The lead story at the Charisma News website for September 29, 2000 featured the Christian Boylove Forum, describing criticism it has received from conservative pro-family groups.  Charisma News Service is sponsored by Strang Communications, publisher of Charisma magazine.  Its stated mission is to inform both Christians and the secular media by "providing honest, well-researched articles...utilizing the latest technology, including the internet."

The article by Andy Butcher described CBF as a "support network for Christians struggling with pedophilia" and said that posts discussed "visitors' backgrounds, struggles and Christian reflections on their faith and their attractions."  It mentioned the two consultations that CBF has organized, and quoted from CBF's statement on abuse. 

The article also cited criticism from two conservative Christian organizations.  The Americans for Truth Project, a homosexuality monitoring group, attacked CBF's use of the term "boylove" due to its promotion by the North American Man-Boy Love Association.  Director Peter LaBarbera also said he objected to the practice of labeling people by their sins, which he considered to be the "slippery slope" begun by the gay movement.  In addition, Focus on the Family's youth and gender specialist, Mile Haley, claimed that CBF could justify "very sick and detrimental behavior."

In an unusual move, Butcher also allowed the webmaster of CBF to defend its choice of terminology and approach.  Webmaster "Bach" said that in a way similar to that of gays and ex-gays, boylovers identify with others who share their sexual feelings.  He also explained that CBF's goal is to help Christians who do not feel they should change or suppress their attraction as the ex-gay movement advocates, but who feel God calls them to be at peace with it.  Butcher ended the article by quoting Bach:  "there are folks out there that can control their sexuality and who do not harm children.  Attraction is not the same as acting on sexual desire.  Celibacy is possible."

In a subsequent interview with Heather Peterson, editor of the on-line magazine Philia, Bach applauded Charisma News Service for allowing CBF to present its side of the story.  He posted a link to the article at CBF and commented that it presented a "balance view" of the criticism it has received.

The Charisma News article can be found at www.charismanews.com/news.cgi?a=426&t=news.html.