Podcast Summary: Bannon's War Room – Battleground EP 863

Air Date: October 3, 2025
Host: Ben Harnwell (WarRoom.org)
Key Guests: Peter Wolfgang (Connecticut Family Institute), Vadim Dirksen (Junge Freiheit)
Main Themes: "Gaywashed" Bible Translation Controversy; Germany's Migration Crisis and Political Fallout

Episode Overview

This episode of War Room Battleground focuses on two major stories:

1. The U.S. Catholic Bishops' recent authorization of what critics call the first "gaywashed" Bible translation, with a detailed discussion of its religious, scholarly, and cultural implications.
2. The political and social shockwaves in Germany following the murder of a Ukrainian refugee girl by an Iraqi asylum seeker, and how this tragedy is fueling Germany’s ongoing debate over immigration, crime, and the rapid ascent of the AfD (Alternative for Germany) party.

Section 1: The “Gaywashed” Bible – Controversy and Implications

1.1. Introduction and Context

[00:54] Host (Ben Harnwell):

• Introduces Peter Wolfgang, who has written extensively about "gay washing" in modern Bible translations.
• The focus is on the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, Catholic Edition (NRSVUE), recently authorized by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for home use.

1.2. The Arsenokoitai Debate

[03:00] Peter Wolfgang:

• Discusses the Greek word arsenokoitai found in 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10, traditionally interpreted as referencing men who have sex with men.
• Claims the NRSVUE has, for the first time in a mainstream translation, rendered these passages to remove explicit condemnation of homosexual practices.
• Attribution of “gay wash” term to Protestant scholar Robert A.J. Gagnon, who warned (three years prior) about “taking out St. Paul’s condemnation of homosexual activity.”

Memorable Quote:
"The NRSVUE is the first major English Bible to suddenly find arsenokoitai impossible to translate."
— Peter Wolfgang [05:49]

1.3. A History of Translation

[07:53–12:28] Wolfgang and Harnwell:

• Traces the evolution: KJV, Douay Rheims, RSV (ecumenical), NRSV (1989, with "inclusive language"), and now NRSVUE.
• Points out mainline Protestant translations tend to follow social fads (1980s feminism led to pronoun changes; now, changing sexual ethics prompt re-translation).
• Notes Ignatius Study Bible uses the RSV Second Catholic Edition to maintain traditional language.

1.4. Catholic Bishops and Liturgical Use

[12:28] Wolfgang:

• NRSVUE is currently authorized for home use, not liturgical use in the USA, where the New American Bible remains standard.
• Concern that the same scholars and processes may bring similar translation tendencies—"gay-washing"—into future liturgical texts.

Notable Warning:
"If they signed off on the NRSV Updated Edition, what are we going to be getting in the translation at Mass in a couple years?"
— Peter Wolfgang [13:37]

1.5. Ecumenical and Moral Ramifications

[15:22–18:39] Harnwell & Wolfgang:

• Debate over whether these changes affect ecumenical relations (implications for both Catholics and Protestants).
• Discuss the real-world, "eternal" stakes: whether changing the translation introduces doctrinal ambiguity and risks misleading believers on moral teachings.

Crucial Statement:
"We want them to inherit the kingdom of God too, and we're not doing them any favors… with horrifying consequences, to fudge up those two verses…”
— Peter Wolfgang [18:39]

1.6. The Authority of Bishops and Inspiration of Translations

[21:40–25:50] Harnwell & Wolfgang:

• Raises questions about the hierarchy: Did the bishops themselves authorize the translation, or a subcommittee? What is the extent of their authority?
• Emphasizes that only the original biblical manuscripts are divinely inspired; translations require tradition and vigilance.
• Urges laypeople to scrutinize translations and "push back" if something appears off.

Wolfgang’s Closing Point:
"The laity have a voice too. When we see something weird, we have to push back." [26:09]

Section 2: Germany in Shock – Migration, Crime, and Political Upheaval

2.1. The Train Station Murder Case

[31:05] Host (Ben Harnwell) introduces Vadim Dirksen (Junge Freiheit):

• Describes the murder of Liana, a 16-year-old Ukrainian refugee, pushed under a train by an Iraqi asylum seeker.
• Dirksen visited the scene and met the grieving family.

Dirksen’s Account:
"She was just a victim in this situation because she was there at the time when this guy was there… The only, the mother handled to talk to us because she sought for justice and because in the beginning, the police didn't even know that there was a murder there." [31:57–34:30]

• Only a phone call with her grandfather at the time, who heard the incident, triggered investigation beyond suicide/accident.

