Flip Benham

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Philip "Flip" Benham at an Operation Save America event in Jackson, Mississippi on July 21, 2006.
Philip "Flip" Benham at an Operation Save America event in Jackson, Mississippi on July 21, 2006.

Philip "Flip" Benham (born April 16, 1948) is a Methodist minister and the national leader of Dallas-based Operation Save America.

Contents

[edit] Pro-life ministry

Benham was a saloon owner until his conversion in 1976. He then began a career as a Christian minister and pro-life activist. He has been arrested, by his own count, "less than a hundred, more than 50" times.

[edit] Norma McCorvey

In 1994, he confronted Norma McCorvey, best known as "Jane Roe" in the landmark Supreme Court abortion case "Roe v. Wade", at a book-signing. He shouted at her that she was "responsible for the deaths of over 33 million children," and six months later he opened Operation Rescue's national headquarters next to A Choice for Women, the reproductive health care clinic where McCorvey was working at the time. McCorvey initially resisted any contact, but eventually started to talk to Benham during her smoking breaks. During one friendly banter, McCorvey goaded Benham, "What you need is to go to a good Beach Boys concert." Benham answered, "Miss Norma, I haven't been to a Beach Boys concert since 1976."

McCorvey later reported that this seemingly innocuous response shook her to the core and that, quite suddenly, Benham became human to her. She later accepted an invitation to visit their church and within a year, McCorvey converted from being pro-choice to being pro-life, which she has remained.[citation needed]

On August 8, 1995, Benham baptized McCorvey in a Dallas backyard swimming pool. The baptism was filmed for national television.

[edit] Hurricane relief efforts

Benham and his organization volunteered their time to provide food and supplies in Mississippi after that area was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. Although other organizations accepted funding from the government for their efforts, Benham stated that his organization would never accept money from the government.

[edit] Recent activities

Benham also gained attention commenting on the execution of Paul Jennings Hill and participating in the vigil outside of Judge Roy Moore's courthouse in which stood a Ten Commandments monument. He also demonstrated for Terri Schiavo.

Benham stated of Troy Newman, "There have been three directors of Operation Rescue – Troy Newman is not one." [1]

[edit] External links

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