the best interview I've ever seen on CNN. They actually let him talk, and boy did he. Everything he said is so true and revealing.
Absolutely Agree 👍👍
i was stoked to see him on this show in particular.
That's because "Amanpour and Company", which is what this interview by Christiane Amanpour is, is not a CNN property. It also airs on PBS, for whatever that's worth.
@@buddyneher9359 Awesome! Thank you!
@@802Garage you're welcome! My local PBS station runs Amanpour & Co. every weeknight at 11 p.m. (ish). They're often pretty good!
20 year olds are still very much influenced by their parents. I respect this guy for owning his part in the whole “pro life” movement. I remember protesting against planned parenthood as a teen in my teens when I was in the evangelical church. I regret my actions but I was told lies just like most of these people are. When I started working in healthcare I was able to see the human side of things. It became real and I realized that agree with abortion or not, it’s not my place to make that choice for another person. It’s definitely not the role of the government to be making blanket decisions like that. Evangelical churches need to lose their tax exempt status. They tore down the wall of separation of church and state.
I just learned a year or two ago that Roe v. Wade was a conservative court decision and that pro-life groups had been lying about it all these years, and it was the final straw for me. I also work in healthcare, with neonates and their mothers, and it caused a massive perspective shift.
I remember protesting too, I think I was around 12 at the time. I also regret my former stance, but I realize that I was a kid who'd been indoctrinated and lacked the experience to realize it so I can't really be ashamed of it. But yeah, once they get involved in politics they should lose their tax-exempt status. But I bet if it were even suggested they'd whip their followers into rioting for them.
Thank you for saying all this.
I was in the pro abortion walks. I'm one of those who needed one, it was a year before Roe, I had no choice. I was forced to have the child of a schizophrenic (he was young, we didn't know yet, tho his mom was full blown paranoid schizophrenic). The child grew up, and though eventually raised by a minister, he's now a criminal, is all that I am not. He almost killed his adoptive father as a teen!
So even the "you don't know the plans of God " argument fails here too.
I wish every day I'd been able to get the procedure. My life would have been completely different.
I was poor. Though white, a female in the 70s and 80s couldn't even go to college without her husband's permission. So I never went. In fact, I had to work to feed the child, his father, and that whole family. I was the only one not mentally ill.
The first 40 years of my life was wasted. All because I could not get an abortion.
@@merannicuill6435 oh wow...you have an incredible testimony to tell! Post this as widely as you can...it's an important story. Put it in your copy file so you can post it as much as you can without having to write it over and over. I'm so sorry you had to go thru this and how it affects you to this day. Share it far and wide!
I think it's how people are raised my son is 21 and my daughter is 20. They both will tell me if I'm wrong and vice versa. They wouldn't follow me if they didn't agree with me and they would try to explain why I was wrong. I raised them to think for themselves and do what they feel is right even if that means going against me
This guy is great! He's very knowledgeable about the history of that time about the abortion topic and is very brave for speaking out about his regrets. Respect!
This guy is a fraud
Jesus loves all of you repent of your sins which is bad things and put your faith in Jesus for salvation
He has Fallen from The Truth!
As a Christian for over 50 yrs, I'm so tired of the worn out responses; repent of your sins, and get your fire insurance! Hogwash!
Frank, I appreciate you and you speaking out now more than you could ever know. I hope to see you on many more interviews in the coming days, weeks and months to bring light in these dark days.
Jesus loves all of you repent of your sins which is bad things and put your faith in Jesus for salvation
OMG this is like someone having a life review after dying and having to CRINGE at aspects of what he was.
Stay strong guy.
anybody speaking on CNN about ANYTHING for ANY reason is a strong indicator to go the opposite way, or believe the opposite thing. anything that comes out of this drivel media outlet is meant to steer YOUR thoughts and emotions. i came here for a cup of liberal tears but the comments here are sad, ignorant, and misguided. When trump comes back, will you guys promise to actually really move to canada? pretty please? or maybe mars. Musk will have a ship there soon. I'll even start the kickstarter!
And now he supports murder. It takes a strong guy to help Murder defenseless babies.
It's basically a Life Review prior to dying. He's done better than most.
he is very interesting.
i've followed him for years now, after i awoke from his fathers spell.
his father also had somewhat of a change of heart.
Frank himself walked away from a lot of money.
this was a good interview and i'm happy to see him on such an esteemed show, but one that is even more in-depth is Fresh Air and its free to download.
@@faithnelson6069 baby murderers , Satans sheep
So disturbing. Everything comes down to money.
Yes, this was a political calculation on just about everyone’s part from the beginning.