2.2. Political and Media Response

[35:28] Vadim Dirksen:

• The victim’s mother sought help from local politicians: CDU (center-right) gave her little support; only the AfD (Alternative for Germany), considered far-right by the establishment, actively publicized her case.
• "Alternative" and social media pressure led to more public attention.

Insight:
"Only the publicity and the pressure from the media, from the alternative media helped to discover what actually happened in this case." [37:18]

2.3. Broader Trends—“Third World Illegal Invasion” and Crime

[39:18] Dirksen presents statistics:

• Large, enduring influx of asylum seekers since 2015.
• Sexual assault figures show a disproportionate share of incidents involve migrants (including new citizens formerly listed as “asylum seekers”).
• The process of granting citizenship to asylum seekers further obscures crime statistics.

Dirksen’s Analysis:
"The yellow ones on top, these are only asylum seekers… They add up, like they commit the same amount of sexual crime as the German citizens, although they… probably make 10% of the population." [39:18–42:02]

2.4. Political Fallout & The Rise of AfD

[43:00+]

• Political establishment, including the left and the CDU, has begun tougher rhetoric on migration, but AfD ("nightmare...as far as the left is concerned") is capitalizing on public frustration.
• Local elections are difficult for AfD, but in Eastern German states, AfD leads by wide margins, potentially able to govern alone.

Dirksen:
“The AfD could actually rule completely alone on its own without any coalition. Maybe next year in some of the states.” [47:05]

2.5. Erosion of Establishment Parties and Public Mood

[47:48–49:48] Dirksen:

• Chancellor Mertz’s legitimacy has crumbled due to broken promises, particularly on migration and government debt.
• Trust in traditional parties has eroded; public opinion has swung decisively toward restricting migration (now only 27–28% support open borders, with about 73% favoring closure).

Key Quote:
“The biggest value of a politician in politics is trust. And he said there's going to be a massive change…He even switched his complete position...So the trust is gone. The old parties are on the fall…The AfD is on the rise.” [47:48]

Noteworthy Quotes & Moments

• On the NRSVUE Bible:

  • "It's not an act of love to our neighbors who may be engaged in that sort of activity. We're not doing them any favors... To fudge up those two verses... is a very serious matter."
    — Peter Wolfgang [18:39]

• On translation and lay responsibility:

  • "The laity have a voice too. When we see something weird, we have to push back."
    — Peter Wolfgang [26:09]

• On immigration and Germany:

  • "Only the publicity and the pressure from the media, from the alternative media helped to discover what actually happened in this case."
    — Vadim Dirksen [37:18]

• On German political trust:

  • "The biggest value of a politician in politics is trust… so the trust is gone. The old parties are on the fall… The AfD is on the rise."
    — Vadim Dirksen [47:48]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro & Main Theme: [00:54–03:00]
• Bible “Gaywash” Controversy: [03:00–14:24]
• Ecumenical & Parochial Ramifications: [14:24–21:40]
• Bishops’ Role & Translation Authority: [22:32–26:23]
• German Train Station Murder – Facts & Impact: [31:05–34:30]
• Political/Migrant Crime Analysis & AfD: [35:28–47:48]
• Public Attitude Change & Party Fallout: [47:48–49:48]
• Social Media Handles for Guests: [50:43–51:04]

Guest Plugs

• Peter Wolfgang: CatholicCulture.org, ctfamily.org, facebook.com/PeterWolfkin
• Vadim Dirksen: @RealDirksen and @JungeFreiheit on X (Twitter)

Tone & Language

The discussion is urgent, polemical, and at times emotional, especially regarding perceived threats to tradition (in both scriptural translation and national identity). Wolfgang’s tone is scholarly and alarmed; Dirksen’s is direct and empathetic, particularly when discussing the crime’s impact.

Takeaways for Listeners

• The authorization of the NRSVUE Bible edition by the US Catholic Bishops is sparking broad concerns over doctrinal clarity, faithfulness to the original languages, and the risk of ideological influence.
• In Germany, a horrific crime has exposed both governmental failures in handling migration and growing popular support for right-wing or populist parties, particularly amid disillusionment with establishment parties.
• Both segments highlight perceived threats (to faith, tradition, and national security) and urge listeners to remain vigilant and proactive—whether in challenging Church authorities or supporting political alternatives.