Dr. Neuhoff:
I appreciate your articulate statements about the true dynamic of Footsteps. I consider myself one of their mortal enemies, and I daven regularly for their demise. My label for this organization is that it is a missionary cult. And by its self-label as a neutral Jewish organization that aims to help, it is terribly misleading. We are usually prepared to some degree to cope with a Yetzer Horah that is tempting us with committing aveiros that are clearly labeled as such. When the temptation is more insidious, and it comes packaged as a positive thing that is healthy, even righteous, the power to overcome that needs to be far greater. There are reams of divrei mussar about the tricky Yetzer Horah, and how preemptive we need to be to combat this to victory. The advent of this evil, wicked missionary organization is a great nisayon for Klal Yisroel. As I stated in an earlier comment, these types of Yetzer Horah can win when we are internally weak, inadequately imbued with the midos of Ahavas Hashem and Yir’as Hashem. The external trappings of levush are not worth much in this battle, since the weapons are not repelled by clothing or appearance. The hearts need strength. Our generation needs much healing in this area.
Yasher Koach for your comments on this.