It really does. Greed is so vile and destructive
Right…how can women have careers with kids
Get the money out of politics. That's the long game and the end game. Get rid of citizens united.
Power too! BC all of them don't necessary have money.
I applaud his change of heart and the courage of his convictions in speaking out. Sadly, too many women will be persecuted and some will die because of an erroneous ideology he helped force into the mainstream. Those persecuted and dead women are what haunt me still, even while key figures do redemption laps.
Jesus loves all of you repent of your sins which is bad things and put your faith in Jesus for salvation
Totally this!!!
I watch a lot of this guy's videos, he's on top of what's going on with the radical evangelicals. I appreciate Schaeffer's brutal honesty. Evangelicals are "anti-life" not "anti-choice"
Classic. Using children (even children who haven't even been born yet) to pull on people's heartstrings for money.
a Jehovah's witness once had his kid bring me pro Jehovah's witness comic books while my then roomie and I were at the laundrymat. literally, we're doing our laundry and chatting away and this kid comes up to me "this is for you."
What money? Who is making money? (other than the attorneys)
@@Thunderbyrd. the answer is in the very video dude. Politicians using abortion as a moral token to get people to fund them
@@Thunderbyrd. churches, 'christian' orgs, Fox, etc pp.
Wow, what an enormous thing to bear. I appreciate his self awareness and the growth that brought him to where he is now. I'm glad he's speaking on this
Amazing. You could see by his red face that it wasn't easy to do it. It's so great (especially in this day and age) to hear truth win over embarrassment.
“speaking the truth in times of universal deceit is a revolutionary act”
@@edwardmitchell6581 I agree. And speaking the truth is always the right thing whether the times seem right or not. Hold fast. Always hold fast to the truth.
It gotta be the most evil thing ever yet he says he regrets but the damage is already done
Pulling yourself out of the far-right rabbit hole might be the most difficult thing you can do...and this man has done this, and much, much more. Very inspiring.
LOL yeah.. and far left Marxism isn’t?
It's beyond time for these "churches" to lose tax exemption. The separation of Church and State has slowly been getting blurred for the last 50 years.
100% right!
It gives me the impression that greed has always been something that drove those groups for years. No matter what someone may say, if there's a lot of money involved, greed is always looking to win out.
There is no such thing as separation of church and state. Not in constitution!!
@@5rings16 The first clause in the Bill of Rights states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.”
@@5rings16 It’s called the establishment clause.
Not only is this man incredible but the interviewer is as well! Two highly intelligent people having a discussion about the right to choose and where the US is headed in the future. I am so glad that Frank Schaeffer has done this interview and have shared on Twitter and FB. I hope others will share as well so this can get out there for everyone to watch!
For real
Frank is on fb he does videos.
@@CorinnaD he has a channel here too.
He’s possessed by the devil. Diabolical man. 👹
I would never call him incredible for what he tried to do years ago. No forgiveness!
I shared this. The BEST interview with this man I've seen. Thank you Mr. Schaefer. All points sooo well made here! How can they claim to be pro-life and all the things you mention, but also, if it comes from the reasoning they give, then how can they be pro-death-penalty!? Right? And don't get me started on automatic weapons and pushing pregnant Mexican women into the water and barbed wire. Sooo many ways. Great interview!!
Wow, Frank a truly honest christian is hard to find, congratulations.
I agree, I am convinced that this whole thing is not about abortion as it is about taking a wrecking ball to the 14th amendment which is the foundation of guaranteeing all personal privacy rights and freedoms. The right wing of our politics has shown more sympathetic to the ideology of Fascism, Totalitarianism, and Authoritarianism over Democracy. When Fascism is the ultimate goal then they start with eliminating the Constitutionaly guaranteed personal rights and freedoms one at a time. They are starting with the easiest most controversial first, but it won't stop untill individuals have no rights and all power is in the few in the government. It is up to us alone to fight for truth, our rights, and a just government!
I'm convinced the whole leak was to try and remove the filibuster again so they can push all their radical crap through before they lose in November.
Hey maybe you could go cry some more in your safe space 😢
You said a mouth full. I always said this is the first of what is to come. They won't stop there when they get all the power. Vote blue to live vote red we are dead.
Of course this is not about abortion. This is about ALL RIGHTS, which are gonna get scuttled because men, white men, what TOTAL CONTROL of EVERYTHING. Women's rights, gay rights, minority rights. They want it all gone. And they're starting with women's rights, because that's the "easier" hurdle to get over.
Those people cheering this on will get their comeuppance, there are hundreds of rights that are not specifically mentioned in the ancient constitution! it wasn't supposed to be an instruction book just a foundation to be added to, it was apt 300yrs ago but not today. Its always been about politics and never about them caring about babies lives, republicans reps are probably as gutted as anyone else about this, what will they use to bribe the few evangelicals that support it with now.
