On CBN Newswatch, Dec. 17: Child Soldiers: Syria conflict 'beyond imagination', Antibacterial soap no longer FDA approved?, and US increases military aid to Philippines, and more.
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TONIGHT ON "NEWSWATCH,"
STEPPING FORWARD IN SYRIA,
WHAT THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS
HAS TO HAPPEN BEFORE THE
COUNTRY CAN ENTER PEACE
TALKS.
Wendy: PLUS, IS HAND
SOAP HEALTHY?
HOW A DECISION FROM THE
F.D.A. COULD CHANGE HOW MANY
PRODUCTS ARE SOLD.
Mark: AND HOW ONE
CHURCH IS WORKING TO BRING
SOME CIVIL DISCUSSION BACK
TO ONE OF THE MOST HEATEDLY
DEBATED TOPICS AROUND.
ALL OF THIS AND MORE TONIGHT
ON "NEWSWATCH."
THIS WEEK ALONE MORE THAN
200 SYRIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED
IN THE COUNTRY'S BLOODY
CIVIL WAR.
GOOD EVENING, I'M MARK
MARTIN.
Wendy: AND I'M WENDY
GRIFFITH.
AMONG THAT 200, 28 CHILDREN
ARE DEAD.
THE HEAD OF THE UNITED
NATIONS SAYS THE SYRIAN
CONFLICT HAS DETERIORATED
BEYOND ALL IMAGINATION.
AND NOW REPORTS ARE
SURFACING THAT al-QAEDA
REBELS THERE ARE USING
CHILDREN TO CARRY OUT THEIR
ATTACKS.
HEATHER CELLS HAS MORE IN
TONIGHT'S TOP STORY.
Reporter: THE MUSIC IS
CHILLING AND SO IS THE
STRATEGY.
THE "WASHINGTON POST"
REPORTS THAT al-QAEDA
REBELS IN SYRIA ARE TRAINING
CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS 10 FOR
MILITARY MISSIONS.
INCLUDING SUICIDE BOMBINGS.
HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS SAY
SECULARIST REBELS AND
MALITIAS ARE USING CHILD
SOLDIERS IN SYRIA.
IT IS ANOTHER REASON WHY THE
UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY IS
DEMANDING A CEASE-FIRE
BEFORE TALKS BEGIN NEXT
MONTH.
WE MUST HAVE A CESSATION
OF HO HOSTILITY BEFORE WE
BEGIN A POLITICAL DIALOGUE
ON SYRIA.
Reporter: BOTH THE U.S.
AND RUSSIA HAVE HELPED
BROKER THE TALKS.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO TRY
TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER A
STRONG REPRESENTATION OF THE
OPPOSITION, TOGETHER WITH
THE ASSAD REGIME
REPRESENTATIVES, AND WITH
MAYBE 30 OR SO OTHER
COUNTRIES.
AND ALL TRY TO WORK IN THE
SAME DIRECTION, WHICH IS TO
GET A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT
OUT OF SYRIA.
Reporter: THE HEAD OF
THE U.N. IS HOPING THAT A
CEASE-FIRE WOULD PAVE THE
WAY FOR A POLITICAL SOLUTION
TO THE TWO AND A HALF-YEAR
CONFLICT, BUT IN RECENT
WEEKS, VIOLENCE HAS SURGED,
AS THE WARING SIDES TRY TO
HOLD ON OR CLAIM NEW
TERRITORY AS A POSSIBLE
NEGOTIATING STRATEGY.
ONE SIGN OF PROGRESS: THE
AUTHORIZATION OF A PLAN TO
DESTROY SYRIA'S CHEMICAL
WEAPONS OF MAS WEAPONS.
THE ORGANIZATION FOR THE
PROHIBITION OF CHEMICAL
WEAPONS APPROVED THE
DETAILS.
IT INCLUDES HELP FROM
DENMARK AND NORWAY, WITH THE
FINAL DESTRUCTION TAKING
PLACE ON A U.S. SHIP.
MID-2014 IS THE DEADLINE.
HEATHER CELLS, CBN NEWS.
Mark: AUTHOR AND MIDDLE
EAST EXPERT DR. WALID FERRIS
JOINS US WITH MORE.
DOCTOR, DO YOU THINK THAT
THE CIVIL WAR IN SYRIA HAS
OPENED THE DOOR FOR IT TO
BECOME AN ISLAMIC
EXTREMISM?
IT IS BOTH WAYS.
