Michael Marcavage

Michael Anthony Marcavage is the founder of the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based Christian organization Repent America. Marcavage's weblog profile states:

"Michael Marcavage is a born again Christian who resides in 'No Place For Hate' Lansdowne, Pa. He is a broadcast journalism graduate from Temple University, and currently serves [as] the director of Repent America, a national evangelistic organization, based in Philadelphia, Pa."

In January 2005 Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Kathy Bocella reviewed Marcavage's activism and run-ins with the law. She reported that he had been arrested in San Francisco for protesting against gay marriages.

In January 2005 Marcavage appeared on the Fox News program, Hannity & Colmes. Alan Colmes put it to Marcavage that "you were arrested, by the way, in 2002 trying to interfere with workers covering a Ten Commandments plaque, arrested in San Francisco for confronting same-sex couples getting marriage licenses. You have a history of being arrested at demonstrations, confronting people in situations like this, correct?". Marcavage responded: Well, that is correct. Dr. Martin Luther King was arrested many times, too. But the fact is, we were simply exercising peaceful protest in each of those examples."

"Prior to the [2000] election [Marcavage] urged voters not to support Bush, whom [he] thinks is too liberal because he appointed a gay ambassador ('There are people representing the U.S. in Romania sodomizing each other'), and hasn’t overturned Roe V. Wade yet," S.Z. added.

Former White House intern

According to his "Complaint for Civil Rights Violations, Declaratory Judgment, and Damages" filed against the Temple University Board of Trustees, Marcavage was a White House intern in 1998 during the administration of President Bill Clinton:

"Plaintiff Michael Anthony Marcavage is twenty-one (21) years old and a citizen of the United States and a resident of Philadelphia Pennsylvania - At all times pertinent to this lawsuit, he was twenty (20) years old and a full-time undergraduate student studying broadcast jounalism at Temple University. He is a Dean's List student, and was an intern, with security clearance, in the Executive Branch of the United States Government (West Wing of the White House) in 1998."

On Hurricane Katrina

In the wake of the destruction of much of the city of New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina, Marcavage issued a media release pointing out that it occurred "just days before" the gay "Southern Decadence" celebration. "Hurricane Katrina", he wrote, "has put an end to the annual celebration of sin."

"'Although the loss of lives is deeply saddening, this act of God destroyed a wicked city,' stated Repent America director Michael Marcavage. 'From Girls Gone Wild to 'Southern Decadence, New Orleans was a city that had its doors wide open to the public celebration of sin. From the devastation may a city full of righteousness emerge,'" the media release stated.

"We must help and pray for those ravaged by this disaster, but let us not forget that the citizens of New Orleans tolerated and welcomed the wickedness in their city for so long," Marcavage said. "May this act of God cause us all to think about what we tolerate in our city limits, and bring us trembling before the throne of Almighty God," the media release stated.

The media release concluded by citing a passage from the Bible (Nahum 1:3). "The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet."

Contact Information

Phone: 1-800-3-REPENT
Web: http://www.repentamerica.com
Web: http://www.marcavage.com/
Weblog: http://marcavage.wordpress.com/

Related SourceWatch Resources

• Religious Right

External Links

Profiles

• Repent America in the Wikipedia.
• Michael A. Marcavage, NNDB.com.

Photos

• Photo posted at Marcavage.com.
• Photo from the San Francisco Chronicle, February 2004.
• Photo posted on Pam's House Blend Blog, June 2005.
• Photo posted by Philadelphia City Paper, January 2007.

2000

• Eightheadz, "Jesus Freak Committed for Observation Becomes a Hero to Conservative Christians Everywhere!" 8BM.com (archived), 2000.
• Ed Vitagliano, "Temple University Junior Dragged to Psych Ward After Dispute Over Blasphemous Play. Was it their intent to terrorize an outspoken Christian or did their people overreact on their own?" American Family Association / AgapePress, January 8, 2000.