What could possibly go wrong when an unwanted child in a society without any social support for the deprived grows up with hatred, poverty, and crimes, later wants his revenge from the cruel society?
the cruelty is the point. republicunt warmongers want children born now so they can send them to die later
Indeed
OR GIVE IT UP ADOPTION. MOST ADOPTED CHILDREN TURN OUT ALRIGHT
You forgot to mention all the guns... But you are spot on
@RealityCheck MY POINT EXACTLY. SO IF A WOMAN DOES NOT WANT HER BABY, SHE CAN GIVE IT UP FOR ADOPTION, SINCE THERE IS A NEED FOR THOSE KIDS IN THE UNITED STATES.
Please air this again on prime time. I just now saw this interview & know so many that need to see as well. Please
So powerful that he is speaking out about this! I could not imagine carrying that responsibility or guilt.
I appreciate his honesty
Frank is great.... I'm surprised that people are just now founding out about him. I remember when he made this big switch to becoming a liberal democrat, it was in the 90's.
imagine the responsbility of 100s of millions of dead babies
@@AC-mp7cx what are their names? Show us some social security numbers? How about some dirty diapers or a spit up cloth 🤔
No?
Then you don't know what you're talking about.
@@randominternetuser2888 what you just told is that you need a name, ssn, and clothes to be a person lmao
Yes, I appreciate his honesty, but he helped to cause so much damage. He is morally obliged to fix the mess he helped create.
Give HUGE props to this guy for being so open about his failings as a compassionate being. ❤️❤️❤️
th-cam.com/users/shortst3qV9YuAxRw?feature=shareR
Not very compassionate to the dead babies tho. Like Joe Biden said abortion is the killing of a child. He's you "president".LOL
compassionate? try... narcissist and sociopath.
Totally with you there. It feels really hard to see many over in America that actually are willing to learn from their mistakes and change their mind. Usually with age comes wisdom but that isn’t always the case with many people as people can just become more and more stubborn with age.
Abortion is a no-win situation. No matter which side you take, you are doing incalculable damage to another human being. 💔
The saying, “Be careful what you wish for” comes to mind!
So articulate and fully ready to spell it out in absolute truth.
Pro Birth IS NOT Pro Life
Grateful to him for speaking out.
Speak Louder my friend!
FRANK SCHAEFFER SHOULD APPEAR ON MORE INTERVIEWS....PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THIS! I LOVE THIS GUY..
amen.
i mention him a lot in groups online.
ever since i came across him years ago.
Agreed!!!
Frank Schaeffer (Jr.) is disgustingly disappointing. He's a typical, liberal progressive whose theology (much less sociological positions) doesn't make any cohesive sense. The speech his father (a very honorable, principled man, by contrast) delivered forty years ago ("The Christian Manifesto") was very prophetic; and the things he said and predicted have been happening before our eyes today.
@@nostalkingzone Hmm, I think the opposite. It's the GOP and the so-called conservatives and a lot of those Evangelical Christians whose theology I think doesn't make cohesive sense. How come they against abortion but ALSO AGAINST Covid-19 vaccine? Those vaccines have been proven to save life. The number of death and hospitalization because of Covid-19 is decreasing in a lot of countries, in parallel with the number of vaccination. If those Evangelical Christians are truly "pro-life" they will not against vaccines, they will not against paid parental leave, against child tax credit, and so on. Like Frank Schaeffer (Jr.) has pointed out, they are inconsistent in their stances.
@@nostalkingzone anyone using their religion to create laws around are scumbags. Christianity is to blame for a lot of the things wrong with the world today, especially in the USA, that I hope to see changed in the near future. The whole prophetic word thing is not anything other than people lying about talking to a god figure and using their own prejudiced thoughts to spread hate and ignorance which is used to change laws and influence those in power
Encourage people to have kids but you cant force people to have kids. Kids without loving parents will create more criminals for society.
Yet your kind lets thousands of unaccompanied kids cross the border every month??
No one is forcing others to have sex. Actions have consequences
@@jacklinks6097 will you say that to women that got raped or pregnancy that affects the mother’s health? What happen when drug addicts have kids? Do you even think? Or just listen to your religion?
@@xzmrquanzx rape or health reasons I understand. Abortion as birth control is morally wrong and you don’t need to be religious to see that. There has to be a medium somewhere. This would take power away from the federal government and return it to the states but people’s reaction isn’t equivalent.
@@jacklinks6097 unfortunately, banning abortion has no middle ground. Banning means no abortion regardless of the reason. People will seek abortion through the black market which will be even more dangerous. Your support for abortion ban is very wrong my friend.
