Showing posts with label religious right. Show all posts
Showing posts with label religious right. Show all posts

Monday, January 29, 2007

Rick Scarborough Has It Wrong Again

Or, maybe Rick misrepresents his numbers! Considering his pathetic website ranking numbers on Alexa.com, that would be my guess. Or, maybe mainstream Christian America is a little more liberal than he thinks. They are just sick and tired of this new push for preachers to stop doing good things for the world and get into politics/ form another non-profit company/ overpay themselves / hire a public image departement. Maybe guys like Rick Scarborough should just shut up and go back to their narrow minded SBC Baptist Churches and concentrate on their Bibles....or go feed the homeless in America, or go teach the World about the Jesus Christ the rest of us know and appreciate. Just go away Rick Scarborough, shut the doors of your Vision America in Lufkin, stop preaching hatred, and take a pay cut and live off less than the hundreds of thousands of dollars in salary and benefits and cars you pay yourself while preaching this Gospel of Hate!
###
Rick Said It: link from http://www.rightwingwatch.org

Rick Scarborough, a key organizer of politically-charged “Patriot Pastors,” claimed
Bush was beholden to the Religious Right to take up their causes:
While the president spoke, I couldn’t help but groan inwardly as I reflected on the
squandered opportunities of the past six years of a "conservative" majority. As
he concluded his remarks with “God Bless,” it dawned on me that the speech
didn’t contain even a passing reference to the issues that sent millions of
Christians to the polls in 2000, 2002 and 2004 - making Bush a two-term
president and giving his party a majority in Congress for six years - the first
time in more than half-a-century that Republicans controlled the presidency and
both Houses of Congress. Whatever else they voted for….Values Voters did not
turn out in past elections so their concerns could be ignored the day after the
election. Is it any wonder that so many us stayed home last November?

Friday, November 17, 2006

Religious "SaveALife" Hypocracy

Isnt it odd how these right wing preachers attempt to save the baby, save the sperm, save the egg, save the stem cell for Jesus, go the mile for the unborn, whatever; but then in turn oppose stem cell research when their own children are dying of unknown mystery diseases, or abandon their kids. If they don't fight for cures they might be found shunning their gay and lesbian kids.

How tragic. How lacking in "family values" Here are a few of the (*reported) religious or Right Wing Fundies with gay children/relatives who have been ignored, abandoned, or shunned. Alan Keyes with out a doubt earns the TURD of the Year Father award. Why do you guys put out so much effort to save the sperm when you go on to abandon your own?

1. Alan Keyes Out Supercool Lesbian Daughter
2. Jesse Helms' Out Lesbian Daughter
3. The Lahaye's Closeted Son (who works for mommy dearest at CWA!)
4. Phylis Schlafely's Out and Odd Son
5. Operation Rescues Randall Terry's Out Son
6. Newt Gingrich's sister Candice. (plus another [cute] gay nephew in Atlanta)

Note Here - none of these childrens are in the "EX GAY" column, probably because the whole Ex Gay movement is a total fraud. Most of these kids seem to beOUT and happy and successful and well adjusted despite their hateful parents, especially Big Turd of the Year Alan Keyes. It is really the same old Hypocracy of the religious right wingers. How Sad.


Rick Scarborough Report September 2006

Rally in Kansas City
by Remarkable Unity

Approximately 1000 people gathered in Kansas City, Missouri, to hear Catholic Bishop Robert Finn, Ambassador Alan Keyes, Scientist Shao-Chun Chang, MD, PhD, and myself, as we examined the claims of the proponents of Amendment 2 to the Missouri Constitution, as well as the facts of those claim, on Monday evening. To say that the facts do not support the claims is an understatement of enormous consequence to the unborn.

Proponents of Amendment Two, which they refer to as the Missouri Cures Amendment, deny that they are proposing the cloning of human beings, but as Dr. Chang so succinctly proves from science, that claim is a factual lie. Increasingly now, the proponents of this devilish idea are retreating to rhetoric that in effect says, “but the embryo is so small and early that it really doesn’t matter,” an argument which taken to its inevitable conclusion so devalues human life that men of Christian character must oppose it…and we are!