ON THE ONE HAND THAT THE
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION DID NOT
, IN 2011, INTERVENE AND
MAKE SURE THAT HEZBOLLAH AND
IRAN DO NOT INTERVENE IN
SYRIA, AND MAKING SURE THAT
AL-QAEDA WAS NOT A THREAT
IN THE BEGINNING -- SINCE
THIS HAS NOT BE DONE,
JIHADISTS FROM LIBYA AND
INDONESIA AND AROUND THE
WORLD FORMED A LARGE POOL.
THEY WERE PROJECTED TO SEIZE
THE OPPORTUNITY.
IT IS THE ABSENCE OF U.S.
AND WESTERN POLICY THAT
ALLOWS THEM TO NOW TRANSFORM
SYRIA TO PERHAPS AN
AFGHANISTAN-LIKE
BATTLEFIELD.
Mark: THE UNITED
NATIONS IS CALLING FOR A
CEASE-FIRE IN SYRIA.
IS THAT GOING TO HAPPEN?
A CEASE-FIRE IN SYRIA
WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF BOTH
PARTIES WILL BE VERY
DIFFICULT.
THE REGIME WOULD NOT CONSENT
BEFORE THEY CONTROL ALL
CITIES.
AND THE OTHER PROBLEM IS
THAT THE OPPOSITION IS
DIVIDED BETWEEN THE MORE
SECULAR AND MODERATE SYRIA
ARMY AND THE ASCENDING AND
GROWING JIHADISTS WHO ARE
NOT GOING TO BE ACCEPTING
ANY CEASE-FIRE.
THEY MAY EXCEPT A CEASE-FIRE
IN A NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT NOT
ACROSS SYRIA.
DO YOU SEE AN END OF THE
CIVIL WAR IN SYRIA?
IT IS UNFORTUNATE, BUT I
DO NOT SEE AN IMMEDIATE END
TO THE CIVIL WAR IN SYRIA,
AS LONG AS WE DON'T HAVE A
POLICY FOR SYRIA.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE NOT
ENGAGING THE ISLAMIST
FRONT.
WE HAVE ENGAGED THE TWO
WRONG SIDES.
THE REAL GROUP THAT WE NEED
TO ENGAGE ARE FIGHTING
INSIDE SYRIA.
THE MODERATES, THE
CHRISTIANS, JEWS, KURDS, AND
ANYBODY WHO IS WILLING TO DO
PEACE IN SYRIA.
UNFORTUNATELY, THEY HAVE NOT
DONE IT.
Mark: THE HUMANITARIAN
CRISIS IS TREMENDOUS WITH
THIS.
DO YOU THINK THE AVERAGE
PERSON WHO IS GOING TO SEE
THIS INTERVIEW REALIZES THE
MAGNITUDE, WALID?
I HOPE THEY WILL.
WE ARE RECEIVING REPORTS HOW
KIDS, CHILDREN, AND OLDER
PEOPLE ARE DYING IN REFUGEE
CAMPS IN LEBANON AND
GEORGIA, AND TURKEY,
SPECIFICALLY AFTER THE WAVE
OF COLD.
WE REALLY NEED TO DO
SOMETHING FOR THE SYRIAN
REFUGEES.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE
LARGEST GROUP OF REFUGEES
NOW EXISTING IN THE MIDDLE
EAST, AND NOT REALLY
ADMINISTERED TO.
IT IS A TRAGEDY.
DR. WALID FERRIS, THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
INSIGHTS, SIR.
THANK YOU.
Wendy: HERE AT HOME,
THE BIPARTISAN BUDGET DEAL
HAS CLEARED A MAJOR HURTLE
IN THE SENATE.
IN A VOTE OF 67-33,
LAWMAKERS DECIDED TO END
DEBATE ON THE MEASURE.
THE KEY PROCEDURAL VOTE
MEANS THE BILL HAS OVERCOME
THE POSSIBILITY OF A
REPUBLICAN FILIBUSTER.
THE SENATE IS EXPECTED TO
VOTE ON WEDNESDAY, AND IT
WILL THEN HEAD TO THE
PRESIDENT'S DESK, TO BE
SIGNED INTO LAW.
Mark: THE U.S. SENATE
HAS CONFIRMED JAY JOHNSON AS
THE NEW HEAD OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY.
JOHNSON, A FORMER TOP
PENTAGON LAWYER, WAS
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S PICK FOR
THE JOB.