He gets to live through this mess but some women will die having unsafe abortions.
My man went from a savior to a murderer pretty quickly ☠️
@Gigi Ghiba those are plants not human beings...
Best guest with knowledgeable takes in 20 years on CNN. This should be played all week in PRIME TIME. Man knows his stuff and is telling the truth.
Wonder if he could start by telling us what a woman is... 🤣
@Rhonda Busby I got rid of him/it!
It wouldn't be hard to top the last 20 years of CNN. Wonder if he would fight against Biden and his attack on the 1st and 2nd amendments?
This man didn't miss anything . Everything he said is the truth.
@@rosefaulkingham2077 How so? I want the truth too.
Wow this man hit it on all points that he just said. What a great interview
a loathesome public presence.
I applaud this man for standing up and admitting fault. One size does not fit all. Let’s be realistic.
Very enlightening interview. This man needs to speak out on every news channel and outlet possible.
He looked very sincere when he said he looked bad and is regretting the part he played. He has empathy that most self-righteous anti abortionist lack, to put himself in the shoes of others who are much less fortunate and literally this is a life vs death situation.
I was very influenced by his film in early 70's and the church. I was a volunteer counselor at a Christian pro-life counseling center and believed everything I was told and felt so righteous. Fifty years later I am appalled and aghast at that stance. Each woman is sacred and so are her choices
The tragedy here is that Iron Age mythology and supernatural deities that live in the clouds continue to shape our policies 2,500 years later, instead of rational thought and science. The mode of thought should center chiefly on the primary moral question: "Who Suffers?" The science shows that prior to 24 weeks, a baby has insufficient thalamocortical circuitry and connectivity to the cortex, which is the seat of all sensory perception and self-awareness, and so while pain receptors instantiate before this, there is no evidence that a fetus has any kind of perception of it nor would it "feel" any pain upon being aborted at this stage. On the other hand, we have plenty of empirical evidence that women exist, can suffer, and can experience liberty if given the opportunity.
It's a true tragedy that the Federalist Society has organized a coup on the Supreme Court of the United States. Separation of Mythology and State is dead.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SELF EDUCATION!🎯
each life is sacred. life over having TWO choices. conception is a choice 99% of the time
@@AC-mp7cx
Oh ffs.... go away
Thank you, Anita❤
Absolutely excellent interview! I'd like to see more of Frank Schaeffer all across the airwaves. He said everything I have been thinking for so long, but so much more succinctly. Just like everything, it always comes back to the love of money!
The pro-life (really anti-choice, forced-birther) crowd does not care about fetuses, the pre-born, either. If they did, they would support funding for prenatal care, which they absolutely do not.
This video is enlightening, to say the very least. I have shared it. Thank you very much!
They don't care about the mothers carrying the baby
Wow….. he gets my respect. It takes a grown, mature person to get on CNN and admit regret for being involved in a movement so polarizing.
I’m a progressive too. It gives me hope when I see people change for the better.
Nineteen million black babies slaughtered is not enough? How many more babies should be killed? What is a good number to kill?
Abortion will always be polarizing. Not everyone believes in abortion
did you used to "Not" be a progressive or something?
He is selling a book!
It would have had more effect if they let him on Fox, because this is where his targeted demography is.
Frank, I have been reading you books for years, listening to you speak, and applauded you for your courage and ability to self reflect. I met Jesus in 1970, had a very real encounter with Christ, and then watched in dismay as biblical teachers pushed what I understood as a fascist white supremacists theology. The union of religion and political power mirrored the Lutheran Church's insinuation into politics during the atrocity that was Nazi Germany. There is a resurgence of this apostasy. I was a war protester, a civil rights advocate, and other social causes. I saw my Jesus being all about justice, truth, mercy, love. The fear mongering I heard preached from pulpits sickened me. The Evangelical Religious Reich has worked tirelessly and patiently to control government, by insinuating themselves into the highest echelons of power. It is all about power, greed, lust, Patriarchy, and pulling down democracy., brick by brick. This is the beast with the fatal head wound come back to life. Keeping my eyes on the real Jesus. I have not attended church for awhile. I have not been able to stomach the hypocracy. Thank you for boldly speaking out. Truth matters. God keep you.
agree 100%, (except for the jesus part), but glad the religious and atheist community can agree on some things!
@@b.w.1386 As a follower of Christ, I will say that the atheists I know behave more Christ-like then the majority of those calling themselves Christians today.
@@kayty6673 Mahatma Gandhi - 'I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.' Others agree!