Featured at the rally were one year old twins who were formerly frozen embryos. These two beautiful babies and their proud parents appeared beside President Bush as he vetoed Federal legislation that would have funded embryonic stem cell research, using frozen embryos. Every time an embryo has stem cells extracted, a human being dies. Thankfully these beautiful babies were spared.

The Kansas City Star referred to the rally as part revival, part science lecture and part political rally. That was precisely what we were trying to accomplish. Our rallies include incredible praise and worship, led and orchestrated by one of America’s foremost songwriters and musicians, Kim Noblitt. In that atmosphere of praise and worship, Bishop Finn, of the Kansas City-St. Joseph Catholic Diocese, Ambassador Keyes, and I, each took different tracts to explain why Christians must unify in their opposition to this Amendment. Hearing from a Catholic Bishop, a seasoned and Harvard educated Black politician/diplomat, and a Baptist Preacher diffuses the accusation that this is a Black or White or Evangelical or Catholic or Baptist issue…this is a God issue. One that people of all faiths, color or station in life, should unite around.

Our next rally will be held on September 21 in Springfield, Missouri, at the National Assembly of God headquarters, in the historic Central Assembly of God Church. This rally is shaping up to be the biggest rally yet, with an anticipated crowd exceeding 2500 people. Please pray for us as we continue this effort to move Pastors in Missouri to stand up and speak out against this all out assault on the unborn. Funding has now been provided to conduct another rally in Missouri which will be announced in our next Rick Scarborough Report.

Vision America invited to Rally Pastors in South Dakota

As I prepare this report, I am enroute to Rapid City, South Dakota, where I am scheduled for two days of meetings with significant pastors and leaders around the state, to discuss the possibility of conducting three rallies in key cities in the state, in an effort to stem the assault of pro-abortion forces bent on preserving their all out terrorism against the unborn. Last year, the legislature of South Dakota became the first in the nation to ban all abortions. Unfortunately, Federal laws legalizing abortion trump state bans, but the significance of the state ban lies in the fact that is will certainly precipitate a Supreme Court showdown over the validity of the 1973 “Roe v Wade,” decision which even proponents of abortion on demand agree is bad law and will be overturned, throwing the whole abortion debate back to the states where it belongs. When that day comes, dozens of states will join South Dakota in banning abortion and rescuing children from the cruel fate of the abortionists.

NARAL, Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, and other leftist groups who profit from abortions cannot allow that to happen, so they are pouring millions into the overturning of this legislation. And they are winning…but not for long, IF the church, led by her Pastors, gets involved.

That’s precisely why we have been invited to come into South Dakota and work. While I am honored to be invited in, I must discern whether or not this is a calling from the Lord. We are stretched financially and personnel wise by the demands in Missouri, and we will drown as an organization unless we know that God has issued a “Macedonian Call.” (See Acts 16:1-2).

Please make this a matter of sincere prayer as we seek to discern His bidding and do His will, not our own. I greatly depend on the prayers of many of you who faithfully read this Report each week. I will report my findings back to you

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Gordon McDonald Gets It

I am not familiar with Gordon McDonald the evangelist, but he gets it. In his piece on Pastor Ted Haggard he writes on http://www.christianitytoday.com

"Ever since the beginning of the Bush administration, I have worried over the tendency of certain Evangelical personalities to go public every time they visited the White House or had a phone conference with an administration official. I know it has wonderful fund-raising capabilities. And I know the temptation to ego-expansion when one feels that he has the ear of the President. But the result is that we are now part of an evangelical movement that is greatly compromised—identified in the eyes of the public as deep in the hip pockets of the Republican party and administration. My own belief? Our movement has been used.

There are hints that the movement—once cobbled together by Billy Graham and Harold Ockenga—is beginning to fragment because it is more identified by a political agenda that seems to be failing and less identified by a commitment to Jesus and his kingdom. Like it or not, we are pictured as those who support war, torture, and a go-it-alone (bullying) posture in international relationships. Any of us who travel internationally have tasted the global hostility toward our government and the suspicion that our President's policies reflect the real tenants of Evangelical faith.

