Tell Amy Klobuchar - No Earmark for Halloween-Hating MN Teen Challenge

[Avidor]

Senator Klobuchar seeks $500,000 for MN Teen Challenge.

Please call her office and ask her to withdraw the earmark.

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http://minnesotaindependent.com/20334/know-the-truth-cannot-evade-scrutiny

If you accept taxpayer money, you have to accept that you’re going to receive public scrutiny.

That simple point seems to be eluding Minnesota Teen Challenge (MNTC), the faith-based drug treatment program which secured a federal earmark in early 2008 arranged by Rep. Jim Ramstad, for its “Know the Truth” program which aims to prevent drug use. According to Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s Web site, the senator is requesting (PDF) an additional $500,000 this year — a sum that would more than double the program’s budget. MNTC is becoming ever more dependent on public money. Operating close to the border of church and state, the group’s members are unrealistic if they think their work is not going to get attention.

(I’ve requested a comment on Klobuchar’s earmark request and will publish it here as soon as it is received).

MNTC officials were upset by my coverage of their public statements, publicly available employment application materials and publicly available information about their ties to the national organization that spawned the local operation. Maia Szalavitz, a Huffington Post writer with expertise in traumatized youth, also wrote about the Ramstad earmark. While Szalavitz and I published similar articles on the same day, we haven’t ever communicated with each other.

In response, MNTC executive director Rich Scherber sent a nearly identically worded letter to both the Minnesota Independent and the Huffington Post.

The point of my article was not to suggest that MNTC was not successful or beneficial, as Scherber implies. Rather it was to point out the overtly religious nature of the organization and that the program has historically been controversial. In the interest of brevity, I left some examples out. For instance, MNTC’s stance on Halloween verges on the comical (”Halloween is a day set up totally for Satan … The more people who go out dressed as demons, ghosts, witches and goblins, the more glory Satan receives”). Scherber’s claim that the Holy Spirit told an MNTC bus driver to avoid the 35-W bridge on the day of its collapse in August 2007 is touching but, let us say, unverified.

I don’t question that faith-based programs can be very effective for those that share the programs’ faith. Faith is a huge motivator in people’s lives. I think MNTC has been very effective for the clients it serves. However, I don’t think it’s appropriate for judges, prosecutors or public defenders to suggest the program as an alternative to jail. (Szalavitz, by the way, vehemently disagrees with MNTC’s claims about its success rate).

Read the rest of the commentary here:

http://minnesotaindependent.com/20334/know-the-truth-cannot-evade-scrutiny

Video - Bush loves Teen Challenge:

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=2118e33778d34ae8a047

Video: Teen Challenge "Men at War":

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=732b0ac739bc3fb28faf

Bachmann and Teen Challenge:

http://dumpbachmann.blogspot.com/search?q=teen+challenge

[FiveGoodMen]

1. Kick.

[FiveGoodMen]

2. Apparently, this doesn't interest anyone else at all.

[dflprincess]

3. There's been over 250 views

just because someone doesn't comment, doesn't mean they're not interested or haven't contacted Klobuchar.

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4. I was speechless too when I found out. N/T

[Shallah Kali]

5. More on Teen Challenge "Dogemperor at Daily Kos: An In-Depth Series on Abuse at Teen Challenge"

http://teenchallengecult.blogspot.com/2008/05/daily-kos-dogemperor-teen-challenge.html

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6. Teen Challenge, Amy Klobuchar and Tom Petters

Karl Bremer, who broke the story about Michele Bachmann and Norm Coleman's pardon request for Vennes:

While Petters did not donate directly to Bachmann, his close asssociate, Frank Vennes Jr., who is deeply connected to Fidelis and was once on the board of MNTC, has donated tens of thousands of dollars to Bachmann between him and his family members. Bachmann then wrote a letter of recommendation for a presidential pardon for Vennes, who is a convicted money launderer and gun and drug dealer but has not yet been charged in the Petters case. Bachmann withdrew her letter of recommendation for a pardon once Vennes was publicly implicated in the Petters scandal. Bachmann has long been a supporter of MNTC but has refused to discuss her relationship with Vennes.

It’s worth noting that Norm Coleman wrote not one but two letters of recommendation for a pardon for Vennes. Coleman has received campaign contributions from both Vennes and Petters.

MNTC "Official Endorsements" include Bachmann and Bush:

http://www.mntc.org/officials-endorsements

Why is Amy Klobuchar hanging out with these guys?

From a Teen Challenge newsletter:

[northernsoul]

7. Thanks for the post

I always had a funny feeling about MNTC. This confirmed my low expectations.

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8. Teen Challenge Links Abortion and Miscarriage to Drug Addiction

Everlasting Light Ministries Newsletter (PDF):

http://www.everlastinglightministries.org/newsletter/2007_winter-spring.pdf

"Teen Challenge Welcomes Rich in Mercy "

This was the first opportunity for the women to understand post abortion
trauma and the role that abortion played as a trigger for their addictive behaviors.