The Jesus part is the most important one. This current "Christian" ideology of dominionism is as far removed from Christ as darkness is to light. Do not mistake the person of Jesus for a religion. It was religious authoritarianism who had him crucified. Today, he would be called a socialist. Not a communist, His aim is to love people to himself. The Kingdom he builds is not a political structure, but inside a person's heart. He is all about justice, loving one's neighbor as oneself, caring for the weak, the sick, the poor, the marginalized, the alien refugee. It us about feeding the hungry, and pulling down oppression, and about stewarding the earth and its resources, not raping it for profit. One other thing, the powers that be today in the evangelical community would crucify him again. But the really amazing thing is, he overcame them and rose from the dead. He is alive. They failed. Justice, mercy, grace, forgiveness, truth, kindness, love. This was his message then and it is his message today. I pray you have your own encounter with him. Thanks for responding to my first comment. Respectfully, Lani
@@hapennysparrow Be bold; love loud. I think you will appreciate this Frank Schaeffer interview: th-cam.com/video/laeSMG1ISEY/w-d-xo.html
I commend this man for reversing his viewpoint, and admitting his mistakes and growing wiser with age. abortion isnt just about not wanting a baby. there are deadly health risks with some pregnancies.
Please have him on again. It’s eye opening. Thanks so much @Frank Schaffer.
This man needs to be interviewed EVERYWHERE!!!!
Let's share this interview!
Why? He’s a fool. Why would you want a fool to be interviewed everywhere?
Except he was paid off by far left activist groups tospew this garbage.
It can't be done, he charges too much for each false testimony.
Soo, do play a part by sharing this video everywhere possible.
It’s so true that the attitude, “I did it so anyone can do it “. Is totally wrong. Some people have much more support and better conditions than others. It’s complicated. There’s huge wealth inequality and health care inequality. Everyone should have good health care and freedom to make their own choices
@RealityCheck Huh?
I live in a country with free health care...18 month parental leave...free good education...etc... I can't imagine not having the right to chose especially in a country where those basics are jot a given
Good point but we all can unit for a common cause.
@@juliec5309 I would imagine your abortion rates are probably fairly low, too. Ours would be lower if conservative idiots would quit trying to make contraception illegal and would support programs to help women who keep their babies.
@@LulaMae21 Bingo!
Faith, Love, and Prosperity vs Murder, selfishness, pleasure and greed.
Share this! It’s such important historic background to what’s happening.
Every "church" taking part in political action needs to lose their tax exemption. How the exemption doesn't violate the Constitution's Establishment Clause is mind boggling.
Yeah let's shut down and destroy everyone that doesn't believe exactly what we do. Lenin would be so proud.
@@TrumpAgenda47Only why are they tax exempt?
@@TrumpAgenda47Only church is very different from clinics that provide healthcare to women. It provides much more than abortions. Churches on the other hand provides beliefs that can't be proven. Also there are other beliefs namely Jewish and Muslim.
Absolutely. Churches should pay all taxes just like everyone else
I’m not anti-religious, but even I don’t believe any house of worship should be tax-exempt.
To the person that leaked these papers. *It was the right thing to do* Even if it could get you in trouble. This person is brave. *I thank you for your bravery & your Service to the citizens of America* 🇺🇸🫡 You’re the kind of person that helped built are nation. Love from this citizen that believes in the dreams of our founding fathers of America, the ones we should truly believe in. Freedom
Agree! Ditto from me as well.
Everyone heard the court deliberations. It was no secret.
I agree. Despite all the yelling and screaming on the right, what the leaker did was 100 percent legal. There is a risk of threats and violence against the leaker, but no threat whatsoever of legal action. The leaker is good, upstanding citizen.
@@pechaa Yes, but it exposes the leaker as a political hack and hes gonna be fired!!LOL
I agree with the theory that this was more likely a leak from a right wing insider looking to cement the decision in. A progressive would be more likely to respect the process and allow for the secret deliberations to run their course in hopes that an opinion could be persuaded and change the result.
I was 18 in 1980 and my family and church was sucked into this movement. My family is still very much all in. I completely left religion and the conservative movement 15 years ago.
amazing interview! I will be sharing.
I am a British citizen in the UK, and all I can say is that I am extremely appalled that your Supreme Court might be making this decision. It is one of the things unfortunately that epitomises why we look so lowly upon the US judicial and electoral system. We cannot believe that this remains still such an issue in the US but glad at least this man was able to change and learn from his mistakes. Just hope it’s not too late to actually make some meaningful change now across your country. I truly hope all of you over in the US can stop this from happening the right to abortion needs to remain a constitutional right, not a state by state right otherwise the rights of individuals that need to be unilateral will be set back decades again. Please America, do not allow this to happen.
you have a lot to learn about America - I am afraid it is too late - it was as soon as Kavanaugh was appointed and solidified with coney barret - just wait this is just the beginning and they are going to be able to repress life here for a couple generations unabated
The problem is the senate. It makes little sense, in the modern era, that California and New York have the same number of senators as Wyoming and Idaho. We need a system that encourages rural and urban parties to seek more common cause.