HIS CONFIRMATION COMES AS A
DEFEAT TO A REPUBLICAN
FILIBUSTER.
HE IS THE FOURTH PERSON TO
LEAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY SINCE ITS
INCEPTION AFTER THE 9/11
ATTACKS.
ABOUT 40% OF SENIOR
LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN THE
DEPARTMENT ARE CURRENTLY
VACANT.
JOHNSON SAYS FILLING THOSE
POSTS IS AMONG HIS TOP
PRIORITIES.
Wendy: THE MAN BEHIND
THE NATIONAL SECURITY
AGENCY'S LEAKS IS SEEKING
ASYLUM IN BRAZIL.
IN A LETTER RELEASED TODAY,
EEDWARD SNOWDEN OFFERS TO
HELP BRAZIL INVESTIGATE
N.S.A. SURVEILLANCE ACTIVITY
IN EXCHANGE FOR POLITICAL
ASYLUM.
HIS REQUEST COMES DAYS AFTER
ONE N.S.A. TASKFORCE LEADER
SUGGESTED THE U.S. GRANT
SNOWDEN AMNESTY, A
SUGGESTION THAT THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION QUICKLY SHOT
DOWN.
IT HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF
LEAKING CLASSIFIED
INFORMATION.
AND HE FACES FELONY CHARGES
HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.
Wendy: PART OF THAT
CLASSIFIED INFORMATION
INCLUDES THE REVELATION THE
N.S.A. COLLECTS PHONE DATA
ON CALLS HERE IN THE U.S.
THE MOVE A FEDERAL JUDGE
RULED UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
THAT DECISION HAS BEEN PUT
ON HOLD PENDING AN APPEAL
FROM THE GOVERNMENT.
MANY PREDICT THE CASE WILL
ULTIMATELY BE DECIDED BY THE
SUPREME COURT.
Mark: THE FEDERAL
RESERVE TODAY KICKED OFF A
TWO-DAY MEETING DETERMINING
THE FUTURE OF THE CURRENT
ECONOMIC STIMULUS PROGRAM.
FED CHAIRMAN BEN BERNANKE IS
PREPARING TO LEAVE HIS POST
IN THE NEW YEAR, AND MANY
SPECULATE THAT WILL BRING
ABOUT AN END TO THE STIMULUS
MEASURES, AIMED AT KEEPING
INTEREST RATES LOW.
BERNANKE'S EXPECTED
SUCCESSOR, JANET YELLEN,
SAID DURING HER CONFIRMATION
HEARING THAT THE CURRENT
PROGRAM CANNOT CONTINUE
INDEFINITELY, BUT IT WILL
REMAIN UNTIL THE ECONOMY
SHOWS FURTHER IMPROVEMENT.
THE DECISION WILL BE
ANNOUNCED TOMORROW.
Wendy: IN HEALTH NEWS,
ANTI-BACTERIAL SOAPS MAY BE
DOING MORE HARM THAN GOOD.
THE FOOD AND DRUG
ADMINISTRATION SAYS THE
SOAPS MAY ACTUALLY BE
DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH.
HEALTH REPORTER LORI JOHNSON
EXPLAINS THE PROBLEM.
Reporter: MILLIONS OF
AMERICANS CHOOSE
ANTI-BACTERIAL SOAPS AND
BODY WASHES THINKING THEY'RE
BETTER THAN ORDINARY SOAP.
BUT THE F.D.A. SHOCKED
CONSUMERS BY ANNOUNCING
THESE PRODUCTS AREN'T BETTER
AT ALL, AND, IN FACT, COULD
BE A LOT WORSE.
SO BAD THAT THEY MAY BE
REMOVED FROM STORE SHELVES.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE HAVE
LOTS OF GOOD BACTERIA IN OUR
BODY, BACTERIA THAT KEEPS US
HEALTHY.
ANTI-BACTERIAL SOAPS CAN
KILL THAT GOOD BACTERIA,
LEADING TO SERIOUS ISSUES,
LIKE ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE,
OR HORMONE PROBLEMS.
THE F.D.A. SAYS RESEARCH
FROM ANIMAL STUDIES
SUGGESTED THAT DAILY
EXPOSURE TO ANTIBACTERIAL
CHEMICALS HAD AN EFFECT ON
ESTROGEN, TESTOSTERONE, AND
THYROID HORMONES.