Abortion and miscarriage is just as much a trigger for men as it is women.

Does Senator Amy Klobuchar really believe taxpayers should be funding this theocratic crap?

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9. "Teen Challenge at George Bush 2004 Rally in Duluth

DU thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=160x1919

Nick Coleman has more:

http://is.gd/cXjT

And all of that came after we were informed by the emcee, conservative talk-radio host and author Laura Ingraham, that if the ACLU had its way, we wouldn't even be allowed to pray. When the crowd didn't respond, Ingraham stepped back to the microphone to chide us: "You're supposed to BOO when I say the ACLU!" After that, boos came at all the proper cues.

Then we were treated to an off-key "Star-Spangled Banner" sung by the Minnesota Teen Challenge Choir -- the 230 residents of a Christ-based drug-treatment program in Minneapolis that includes many adults as well as teens.

Minnesota Teen Challenge enjoys the support of many Republicans, including Gov. Tim Pawlenty and his wife, Mary (she is on the board), and the group also was bused to Duluth last month to sing for a Bush rally there.

"Teen Challenge is one of President Bush's favorite charities," said Kimberly Lende, a Teen Challenge official.

With the remainder of their three hours in St. Paul, many of the recovering addicts made crosses by taping together inflatable Bush 2004 "thunder sticks." Later, during the president's speech, they lifted the improvised crosses toward the podium, holding them out in a reverential manner.

"Bush stands for One Nation Under God," said one teen when I asked why he was raising a cross for the president. "He wants to keep God in the nation."

The crosses worried two visitors sitting next to me, foreign students seeing their first American political rally.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/07/20040713-12.html

I want to thank Bob Lessard, who's the Minnesota Sportsman for Bush chairman. I'm honored that so many sportsmen, hunters and fishermen are here. Thank you all for coming. (Applause.) I want to thank the Minnesota Teen Challenge Choir for being here today. (Applause.) Most of all, I want to thank you all. I'm so honored you came. We're going to win. (Applause.).

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10. VIDEO: Teen Challenge at Excel Center 2004

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyPDAzT-Wlc

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11. Pam Spaulding on Klobuchar's MNTC earmark:

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=8837

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12. MNTC Preaches Intolerance of Wiccans

Minnesota Teen Challenge October 2001 newsletter goes after Wiccans:

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13. Will Earmark Help Pay for MNTC's Mission to Save Haiti from "spiritually dark voodoo culture" ?

Teen Challenge is planning a "leadership training center" in Haiti:

http://www.adorationchurch.com/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=73

Minnesota Teen Challenge seeks to be an organizing catalyst that develops alliances with other Christian organizations in order to fully train and mentor students in discipleship, social justice, morality, economic development and servant leadership skills.

Scroll down to their version of Haiti's history:

On August 14, 1791, a group of houngans (voodoo priests), led by a former slave houngan named Boukman, made a pact with the Devil at a place called Bois-Caiman. The founding fathers and others present vowed to exterminate all of the white Frenchmen on the island. They sacrificed a black pig in a voodoo ritual with hundreds of slaves drinking the sacrificial pig's blood. In this ritual, Boukman asked Satan for his help in liberating Haiti from the French. In exchange, the voodoo priests offered to give the country to Satan for 200 years and swore to serve him. On January 1, 1804, the nation of Haiti was born and thus began a new demonic tyranny.

Since that time, Haiti has suffered oppressive poverty, unsanitary conditions, natural disasters and civil war. The nation has a long and sordid history of violence, poverty and has been plagued by political and natural disasters, theft, corruption, drug traffic and in spite of an endless supply of foreign aid to the country; Haiti remains the poorest and most needy country in the hemisphere. The average annual income of approximately $300 USD for a typical Haitian family of five or six members. One half the population is thought to be illiterate and the life expectancy is only 52 years. With unemployment over 70%, most adult men have never held a job in their lives. Haitian poor live day-to-day, generation-to-generation without hope of life getting any better. For them, the long night of unrest seems relentless.

Humanitarian and government officials are renown for being corrupt. Haiti is a haven for the drug trade. Haiti currently has United Nations Peace Keeping Force to help maintain peace and security. The U.N., foreign governments and a variety of mission and humanitarian organizations have poured countless resources into Haiti, the poorest country in this hemisphere. In spite of mountains of foreign assistance, these initiatives do not seem to take root and produce lasting fruit in this spiritually dark voodoo culture. Internationals with long standing ties to Haiti remain frustrated and skeptical of lasting change happening on this Caribbean island. Haitians that profess some level of allegiance to Jesus Christ have been characterized by fraud, theft, and spiritual elitism within a highly-fractured Christian community.