If I had a magic wand, I would keep the House of Representatives the same, maybe change it to 4 year election cycles instead of 2 to get rid of perpetual fundraising and running for office, and change the Senate to a proportional system based on a nationwide vote. Assuming a party meets a threshold level of vote (maybe 5%) then they would get to seat the number of candidates consistent with the percentage of vote that they get.
Not to understate the US' s worrying path, but UK citizens might want to worry about home just as much.
Stay appalled. The British Monarchial system enslaves the population to an elite class that forces them to work and out of necessity abort their race in the name of control. When the government enshrines abortion it endorses it, funds it, and denigrates its own people. I support a hands off states decided view. We need to support women. His wholistic view of supporting choice is laudable.
I am Indian and I also find America highly regressive in a lot of ways.
I've listened to Frank for years and find him astounding and clear. Listening to him helped me understand those involved with The Lincoln Project, Republicans Voting Against Trump, Republicans For The Rule Of Law, and other groups. This shift in these individuals is so earthshakingly profound. I can't imagine how transformative it must be to totally shift from A to Y, understand that shift, be able to articulate to others the internal factors that they were conscious of and the clarity of their present work! Thank you Frank!
Yes, I've been following him for many years. If only Evangelicals were Christian as they used to be. 😢
Strong statement.
I don't get why the majority of Dems don't understand this. If they did they would use it as their roadmap forward.
@@mellow5123 the truth isn't popular.
Pppk
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Wow. This man is impressively self-aware, passionate, and a gifted communicator to boot. Very informative.
I particularly like it when he says at 12:22 that Jimmy Carter's problem was that he was "too decent a human being."
"If you're pre-born, you're fine.
If you're pre-school, you're 🤬".
- George Carlin
I’m very glad to hear that he’s not only sorry but really understands the entire issue. At the same time, what’s happening is really triggering my ptsd, I can’t get through any video without crying. I had 5 miscarriages that in some states I would go to jail for if I couldn’t prove that they were miscarriages. 😡 They’re taking away my rights, period. That should say enough, but they’re coming for everyone that isn’t a Straight Christian white male! On top of that, they don’t give a damn after that baby takes his first breath.
they are coming for the mens genitals to
My family & friends were posting on Fb when they had miscarriages, just as some stars or wives of stars did! Now women will STFU now! Many say they’re Republican!
My SIL has had 3, two 20 week, one 10 week that she nearly bled out from and had to get a D&C. All were very wanted. All I fear would have gotten too much attention from the "pro-life" who wouldn't believe they were medical issues.
So sorry to hear that 💔 I imagine that must be very traumatic. Just want you to know that not all men are on their side. In fact I'd say quite the opposite. I'm a 29 year Dominican kid from New York City and I stand with you! 🙏🏽 Men should have ZERO say over what you girls do with your damn vaginas 🤬🤬🤬 PREPOSTEROUS!!!
PTSD? Really? I mean...REALLY? Stop looking for drama points, you don't have PTSD, you have perpetual victim syndrome. My mother had a miscarriage, ya know what she did, she got off her ass and didn't wallow and look for sympathy from internet strangers. She didn't wield her loss like a "look at me, I'm important" weapon. Get over yourself and stop using terms like PTSD that you clearly don't understand.
Definitely one of the best interviews I have ever watched.
Too bad america lost it's journalism and most journalist to corporate America....
Same, mindblowing, and I don't say this lightly!
I truly hope this reaches people.
He needs to be delivering this message everywhere 365 days a year for the damage he’s done. He can start by coming to the planned parenthood in my neighborhood and speak to the anti choice assholes who harass women going to get their birth control. They’ll be coming for that next.
As a Fellow American that is the from the state of Pennsylvania that Voted for Democratic Josh Shapiro to be our next Governor against that Crazy Right Wing Wannabe Skinhead Republican Doug Mastriano Which I like to call Thug Monsterano I am very happy that I was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA were this nation was founded. I myself used to be a Republican for a few years and yes an Extreme Anti Abortion Christian Man during those times. I saw the error of my ways in that situation with guys like Frank Schaeffer having shown the that I saw How hypocrital it was for me as Man to call myself take a Woman's right to Choose when the Circumstances my call for it. Especially when So many so called men in this Country become irresponsible and don't want to be fathers to the kids that they fathered or let alone be there for them like they should. So how can we force women to have unwanted pregnancies. Especially when it involves Rape and Incest. It's really Sickening.