THERE ARE ABOUT 2,000
ANTIBACTERIAL SOAPS, WASHES,
AND DEODORANTS ON THE
MARKET, AND THEY'RE PRETTY
EASY TO RECOGNIZE.
MOST SAY ANTIBACTERIAL,
ANTIPI ANTIMICROBIAL ON THE
LABEL.
AND THEY'RE REQUIRED TO
DISPLAY A DRUG FACTS LABEL.
LOOK FOR THE ACTIVE
INGREDIENT, TRICLOSAN.
THE COMPANIES THAT MAKE
THESE PRODUCTS, OF COURSE,
THINK THE F.D.A.'S CONCERNS
ARE OVERBLOWN.
THE FACT IS TRICLOSAN IS
SAFE, HAS AN EXTENSIVE TRACK
RECORD.
Reporter: THE F.D.A.
WANTS TO GIVE ANTIBACTERIAL
SOAP COMPANIES A YEAR TO TRY
TO PROVE THEIR PRODUCTS ARE
SAFE AND BETTER THAN REGULAR
SOAP.
AND IF THEY CAN'T, THE
PRODUCTS MUST BE
REFORMULATED, RELABELLED, OR
REMOVED FROM STORE SHELVES
BY 2016.
IN THE MEANTIME, THE F.D.A.
STILL SAYS WASHING YOUR
HANDS IS THE BEST WAY TO
AVOID GETTING SICK.
PREFERABLE WITH GOD
OLD-FASHIONED, REGULAR SOAP
AND WATER.
LORI JOHNSON, CBN NEWS.
Mark: HUNDREDS OF
FIREFIGHTERS ARE BATTLING A
500-ACRE BRUSHFIRE IN
CALIFORNIA.
BIG SUR IS HISTORICALLY ONE
THE WETTEST PLACES IN THE
STATE.
UNLIKE THE REST OF
CALIFORNIA, THE AREA IS
EXPERIENCING THE DRIEST
CALENDAR YEAR ON RECORD.
THE OFF-SEASON FIRE HAS
DESTROYED 15 HOMES SO FAR
AND FORCED THE EVACUATION OF
AT LEAST 100 PEOPLE.
I JUST HAVEN'T ABSORBED
IT ALL YET.
I WALKED OUT THE DOOR TO GO
TO WHAT I THOUGHT IT WAS A
FIRE SOMEWHERE ELSE, AND
THERE WAS ASHES AND SPARKS
GOING RIGHT BY MY FRONT
DOOR.
Mark: THE CAUSE OF THE
FIRE IS STILL UNDER
INVESTIGATION.
MEANWHILE, THE AMERICA RED
CROSS IS PROVIDING WATER AND
FOOD FOR THOSE IN NEED.
OFFICIALS ARE HOPING TO HAVE
THE FIRE FULLY CONTAINED BY
THE END OF THE WEEK.
Wendy: COMING UP, AS
RESIDENTS CONTINUE TYPHOON
CLEANUP, A LOOK AT HOW CBN
DISASTER RELIEF TEAMS ARE
MINISTERING TO THE FOLKS IN
THE PHILIPPINES.
Wendy: THE U.S. IS
PLEDGING $40 MILLION IN
MILITARY AID TO HELP THE
PHILIPPINES PROTECT ITS
TERRITORIAL WATERS.
SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN
KERRY MADE HIS ANNOUNCEMENT
DURING HIS VISIT TO THE
ASIAN NATION.
THIS COMES AMID RISING
TENSIONS WITH CHINA OVER
TERRITORIES IN THE SOUTH
CHINA SEA.
PART OF THE U.S. AID MONEY
WILL BE USED TO STRENGTHEN
FILIPINO EFFORTS AGAINST
al-QAEDA-LINKED MILITANTS.
KERRY SAYS THE ANNOUNCEMENT
IS PART OF THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION'S DECISION TO
REFOCUS ON ASIA.
MEANWHILE, OVER 6,000 PEOPLE
ARE DEAD AFTER THAT MASSIVE
TYPHOON HIT THE PHILIPPINES
LAST MONTH.
NEARLY 1800 PEOPLE ARE STILL
MISSING, MARK.
Mark: 20 TO 30 BODIES
ARE STILL BEING FOUND EVERY
DAY, MAKING IT THE WORST
NATURAL DISASTER ON RECORD
IN THE PHILIPPINES.
Wendy: OUR LUCILLE
TALUSEN HAS BEEN ON THE
GROUND THERE AND HAS BEEN
THERE SINCE THE TRAGEDY
HAPPENS.
