Pat Robertson to Viewer: You Deserve to Be Left by Your Wife for Going to "Transsexual Clubs," So Shut Up!

It's been a couple of years since I lasted posted about Pat Robertson or "The 700 Club." He had a big televised 90th birthday special recently, but that was the first episode that I'd skimmed in a really long time. But my workday ended early and an online friend pointed out his latest "You Questions/Honest Answers" segment -- and I couldn't help but wonder why anyone would turn to Pat Robertson for answers about issues related to sexual orientation or gender identity.

In today's "Your Questions/Honest Answers" segment, someone named Bradley asked the following question: "Hello, Pat. I am holding a secret towards my wife. I am a sinner who has been visiting a transsexual club for 6 months. My wife asks me where I've been when I get home later, and I say I was just out with friends. Should I tell her the trust and seek help in our church, so I don't feel the need to go there anymore? I am afraid that my wife will leave me. Please help me, Pat."

Here was Pat Robertson's terse response:

Pat Robertson: The Bible talks about Jesus. He made a show of them openly. You are doing something that is a secret sin. And your secret sins in the light of his countenance... You cannot hold onto whatever you're doing. Apparently, you have homosexual tendencies? You're married and you say I'm afraid my wife will leave you. Well, maybe she should. I mean, you have already broken your marriage vows. You're involved in a relationship that you shouldn't be in. But honestly, it's what you've gotta do!

So why would you want to carry this burden so many years? But you don't have to tell it to the whole world! I mean, your wife deserves to know what you're doing. That you've been lying to her. So tell her the truth. But if she leaves, that's the price you ought to pay because you deserve it! Okay?

Co-Host Terry Meeuwsen: Does he go to his church with this?

Pat Robertson: No! Absolutely not! Why should you confess to the whole church? You haven't sinned against the church. You've sinned against your wife and against God. You confess it to God and you confess it to your wife!

Terry Meeuwsen: And get some counseling...

Pat Robertson:  Get counseling, absolutely.

First, Pat was extremely hostile towards Bradley. He seemed quite angry that Bradley would reach out to "The 700 Club" for support, for towards his church. Which is what I thought that the Church wanted people to do when struggling with sexual orientation and gender identity issues. But Pat definitely did not want Bradley to reach out to his larger church family for any support or guidance.

Second, I kind of call bull on this letter. I can see Pat Robertson and the people at "The 700 Club" referencing "transsexual clubs." But I can't see anyone who has been actively involved with such places for months like Bradley calling them that. Nobody in the community uses the term "transsexual." Not for many years. If Bradley the struggler ever talked about transsexuals while at his club, he'd have his head bit off. But the staffers at "The 700 Club" wouldn't know any better. And neither would Pat.

So. B.S. to Pat Robertson and his phony questions.

You can watch the entire episode, as well as Bradley's question (at the 47:02 mark) here.