2001

• Dan Flynn, "Temple U. Sued for Hauling Christian Student to Psychiatric Ward. Lawsuit: Administrators Banned Protest of Sacreligious Play Then Assaulted Student," Accuracy In Academia, February 2001.

2003

• Donald E. Wildmon, Letter: "UPDATE: Homosexual Attorneys from Justice Department Advise Philadelphia Police On Arresting Christians. One Internet news service says not to expect an investigation because of the involvement of the Justice Department homosexual attorneys," American Family Association, undated 2003 (see related articles below).
• Michael Ireland, "Field Preacher Found Guilty for Refusing to Stop Preaching the Gospel," ASSIST News Service (archived), July 22, 2003.
• Jim Brown and Jenni Parker, "Researcher Blasts Pro Baseball Team for Hosting Homosexual Event," AgapePress (American Family Association Online), August 13, 2003.
• Martha Kleder, "Christian Message Silenced at Phillies' 'Gay Day'," Concerned Women for America, August 20, 2003.
• "Five Officers Harass Preacher, Steal Property, and Flee the Scene," Repent America (MTTU.com), December 22, 2003.

2004

• Eric, "Encouraging Malignancy...," Classical Values, January 15, 2004.
• "Same-sex wedding performer 'arrested'. Citizen tries to apply law to 75-year-old who married 30 couples," WorldNetDaily, February 21, 2004.
• Eric, "Another White House Intern Scandal!" Classical Values, February 22, 2004.
• Jim Brown, "Christian Sues School Officials Who Had Him Committed For His Faith—Attorney Says Justice Has Been Delayed, But Will Be Served," AgapePress, May 28, 2004.
• "Trooper kicks pro-lifer out of state. Abortion images on truck barred, detainee called 'Jesus freak'," WorldNetDaily, August 5, 2004.
• "Christians Arrested. Eleven Christians Arrested, Jailed, and Charged Under Hate Crimes Legislation," Covenant News Wire Service, October 11, 2004.
• Press Release: "Philadelphia Police Arrest Christians at a Homosexual 'Outfest' Two Days After Civil Suit Filed," American Family Association, October 12, 2004.
• "Christians arrested at homosexual event. Demonstrators spend 21 hours in jail, charged with felonies," WorldNetDaily (archived), October 15, 2004.
• "Repent America at Outfest," Newsletter of the Interfaith Working Group, November 2004.
• "'Philadelphia 11' fighting back. Christians arrested, charged after protesting at homosexual event," WorldNetDaily (archived), December 1, 2004.
• "City will prosecute Christian protesters. Federal judge denies emergency appeal by 'Philadelphia 11'," WorldNetDaily (archived), December 14, 2004.
• Allie Martin, "Philly Court Orders Four Christians to Trial; Emergency Appeal Likely. Attorney Contends Reading Scripture in Public Landed Them in Jail," AgapePress, December 15, 2004.
• "Prosecutor: Bible is 'fighting words'. 4 who protested at Philly homosexual event ordered to stand trial, face 47 years in prison," WorldNetDaily (archived), December 16, 2004.
• Gil Spencer, "Is Marcavage nuts, or is it all a shell game?" Delco Times, December 19, 2004.
• Pyro7480, "FR Compiliation: Background on Michael Marcavage (Leader of Christian Group Arrested in Philly)," Free Republic, December 19, 2004.