SHE BRINGS US THIS LOOK AT
HOW FOLKS ARE RELYING ON GOD
TO BRING THEM THROUGH.
Reporter: SEVERAL WEEKS
AT TYPHOON HAIYAN STRUCK,
VILLAGERS ARE STRUGGLING TO
RECOVER FROM THE LOSS OF
LOVED ONES AND HOMES.
THAT IS MY GRANDDAUGHTER
ALONG THE ROAD.
THE OTHER ONE IS STILL
MISSING.
WE ALSO LOST OUR HOUSE.
Reporter: THIS LADY
PASTOR PRAYED FOR RICO AND
INVITED HIM TO ATTEND
CHURCH.
MANY, LIKE RICO, HAVE TURNED
TO GOD BECAUSE OF THE
TRAGEDY.
BUT EVEN THE MOST FAITHFUL
CHURCH WORKERS HAVE ALSO
EXPERIENCED HARDSHIPS AND
LOSS.
SO THIS IS WHERE PASTOR
DANTE LIVES, AND THIS IS
WHERE HIS THREE CHILDREN
WERE SWEPT AWAY BY THE
SURGING WATERS.
WE WERE HOLDING ON TO THE
BEAM OF OUR CEILING WHEN THE
BIG WAVES COLLAPSED OUR
HOUSE.
AND WE WERE SWALLOWED BY THE
BIG WAVES.
Reporter: ONLY ONE SON
SURVIVED.
WHEN THE WATERS SUBSIDED,
THEY FOUND THE BODIES OF
THEIR SONS, AGED 13 AND 7,
CLUTCHING EACH OTHER.
WHILE THE BODY OF THEIR
5-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WAS
FOUND THE NEXT DAY
UNDERNEATH A NEIGHBOR'S DOG,
WHO GUARDED HER OVERNIGHT.
WE WILL MISS THEM SO
MUCH.
WE WORKED SO HARD FOR THEIR
FUTURE.
THEY HELPED US IN OUR
FEEDING MINISTRY.
WE FEED THE CHILDREN, BUT
ALL THAT IS GONE.
WE DON'T KNOW WHERE TO
START, BUT WE BELIEVE GOD
WILL NOT FORSAKE US.
HE HAS A PURPOSE WHY WE ARE
STILL ALIVE.
Reporter: DELOR IS ALSO
GRIEVING OVER THE DEATH OF
HER MOTHER AND 13 OTHER
FAMILY MEMBERS.
WE NOTICED A WOUND UNDER HER
FOOT, AND WE TOOK HER AND
HER SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS
TO A CBN DISASTER RELIEF
MEDICAL CLINIC.
A DOCTOR EXAMINED AND
CLEANED HER WOUND.
SHE WAS ALSO GIVEN AN
ANTI-TETANUS SHOT, AND
VITAMINS AND MEDICINES FOR
HER FAMILY.
THE FAMILY APPRECIATED TIME
WITH THE CBN COUNSELLOR, WHO
LISTENED TO THEM AND PRAYED
FOR THEIR NEEDS.
WE DID NOT EXPECT THAT
PEOPLE LIKE YOU WOULD COME
TO HELP US.
YOUR SMILES MAKE OUR HEARTS
SMILE AS WELL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
COMFORTING AND ENCOURAGING
YOU.
THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT
TIME FOR US.
BUT WE SHALL CLING TO THE
LORD BECAUSE HE ALONE GIVES
US STRENGTH.
AND WE WILL CLING TO HIS
WORD BECAUSE HIS WORD ALONE
WILL SUSTAIN US.
Reporter: LUCILLE
TALUSEN, CBN NEWS, TACLOBAN,
PHILIPPINES.
Mark: FOR MORE ON THE
WORK CBN IS DOING IN THE
PHILIPPINES AND AROUND THE
WORLD, VISIT OUR WEBSITE,
CBNNEWS.COM.
Wendy: UP NEXT, A NEW
TAKE ON DEBATING SAME-SEX
MARRIAGE.
LISTENING TO THE OTHER
SIDE.
WE'LL EXPLAIN WHEN WE COME
BACK.
TACLOBAN LOBE
Mark: THE DEBATE OVER
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IS OFTEN
FRAMED AS A CULTURE WAR, BUT
SOME PEOPLE ARE TRYING A
DIFFERENT APPROACH, THAT IS,
A CIVIL DISCUSSION OF THE
ISSUES.