And I might add that there is considerable disillusionment on the part of many of our Christian brothers/sisters in other countries who are mystified as to where American evangelicals are in all of this. Our movement may have its Supreme Court appointments, but it may also have compromised its historic center of Biblical faith. Is it time to let the larger public know that some larger-than-life evangelical personalities with radio and TV shows do not speak for all of us?"


Very true Mr. McDonald; except is seems that most of these guys (Falwell, Robertson, LaHaye, Rick Scarborough) are more driven by their own egos and pocketbooks than they are by God. They protect their diamond mines and lear jets, cherish their Presidential photo-ops, preach against issues like gambling while supporting gambling lobbyist, spend more time bashing Gay and Lesbian families and Americans than they do supporting heterosexual Christian families; are too busy advising our families to look inside at their own, fail to understand that they turn people away from Christianity, do not represent many of us, and basically need to just shut up.

I agree with you, but to compare hypocrite TVangelicals like Foot in mouth Falwell or Gold Medalist Liar on the Legpress Pat Robertson to a Rev. Billy Graham is a huge stretch.

Sunday, November 05, 2006

Unconscionable Nut J. Dobson

James Dobson is protecting hid butt buddy Pastor Ted Haggard - Unconscionable!
To: State Desk


Contact: Gary Schneeberger of Focus on the Family, 719-548-5853, or culturalissues@family.org

COLORADO SPRINGS. Nov. 2 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Focus on the Family founder and Chairman James C. Dobson, Ph.D., issued the following statement today addressing an allegation by a male prostitute in Denver that Ted Haggard was one of his clients:

"It is unconscionable that the legitimate news media would report a rumor like this based on nothing but one man's accusation. Ted Haggard is a friend of mine and it appears someone is trying to damage his reputation as a way of influencing the outcome of Tuesday's election -- especially the vote on Colorado's marriage-protection amendment -- which Ted strongly supports.

"He has shown a great deal of grace under these unfortunate circumstances, quickly turning this matter over to his church for an independent investigation. That is a testament to the character I have seen him exhibit over and over again through the years."

Thursday, November 02, 2006

Pastor Ted Bites The ...


Well Well Well. Another hypocrite Mary disguised as a Colorado Megachurch televangelical friend of fake Christian Dobson?

I had never even heard of Colorado megachurch leader Pastor Ted Haggard until today. Apparently he was possibly outed by his local male Colorado hooker who says he has damning evidence, and also says Pastor Ted like to snort a little meth prior to assuming the position. While this one still needs to be proved, I can say for sure that (1) My Gadar bell rang pretty loud when I first saw this guys photo and even more when I pulled him up on YouTube.

When my GayDar goes off, it is usually right on target. My only question might be why would Pastor Ted (who resigned today from his 14,000 member church and as President of some holier than thou Evangelical Association) hire an old hooker (the guy was in his late forties)?

Hey Ted, try Manhunt.net instead you tina freak....and don't leave your voice on you favorite local hooker's voicemail over at Rentboy.com.

All you sodomites join with me and pray this one is a true one.

Out! Out! All Hypocrites

Does Pastor Ted Like to give head? Stay tuned.

Saturday, October 28, 2006

Stem Cells, Parkinsons, stupid Republicans.

Rev. Rick Scarborough and druggie Rush Limbauh both oppose stem cell research.

Friday, October 27, 2006

[UNHOLY] Rev. Rick Scarborough Moronic Quote #10135

From Creative Loafing/Atlanta

The Rev. Rick Scarborough, an influential Texas Baptist preacher and founder of the pro-war, pro-GOP Patriot Pastors, declared in March that the deposed House majority leader "was a target for all those who despise the cause of Christ."