Actually he has been doing this for over a decade. He has his own TH-cam channel, show, podcast, and the like. He has written several books at least. I just wish more networks had him on to give him the airtime he deserves.
Thanks Frank, I was with you back in the 80s. I read your dad’s books. I voted. I became disenchanted over gay marriage opposition and left the right. And strangely I am completely with you now. Things do change and evolve and I am happy that you are speaking out. We are on a downward slide from a democracy to a theocracy that will limit the rights of so many people to health wealth and happiness. The threat to all who are not radical right Christians is real. We will all be affected by the loss of abortion rights. As for me, I’m recovered from that. Thank God!
The Radical Right is doing stuff that Al-Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden, Taliban and ISIS were once accused of doing when the USA did the Afghanistan war in the 2000's.
A demon possesses you.
Thanks for sharing some of your story, you made some very strong points! ❤️👏
God is going to send you to Hell unless you repent
@@Vulpas and you as well.
Yes huge props for Frank. He realizes that his activism is being used for the wrong reasons. He hit the nail on the head when he said that the state of America would be like those of the repressive states in Europe. Yes we do understand that there has to be limits to when an abortion is performed. Killing a nearly full term baby would be wrong. That would be the moral majorities argument to eliminate abortion rights all together. But to use it in all circumstances is backwards thinking.
In Europe?? You do realise the hardline Muslim states he speaks of are not in Europe - not a single one of them? Jeez, the ignorance of Americans about geography really does never cease to amaze.
"Backwards thinking" is the definition of conservatism.
“A great democracy has got to be progressive or it will soon cease to be great or a democracy.”
― Theodore Roosevelt
@@octavia2 Hungary. Authoritarian. Not Muslim. Repressive countries can be found almost anywhere in the globe. Asia, Africa middle east, south America, Latin America, North America and Europe.
i mostly agree with you, except for the part where you suggest killing a full-term baby.
that does not happen and would be considered murder.
you must educate yourself on these things, please.
"Killing a nearly full term baby...."
NOBODY DOES THAT!! Late-term abortions, after 22 weeks of pregnancy, are only done if the fetus is already dead or dying. If a fetus is healthy but the pregnant person has a health condition that requires that the pregnancy end, the fetus is delivered as a premature baby, and every effort is made to keep it alive.
Of course you will never hear about this guy on the nightly news.
It takes a big man to not only admit his faults and wrongdoing but to be sincerely remorseful for his actions. It takes an even greater man to take action to rectify those wrongdoings.
The man may have started off adulthood naïve, selfish, and unempathetic-but for whatever reason, it appears he gained the wisdom, perspective, and empathy to see the error of his ways and I’m glad he’s chosen to share that with us because it was a fascinating story. That stuff all happened before my time, but it seems as though the information that he shared about they way things were prior to the 1970’s has been lost for the ages. It’s as if everyone over a certain age has collective amnesia, because they hold the same understanding as folks that weren’t around, and that things have always been this way when they clearly were not. The older folks that have a vague recollection that things are definitely different now have never pinpointed the exact moment when it happened like this and I’m glad he shared, because younger generations need to know that things have been different which means that they could be moving forward.
The only part of this interview I found lacking is that she never even asked the guy “what changed your mind?” or “what made you realize the impact of what you had done, and when did you begin regretting it?”
People don’t often make such dramatic shifts in their thinking and our brains are literally wired to hold contrary views to protect our fragile egos from the embarrassment of admitting we were wrong about something so foundational to our world view and moral beliefs.
It’s not hard to transition from favoring the orange and yellow Starburst flavors to the red and pink ones, and you could even understand it was a maturation of the palate-but it’s super rare for someone to fully abandon a religious, political, or cultural movement that was so integral to their identity the way this guy did. There is undoubtedly a fascinating story and somehow that part got left out of this interview. Him calling out their hypocrisy has a touch of Carlin to it, and I wonder if that was part of it. I was a young man in middle school back when Carlin recorded “Doin’ it Again” and it was not only brilliant stand-up, but it also left it’s mark on my world view-then a few years later, “You Are All Diseased” articulated the ridiculousness about religion that I’d always felt growing up, and hearing a brilliant mind like Carlin put those thoughts into words was life changing for a teenager that was still trying to get a handle on who I was and where I stood.
In any case, I hope we see more of this guy making the rounds because maybe someone will ask those questions and maybe as more people hear it, the right people will hear it and reconsider what the hell even think they’re doing.