Wendy: A CHURCH
RECENTLY SPONSORED A
CONVERSATION ON MARRIAGE IN
ST. LOUIS, WHERE BOTH SIDES
LISTENED TO WHAT THE OTHER
HAD TO SAY.
HEATHER CELLS WAS THERE.
Reporter: MOST OF US
ARE ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH
THE BATTLE OVER MARRIAGE.
GROWN FULL OF ANGRY
ACTIVISTS, SOUND BYTE
SLOGANS, AND SEEMINGLY NO
COMMON GROUND.
THAT'S WHY ONE CHURCH RENTED
A NIGHTCLUB IN DOWNTOWN ST.
LOUIS AND INVITED BOTH SIDES
FOR AN EVENING OF CALM
DISCUSSION OVER THE RED-HOT
TOPIC.
TAKING CENTER STAGE, GAY
PHILOSOPHER JOHN CORVINO,
AND CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHER,
MATTHEW ANDERSON.
WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE IN
ST. LOUIS BREAKS NEW GROUND,
IN THAT IT PROVIDES A
DIFFERENT WAY TO TALK ABOUT
ONE OF THE MOST DEVISIVE
ISSUES OF OUR DAY.
THE EVENT IS BILLED NOT AS A
DEBATE, BUT A REASONABLE
CONVERSATION.
SO MUCH OF THE MARRIAGE
DEBATE WE SEE IN PUBLIC ON
STAGE INVOLVES THE ZINGERS,
HOW DO I SLAM THIS GUY AND
GET EVERYBODY TO CHEER AND
YELL AND LAUGH AND CLAP?
AND WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING
DIFFERENT.
Reporter: A NON
DENOMINATIONAL EVANGELICAL
CHURCH, "THE JOURNEY,"
ORGANIZED THE EVENING.
IT DREW A YOUNGER CROWD WITH
A WIDE RANGE OF BELIEFS, BUT
ALL HOPING FOR A DEEP
EXPLORATION OF THE ISSUE.
WE ARE REALLY, HONESTLY,
WONDERING AND WONDERING WHAT
BOTH SIDES HAVE TO SAY.
I'M HAPPY THAT IT IS EVEN
HAPPENING IN GENERAL.
I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD
SUPPORT HOMOSEXUALITY AND
GAY MARRIAGE AND ALL OF
THOSE THINGS.
AND I FIND IT INTERESTING
THAT PEOPLE ARE SO AGAINST
IT, JUST FROM A RELIGIOUS
STANDPOINT.
Reporter: AS THE
EVENING PROGRESSED, IT
BECAME CLEAR THAT CORVINO
AND ANDERSON, WHILE CALMLY
SIPPING TEA, WOULD NOT SHY
AWAY FROM SPEAKING TO THE
HARDEST POINTS, LIKE THIS ON
EQUALITY.
DECEPTIONS LIKE FAIRNESS
AND EQUALITY ARE MASSIVELY
DISPUTED.
I THINK THERE IS JUST A
FUNDAMENTAL DISAGREEMENT
OVER WHAT THE CONDITIONS OF
EQUALITY ARE.
Reporter: AND THE VALUE
OF MARRIAGE FOR GAYS.
RELATIONSHIPS ARE GOOD
FOR PEOPLE.
AND MARRIAGE IS GOOD FOR
RELATIONSHIPS.
MARRIAGE IS A WAY OF
RECOGNIZING PEOPLE AS THE
FAMILY UNIT THEY UNDERSTAND
THEMSELVES TO BE.
Reporter: ALSO
ADDRESSED, HARASSMENT OF
GAYS AND INTOLERANCE FOR
CHRISTIANS.
SO IT MAY BE THE CASE
THAT IN MANY RURAL
COMMUNITIES AND SUBURBAN
COMMUNITIES, L.G. B.D.
PEOPLE EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS.
AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATE.
BUT IF YOU GET INTO AN ELITE
CONTEXT IN THE ACADEMY, IN
HOLLYWOOD, IN NEW YORK AND
SOME OF THESE PLACES, THERE
ARE GENUINE SOCIAL CASTES
THAT PEOPLE WITH
CONSERVATIVE POSITIONS ON
HUMAN SEXUALITY PAY.
Reporter: WHAT SEEMED
TO MAKE THE EVENING WORK,
CORVINO AND ANDERSON'S
WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE ON ALL
QUESTIONS, WHILE SHOWING
HUMOR ALONG THE WAY.