Armageddon for the Religious Right? full> Creative Loafing Atlanta
They've climbed to the top of Mount Power. But from here on out, it may be all downhill for America's ayatollahs.
BY
JOHN SUGG
Published 05.24.06


On Feb. 22, inside a Clark Atlanta University auditorium, Christianity girded its loins with faith, anointed itself with righteousness and went forth to do battle with, well, Christianity.
It wasn't quite a Tim LaHaye vision of the final conflict at Mount Megiddo. There was no thunderbolt-wielding Christ bloodily massacring gays, Jews, Muslims and billions of others who failed to meet Pat Robertson's criteria for salvation. But the scene wasn't pretty.



All About Rick

Rick Scarborough of Lufkin Texas based Vision America. Great story from Americans United.

Fright Plan
May 06, 2006
Americans United for Separation of Church and State

Fright Plan
Texas Preacher Scares Up A ‘War On Christians’ In Bid To Turn Out ‘Values Voters’ For The GOP In The 2006 Election
by Jeremy Leaming

The Rev. Rick Scarborough is on a mission to save evangelical Christians from what he claims is a cabal of left-wing forces bent on oppressing their values and ruining America.

At a Washington, D.C., gathering in late March sponsored by his Vision America organization, the Texas preacher and an array of invited speakers spent hours blasting the alleged enemies of Christianity and arguing that to save America from moral ruin more evangelicals needed to get politically active.

Even though Congress and the White House are controlled by people who have been friendly to the Religious Right cause, Scarborough and his cohorts maintained during their “‘War on Christians’ and The Values Voter in 2006” conference that animosity towards Christianity is on the increase.

“We are here in Washington, D.C., so we can bring a focus and hopefully initiate a national debate on this matter of the growing hostility to all things religious,” Scarborough told a sparsely attended opening session at a ballroom in the Omni Shoreham.

After two days of speakers, including U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas), Phyllis Schlafly, Alan Keyes, Gary Bauer, TV preacher Rod Parsley and a string of panel discussions, it was hard to come away not thinking that despite all the bluster and overwrought rhetoric, the conference was nothing but a thinly veiled effort to rally so-called “values voters” on behalf of the Republican Party for the approaching elections and bolster Scarborough’s national profile.

As the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, told Cox News Service, “This ‘war’ is nothing real. The fact is, Christians in America are a cultural majority, and they are an extremely powerful group. But what you have here are second-tier preachers who are hoping to hit the big time, desperately hoping for a national spotlight.”


Full Story:
http://www.au.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=8185&abbr=cs_
Full Story:

All About Rick

Rick Scarborough of Lufkin Texas based Vision America. Great story from Americans United.

Fright Plan
May 06, 2006
Americans United for Separation of Church and State

Fright Plan
Texas Preacher Scares Up A ‘War On Christians’ In Bid To Turn Out ‘Values Voters’ For The GOP In The 2006 Election
by Jeremy Leaming

The Rev. Rick Scarborough is on a mission to save evangelical Christians from what he claims is a cabal of left-wing forces bent on oppressing their values and ruining America.

At a Washington, D.C., gathering in late March sponsored by his Vision America organization, the Texas preacher and an array of invited speakers spent hours blasting the alleged enemies of Christianity and arguing that to save America from moral ruin more evangelicals needed to get politically active.

Even though Congress and the White House are controlled by people who have been friendly to the Religious Right cause, Scarborough and his cohorts maintained during their “‘War on Christians’ and The Values Voter in 2006” conference that animosity towards Christianity is on the increase.

“We are here in Washington, D.C., so we can bring a focus and hopefully initiate a national debate on this matter of the growing hostility to all things religious,” Scarborough told a sparsely attended opening session at a ballroom in the Omni Shoreham.

After two days of speakers, including U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas), Phyllis Schlafly, Alan Keyes, Gary Bauer, TV preacher Rod Parsley and a string of panel discussions, it was hard to come away not thinking that despite all the bluster and overwrought rhetoric, the conference was nothing but a thinly veiled effort to rally so-called “values voters” on behalf of the Republican Party for the approaching elections and bolster Scarborough’s national profile.