2005

• "The Philadelphia Four," American Family Association Online (archived), January 2005.
• Lee Duigon, "Crackdown on Christians: Philadelphia's Hate Crimes Regime," Chalcedon Foundation, January 1, 2005.
• Ed Thomas and Jody Brown, "'Philly 4' Case Hits Prime Time with O'Reilly. Attorney for Christians Calls Incident Clear Case of 'Anti-Christian Bigotry'," AgapePress (archived), January 4, 2005.
• Sarah Posner, "The Radical Right's Latest Courtroom Drama," The Gadflyer, January 5, 2005.
• Jim Brown and Jody Brown, "Report Says Homosexual DOJ Lawyers Complicit in Arrest of Christians. Philadelphia Family Advocate Blames Local Clergy, Politicians for Hostile Environment," AgapePress (archived), January 5, 2005.
• Pam Spaulding, "Leader of 'Repent America' group cites 'spiritual battle' against gays," Pam's House Blend Blog, January 12, 2005.
• Transcript: "The Abrams Report" with Dan Abrams, MSNBC, January 14, 2005.
• Kathy Boccella, "Flaunting his faith, bullhorn in hand: Michael Marcavage's tactics have brought the Lansdowne evangelist some legal scrapes - and national attention", Philadelphia Inquirer, January 14, 2005.
• Pam Spaulding, News Roundup, Pam's House Blend, January 17, 2005. Scroll down to "Leader of 'Repent America' group cites 'spiritual battle' against gays."
• "'Philly 5' win 1 in court. Judge lifts bail restriction on Christians who protested homosexual event," WorldNetDaily, January 21, 2005.
• Bill Toland, "In-your-face evangelist challenges hate-crime law's limits," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 23, 2005.
• Doron Taussig, "Jesus Geek Superstar," Philadelphia CityPaper, February 3-9, 2005.
• Mike Tidmus, "fighting words : part 1," Tidmus.com (archived), February 6, 2005.
• Terry Krepel, "Soft-Hitting Journalism," ConWebWatch, February 7, 2005: "Why doesn't WorldNetDaily want to tell the full story of the lead protester in the 'Philly 5' case? Plus: Joseph Farah flip-flops on what should happen to people who blame America for 9/11, and what to expect from WorldNetDaily's new Jerusalem bureau."
• Wendy Griffith, "The Criminalization of Christianity," Christian Broadcasting Network/CBN News, February 10, 2005.
• Allie Martin, "Philly Court Nixes Christian's Lawsuit Against Temple Univ.," AgapePress, March 16, 2005.
• Allie Martin, "Marcavage Verdict Result of Evidence Exclusion, Says Attorney," AgapePress, March 17, 2005.
• "Christian loses suit over 'gay' Jesus case. University tried to commit student who rallied against homosexual Christ play," WorldNetDaily, March 17, 2005.
• S.Z., "Not Crazy, But Not Exactly Sane," The American Street, March 18, 2005.
• "AFA to Appeal Marcavage Ruling. Bias Toward Christians Evident in Deliberations," American Family Association Journal, June 2005.
• "'Gay pride' features simulated sex, attacking 'mob'. Philadelphia Christians in another confrontation with 'militants'," WorldNetDaily, June 14, 2005.
• SpinDentist, "Michael Marcavage, Holy Warrior, but Why Not a Soldier in Iraq?" Operation Yellow Elephant Blogspot, August 19, 2005.
• Pam Spaulding, "Gay New Orleans, post-Katrina," Pam's House Blend Blog, December 18, 2005.

2006

• pastordan, "Dover Down," Street Prophets, March 7, 2006.
• David Neiwert, "Good Christian hate," Orcinus Blogspot, March 20, 2006.
• Pam Spaulding, "Marcavage's Philly fundie freakshow," Pam's House Blend Blog, June 23, 2006.
• Jim Brown, "Phillies Blasted for Promoting Homosexuality, Barring Biblical Views From Ballpark," AgapePress, August 23, 2006.
• Pam Spaulding, "Blowhard Marcavage goes after Phillies," Pam's House Blend Blog, August 23, 2006.
• Jim Brown, "Judge Allows Suit Over Arrest of Christian at 'Gay' Games," OneNewsNow, December 20, 2006.

2007

• Francesca Heintz, "Jesus Walked. Repent America learns that anti-gay rhetoric isn't necessarily protected speech," Philadelphia CityPaper, January 31, 2007.
• Allie Martin, "Repent America members to witness during Super Bowl weekend," OneNewsNow, January 31, 2007.
• Pam Spaulding, "You can't even escape the fundies at the Super Bowl," Pam's House Blend, February 1, 2007.