Adoration Church links to the ex-gay ministry Exodus and right-wing, anti-gay Focus on the Family:

http://www.adorationchurch.com/app/w_page.php?id=53&type=section

Adoration Church leader Craig Sulentic is the MNTC treasurer:

http://www.mntc.org/board-of-directors

...and a donor to Bachmann and Coleman:

http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/craig-sulentic.asp?cycle=08

...and they are down there right now:

http://livesayhaiti.blogspot.com/2009/01/i-can-read.html

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14. Another MNTC board membe - "God and Money"

Vennes and another MNTC board member Darrel Amiot gave a talk called
"God and Money":

http://dumpbachmann.blogspot.com/2009/01/pardongate-god-and-money-dinner.html

[dodger501]

15. What, no Mac Hammond?

If money is blessing from God, he must really hate me . . .

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16. "Keith Ellison and Minnesota Teen Challenge"

http://lloydletta.blogspot.com/2009/01/keith-ellison-and-minnesota-teen.html

"After Keith Ellison's town meeting, I asked him whether he co-sponsored an earmark for Minnesota Teen Challenge, as Senator Amy Klobuchar claimed. He said he would check into it and get back to me - though he said he didn't remember doing so."

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17. Sentor Berglin on MNTC...

Senator Linda Berglin wrote me:

"Minnesota Teen Challenge has a treatment program that seems to work well for their clients"

It's disapointing that my state senator's standard for evaluating a drug addiction program is that it "seems to" work. Progressive lawmakers should insist that medical treatment programs undergo a rigorous, science-based peer review before they can receive ANY funding... otherwise government could find itself funding faith-based treatment of cancer, heart disease etc.

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18. Teen Challenge Tries to Convert Jews

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/susan_jacoby/2009/02/faith-based.html">Newsweek/WaPo:

"...a group called Teen Challenge, which tries to convert Jews who participate in its substance abuse programs to Christianity...."

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19. Teen Challenge Founder Predicts "an Earth-Shattering Calamity"

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=91097World Net Daily:|World Net Daily:>

A respected pastor, best-selling author and founder of a major ministry to teens predicts an imminent "an earth-shattering calamity" centered in New York City that will spread to major urban areas across the country and around the world – part of what he sees as a judgment from God.

David Wilkerson, author of "The Cross and the Switchblade," a book about his ministry to troubled New York street kids that was later made into a movie starring Pat Boone, tells readers of his blog this weekend that he is "compelled by the Holy Spirit to send out an urgent message" about his prediction.

"An earth-shattering calamity is about to happen," he writes. "It is going to be so frightening, we are all going to tremble – even the godliest among us."

Wilkerson's vision is of fires raging through New York City.

"It will engulf the whole megaplex, including areas of New Jersey and Connecticut. Major cities all across America will experience riots and blazing fires – such as we saw in Watts, Los Angeles, years ago," he explains. "There will be riots and fires in cities worldwide. There will be looting – including Times Square, New York City. What we are experiencing now is not a recession, not even a depression. We are under God’s wrath. In Psalm 11 it is written, "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?"

Wilkerson is the founding pastor of Times Square Church in New York City, where he launched a ministry to gang members and drug addicts in 1958. He is a highly regarded mentor to other pastors in evangelical circles and travels the world holding conference for other Christian ministers.

His work in New York in the 1950s and 1960s led to the formation of Teen Challenge – a nationwide ministry to reach out to people with life-controlling habits. Teen Challenge has grown to include 173 residential programs and numerous evangelism outreach centers in the United States, and 241 centers in 77 other countries. The program claims a recovery rate of 86 percent.

The story of Wilkerson's first five years of ministry in New York is told in "The Cross and the Switchblade," a book he co-authored in 1963. The book became a best-selling phenomenon and more than 15 million copies have been distributed in over 30 languages.

"God is judging the raging sins of America and the nations," claims Wilkerson. "He is destroying the secular foundations." Wilkerson urges everyone to stockpile a 30-day supply of food and other necessities to deal with the catastrophe he foresees.

"I do not know when these things will come to pass, but I know it is not far off," Wilkerson concluded in his message. "I have unburdened my soul to you. Do with the message as you choose."

Why is Amy Klobuchar supporting these nutjobs?

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20. MNTC Contradicts Itself on Religious Message in "Know the Truth" Public School Program

http://www.mntc.org/

"The Know the Truth program is completely non-religious in nature..."

http://www.crookstontimes.com/news/x1331539883/Know-the-Truth-Wednesday-at-CHS

“Know the Truth” has been presented to approximately 65,000 people in the Twin Cities area since the outreach program began in 2006, he said. This is the first year it’s moved beyond the metro area and into Greater Minnesota.

Teen Challenge, Edlund explained, is a Christian-based drug and alcohol rehabilitation program. The message during the evening presentation will especially drive this point home. The faith-based concept is that life without these substances needs a replacement, and that replacement is a Christian belief and life.