I'M INTERESTED IN A
CHRISTIANITY THAT THINKS NOT
ONLY ABOUT OUR CURRENT
SITUATION, BUT THAT THINKS
500 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.
AND IF WE --
THAT'S A LOT TO HAVE ON
YOUR MIND.
IT'S A LOT TO HAVE ON
YOUR MIND.
BUT I THINK IT IS ACTUALLY A
RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO, TO
THINK MULTI-GENERATIONALLY
ABOUT THIS.
Reporter: IN THE END,
NO ONE CONVERTED TO THE
OTHER SIDE, BUT THOSE WE
SPOKE WITH FELT BETTER
INFORMED AND GRATEFUL THAT
NEITHER SIDE TURNED ON THE
OTHER.
I THINK IT IS GOOD THERE
IS A DIALOGUE GOING ON.
IT IS NOT AN US VERSUS
THEM.
IT IS NATURAL TO
DISAGREE, THAT'S JUST HUMAN
NATURE.
BUT TO BE ABLE TO BE
POIGNANT BUT AT THE SAME
TIME NOT OFFENSIVE, AND JUST
OPEN ABOUT THE DIALOGUE, I
THOUGHT WAS AWESOME.
I COME FROM A CHRISTIAN
BACKGROUND, AND SO GETTING
TO HEAR BOTH SIDES, AND
GETTING TO ESPECIALLY HEAR
JOHN, COMING FROM AN EIGHTH
ATHEISTIC VIEW WAS
ENLIGHTENING.
AS THE CHURCH TRIES TO
FIND THE CULTURE THAT
FREQUENTLY DISMISSES
VIEWS -- THE KEY, HE SAYS,
SHOWING BOLDNESS, HUMILITY,
AND LOVE.
IF YOU'RE HEART DOES NOT
BREAK FOR SOMEBODY
STRUGGLING WITH SAME-SEX
ATTRACTION, YOU HAVE NO
BUSINESS TALKING TO THEM OR
EVEN ABOUT THEM.
WE'RE CALLED TO LOVE PEOPLE,
ALL RIGHT?
AND SO IF PEOPLE DON'T SEE
THAT LOVE, HOW ARE THEY NOT
GOING TO TUNE US OUT?
Reporter: IF IT IS UP
TO CORVINO AND ANDERSON,
THEY'LL TAKE THIS SHOW ON
THE ROAD.
A SMALL STEP, PERHAPS, BUT
ONE THAT COULD LEAD THE WAY
FOR ADDRESSING AN ISSUE THAT
AFFECTS US ALL.
REPORTING IN ST. LOUIS,
HEATHER CELLS, CBN NEWS.
Mark: UP NEXT, A SMALL
TOWN IN TEXAS GETS A
SURPRISING VISIT FROM A
SECRET SANTA.
Wendy: AND FINALLY
TONIGHT, THE SEASON OF
GIVING IS IN FULL EFFECT IN
GRAND BERRY, TEXAS.
A PERSON HAS TAKEN THE TIME
TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AT A
LOCAL WAL-MART.
Mark: THE SO-CALLED
ANONYMOUS ANGEL IS HELPING
PARENTS BUY GIFTS.
WE HAVE OUR VERY OWN
MYSTERY IN GRAND BERRY.
Mark: THE SECRET SANTA
PAID OFF MANY CHRISTMAS TOYS
FOR KIDS.
I ASKED IF IT WAS JUST ME
SPICLY, ISPECIFICALLY IF I
KNEW THE SECRET SANTA?
AND THEY SAID NO.
I'M JUST IN OFF O AWE OF
THIS PERSON.
Mark: THE UNANIMOUS
PERSON PAID AT LEAST $2,000
FOR THE TOYS ALONE.
THERE IS NO BETTER TIME FOR
A SECRET SANTA TO HELP THE
FAMILIES IN GRAND BERRY.
BACK IN MAY, A DEADLY
TORNADO TORE THROUGH THE
TOWN.
THE RESIDENTS SAY IT WILL GO
A LONG WAY TO HELP EN THE
REBUILDING PROCESS.
Wendy: I'M IN AWE OF
THAT.
I REALLY AM.
TALK ABOUT AN ACT OF RANDOM
KINDNESS.
AND WHAT A GREAT TIME OF
YEAR.
Mark: THAT'S ALL FOR
THIS EDITION OF
"N