He does explain why he changed his mind. At 1:35 in the clip, he says the impact of what he was doing was utterly unforeseeable, up to the murders of the abortion doctors. He also stresses how shocking it is for him to see today the Republican operatives, helped by a packed Supreme Court, resuscitate Roe and Wade fifty years later. He compares that, rightfully so, to the 1930s in Germany when people were joining the Nazi Party and what it turned out to be during WWII. He also says it was totally unfair to think that if, at 20 years old, he and his wife were keeping their baby, why teens facing pregnancy shouldn't do the same? He later realized how self-centered and selfish it was for him not to see how privileged and supported he was, compared to them.
Admittedly, it is rare...but, I did it too. It can be done. It requires rigorous honesty, courage and most of all-listening to one's Higher Self AND acting in accordance to that inner voice of reason and heart.
Read his book, Why I Am an Atheist Who Believes in God: How to Give Love, Create Beauty and Find Peace. Great book! His change of mind (metanoia) happened gradually but I think it hit me really hard when he saw his innocent little grandchildren and remembered how had spanked in holy anger his own child, believing the harsh discipline was a Biblical mandate ("need to put the fear of God" in kids' hearts).
Brainwashing is deep. The ego is strong. Yet sometimes a person has an awakening. I recommend Jungian therapists for everyone who grew up in evangelical world like me.
I guess she wanted to focus on the larger issues in the time allowed.
@@celinedussault3623 "up to the murders of the abortion doctors."
That's a lie. Francis Schaeffer was a principled, godly man who never would've excused (much less advocated) such a thing. -_-
I give this man serious props for doing this interview. Honestly, I can not imagine how difficult it must have been for him. I for one thank him profusely!
Jesus loves all of you repent of your sins which is bad things and put your faith in Jesus for salvation
Bet he's been threatened a few times by the RIGHT...all in the name of God..
Interview gave me chills
“I was sincere” only thing he had to say.
Reminds me of someone in recovery who realizes how much pain they have put others through, looking in the mirror and seeing themselves and their selfish self serving behavior. Kudos to @Frank Schaeffer! (Full disclosure, I'm 8+ years sober.)
Good work. Keep it up !
Definitely
Congratulations! ODAAT
I guess it’s easy to forget about the life of the child an abortion ends. Odd to realize that a innocent baby should sacrificed to protect a woman’s right to choose if she wants to be burdened or not
@@laurenedson7625 What "child" ? It's a blastocyst.
This man needs to be in every US newscast there is forever. The history and context he brings to a religious movement corrupted by secular power and greed needs to be heard long and loud.
In the name of Justice, explain why an innocent human being should be executed by starvation, burned alive, limbs torn off, head smashed in, or poisen injected into the heart, held responsible and blamed for the choices of another human being?
I'm already doing that with copying the link to this CNN interview to send to all my pro-choice friends around the country to help awaken the pro-choice giant to reverse this legal tragedy.
@@toe2toe22 Good idea, I’ll follow suit. The only problem is that those who need to see it, just won’t. Even if they see my post, they’ll just see the title and leave nasty comments without listening to what this man has to say.
Where is the other interview she is referring to? Can’t find it on TH-cam?
I read Schaeffer's memoir "Sex, Mom and God: How the Bible's Strange Take on Sex Led to Crazy Politics--and How I Learned to Love Women (and Jesus) Anyway." It's the story of his rapid rise to being the architect of the Anti-Choice movement and his defection from it. He has some worthwhile reflections on better abortion policy in America.
He has withering contempt for Billy Graham's sons, and recounts a story of standing up to his father, Francis, for being violent toward his mother.
In the book, Schaeffer recalls that one of the reasons he left the movement is that, in spite of all the money he and others were making, he was spending all of his time with people he didn't trust and didn't think were good people.
Meanwhile, social media platforms are churning with Millennials and Gen Zers urging women of their generation to avoid motherhood altogether. The battle is on.
I remember knowing a couple that we used to socialize with: out of the blue the ONLY conversation topic they were interested in was abortion. They were involved in early organization of this. A few years later, I visited their home briefly and witness the father pulling a child under five into a hallway with a glass door. I could hear the child being hit and heard his excoriating rage at his child. The wife didn't intervene at all. Years later I learned that the child grew into a man with severe depression and suicide attempts. This was an individual who is focused on the mote in everyone else' eye: emotionally he destroyed his son's spirit. Who is he to judge others?
The people who rail against abortion and gays--- they have to do this to make themselves feel " holier than thou" -- believing that if they are more "moral" than others, God will bless them and the keys to heaven are theirs. They also don't care to contribute to the welfare of children born due to their anti-abortion effects. How many foster kids are they raising or have they adopted? After reading this comment, it seems one could conclude they are horrible parents to their own children. Literal bible interpretation of " spare the rod" described here.