A popular American cable station HGTV planned to present a new series called Flip it Forward, scheduled for the fall of 2014. The stars of the future show were twins David and Jason Benham. The twins have been flipping houses for profit for over a decade and now decided to help families obtain a home adequate for their needs. The idea for the show seems brilliant to me: charity with a bite, a way to promote the best values in society and make them as cool as those two young Christian brothers.
So in the series the brothers would find a run-down house and turn it into a lovely home to help a deserving family. But it was not to be. On early May the HGTV channel said the show was cancelled due to a report by some leftist activism group who declared the Benham brothers “anti-gay, anti-Choice extremists.”
Shortly after the brave twins declared publicly: “The first and last thought on our minds as we begin and end each day is; have we shined Christ’s light today? Our faith is the fundamental calling in our lives, and the centerpiece of who we are. As Christians we are called to love our fellow man. Anyone who suggests that we hate homosexuals or people of other faiths is either misinformed or lying. Over the last decade, we’ve sold thousands of homes with the guiding principle of producing value and breathing life into each family that has crossed our path, and we do not, nor will we ever discriminate against people who do not share our views.”
“We were saddened to hear HGTV’s decision. With all of the grotesque things that can be seen and heard on television today you would think there would be room for two twin brothers who are faithful to our families, committed to biblical principles, and dedicated professionals. If our faith costs us a television show then so be it.”
The guys gave their honest opinion about homosexual marriage and then lost their show. Eventually a large southern bank took them off their real estate listing. The reaction of the Evangelical community was silent, swift, and massive. Sunday they heard sermons, Monday they closed accounts. Soon the large southern bank was finding (through pain) how much they loved freedom of speech over homosexual marriage. The brothers were reinstated to the bank’s real estate listings but I don’t think those closed evangelical accounts will come back as easily.
I would go join the Four Square Gospel Church just for that, considering the fact that one of our cardinals has designed that famous “inclusive” mass (lowercase intentional) without Consecration so “everyone can come” and enjoy the show of “nothing.” In this false version of Emmaus, Jesus is left outside. They hide Our Lord and we don’t know where they put it!
See, those Evangelicals put Jesus there where everyone can see it. Catholics should do the same. Responses to wickedness should be swift and massive. What if we don’t go to the cinema anymore? What if we stop paying some wicked tax? What if we start declaring the Good News in every possible venue at every possible hour? I verily verily say to you: it would take too many police officers to stop us from doing so.
In my case I plan to take it personally. I am taking the fight wherever I can, just like those two courageous brothers of TV fame. I find in them a much better example, they are like Saint Leandro and Saint Isidore of Seville, two brave siblings standing for truth who began to build Christendom when the corpse of the Roman Empire was still warm.
I am blacklisted and sued to death already. If it takes more suffering to make Christ’s light shine then so be it. Thank you Benham brothers for that great line and your pure, Christian inspiration. God bless you, brothers.
Published 18 May 2014.
Carlos Caso-Rosendi 