Tom Brock tells Strib readers he's supressed those pesky gay urges

• Tom Brock is man who has experienced unwanted thoughts, urges, and temptations for his entire life. Who can blame him for wanting to resist and excise them? Some people who face the same as Brock, have chosen to not only accept, but embrace it. Society has changed to consider it amongst the vilest forms of bigotry to not accept every facet of homosexuality. So why can't people like Hart Van Denburg accept and respect Brock's decision to not act on his homosexual urges? Irrespective of religious and social backgrounds, it is not unreasonable to not hate or attack Brock for the way he has chosen to live. How does it harm Denburg? Who is the true bigot?

• To Norman: No skeletons here. Oh Yeah learn how to spell.

• It's been said that when God shuts a door, He often opens a window. What was meant for evil will turn for the good. Rev. Brock, a door may have been shut, but expect an open window. Feel the breeze of God's love and presence as He guides you onward. There will be the haters, those that cannot understand the cost to follow Jesus, but respond with God's love as difficult as it may be to do. Love never fails.

• The sad part is that this man will die a virgin (obviously he masturbates whiel thinking of hot, hairy men, but that doesnt count)and that will be it. All facts show that there is no afterlife-we all hope there is, but probably not. How sad that religion brainwashes people so deeply that they will give up physical love for some "possible" God... Logically, God doesnt care what we do sexually-thats just made up by man. God, if He exists, only cares that we love one another-the rules of eating shellfish, cutting your bangs, selling your daughter as a slave-obviously man made (would God really condone slavery for your daughter?) PAT-fag rag? thats the n word, buddy. Youre the jerk. Anonymous is quite correct with his post. Most of us hate hypocrisy so it ws OK to out this man-youre protestgn an awful lot about this-maybe some pink skeletons in your closet?

• Rev Brock is to be commended for denying his temporal personal gratification in exchange for the greater good. Many of us face similar challenges on various levels. Food, Money, etc. Unfortunately our society has become more and more obsessed with sexual gratification and other forms of short term personal gratification. We have more people obese today due to acting upon any and all urges of appetite. We have the financial meltdown due to the continual lust for possessions whether we can afford them or not, we want them and we want them now! So, I say God Bless you Rev. Brock. You have a difficult cross to bear, but like scripture reads, unless we deny ourselves and take up our cross daily, we cannot follow Jesus. But to those that do, we have the promise of true love, joy and peace in this life and hereafter.

• It's always the ones who scream the loudest against homosexuality.

• That's a very slanderous post by anonymous. Next time put up your name...jerk! So lets review what we know to be true. Pastor Brock didn't get caught in a bathhouse, gay bar, with another adult male, or in any other vile homosexual activity. He was going to a help group for crying out loud. While doing this, he was stalked, by a so-called reporter, writing for some Fag-Rag, who posed as a man, like Brock, needing help. What an incredible violation of trust and honor. Brock has heard many confessions in his role as a pastor and has never so much as divulged who made them and what for to another. Since you ask for comments here's one: the reporter who wrote the story on Brock is devoid of honor and decency and Brock is not.

• So, his preference for his religion and his job over orgasms necessarily demands mockery? Yikes, Mannix. Snideness is a refuge for hacks, but why go back to that well when the person's (presumably) NOT a hypocrite? Force of habit?

• Reminds me of Minister Ted Haggard, who railed against gays. And got outed not by his boyfriend, but by a male prostitute he was paying. Then he was christian cured his BF. And caught with another guy. Reminds me of Sen Larry Craig "I'm not gay - I just hunt for men in the mens room. Reminds me of Mr Reker, who founded the hate group Family research council. And Narth - the national association for treatment of homosexuality - another BS group. He got caught taking the most obvious gay person I ever saww with him on his trip to Europe. He got the college gay boy from a group called "rentboy" The list is endless. Usually the most horrible of the homophobes are simply gay, have been taught to hate gays, meaning themselves, and they just throw out their hatred on others, contributing vastly to the 9-11 we have every year of gay kids - 3000 - who commit suicide. Also reminds me of Cal Legislator Roy Ashburn. Very anti-gay in the state house. Who when caught driving drunk away from a gay bar, said the car took him to the bar, and tried to get Toyota to recall the cars. Took a couple months, but he finally found the gonads to admit the Truth - "I'm gay. As for Brock, how did they rule him a virgin? Give me a break. He needs to join the Evangelical Lutheran church, which now allows gay pastors in relationships, and there he can have a life. Ending the evil perpetrated agaisnt gay people, part of God's creation, is the social justice issue of our time

• It's rather sad that this man out of fear of rejection and isolation has chosen to walk a road of loneliness. If his congregation loves him they would come together and find him a nice guy to share his life with. It's better to marry than to burn, and it's even now more a reality seeing the court ruling in San Francisco on Prop 8. I hope he will give love a chance.

• Hmm...it must have been noteworthy enough for two people to take the time to comment. And, in my humble opinion, exposing hypocrisy always makes for a delightful read.

• Well, Wayne I would say it's muckraking, in the age old great tradition of American newspapers.

• Is this news, editorial, or just plain old hate speech?

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