As the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, told Cox News Service, “This ‘war’ is nothing real. The fact is, Christians in America are a cultural majority, and they are an extremely powerful group. But what you have here are second-tier preachers who are hoping to hit the big time, desperately hoping for a national spotlight.”


Full Story:
http://www.au.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=8185&abbr=cs_
Full Story:

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Rosie Was Right!

Rosie was right that the American Taliban (right wing preachers like Rick Scarborough) are just as dangerous as the other Taliban. They may not be strapping bombs to their chests and blowing up the local HRC dinner or a gay pride group, but their continued assault and hate speech directed toward GLBT people is no different.

If the Muslim community in the U.S.A. agrees with this guy, I say dont let the door hit you in the ass. We don't need any more religious extremism in America, or in the World.

From Gay.com (excerpt)
Killing gay men is OK, says British imam
published Monday, October 23, 2006

The leading imam in Manchester, England, confirms that he thinks the execution of sexually active gay men is justified, the rights group Outrage reported.
Arshad Misbahi of the Manchester Central Mosque confirmed his views in a conversation to John Casson, a local psychotherapist.

Casson said: "I asked him if the execution of gay Muslims in Iran and Iraq was an acceptable punishment in Sharia law, or the result of culture, not religion.

"He told me that in a true Islamic state, such punishments were part of Islam: If the person had had a trial, at which four witnesses testified that they had seen the actual homosexual acts."

Friday, October 20, 2006

Not "Conservative" You are Extremist!

Just Jerry, Barry? How about Jerry, Jr. aka Rick Scarborough....how about all of them.

Barry Goldwater :"I don't have any respect for the Religious Right." "Every good Christian should line up and kick Jerry Falwell's ass."


"The religious factions will go on imposing their will on others,"
"A woman has a right to an abortion."

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

National Coming Out Day - Remembering Rob Eichberg




Survey: 7 of 10 Americans know someone gay
published Tuesday, October 10, 2006
As gay men and lesbians celebrate another National Coming Out Day on Wednesday, a new survey reports seven out of 10 straight adults in the United States say they know someone who is lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.
The nationwide Harris Interactive online survey of 2,932 U.S. adults also found that 83 percent of those who self-identify as gay or lesbian consider themselves out.

When LGBT respondents were asked if they considered themselves open about their sexual orientation, 92 percenet said they are out to their close friends, and 78 percent said they are out to their parents.

A majority also indicated they are out to other people in their lives, including grandparents, cousins, acquaintances and casual friends, and coworkers and colleagues.

"If seven out of 10 heterosexuals know someone who is GLBT, then many gays and lesbians are making their identity apparent as a natural part of their lives -- just like their age, height, hair color, or personality," said Mark Shields, director of the Human Rights Campaign's National Coming Out Project.
When we come out we win. When they know us, they support us. I am tired of waiting for all the homophobic old preachers to die off and be replaced by tolerant kids from the MTV generation. It is only a matter of time before we win .

Every NCOD each year I think of Dr. Rob Eichberg in Santa Fe who founded NCOD. Rob died of AIDS in 1994 and his lectures and mentoring and friendship back when I was living in Santa Fe, New Mexico is a great reason I am alive and out and happy today. I miss you Rob --thanks for what your leadership and vision.

From out.com

"For most people, coming out or opening up to someone starts with a conversation. And for those interested in fostering strong, deep relationships with their friends and family, living openly often allows for closer relationships with the people they care about most."

Still, more than half of those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender said that concern about being the victim of a hate crime remains a deterrent to coming out. Other concerns that LGBT adults cite as to why a person might not come out include rejection by their families and friends and the threat of losing their jobs.

The survey was conducted Sept. 7-14 by Harris Interactive in conjunction with Witeck-Combs Communications Inc., a strategic public relations and marketing communications firm with special expertise in the LGBT market. (The Advocate)

UCC's Rev. John Thomas Blasts Idiot Tony Perkins

Well God Bless America a Rev. makes the news and blasts Family Research Council's Tony Perkins. Tony is a shithead homophobic asshole spreading lies and misinformation about gays and lesbians on a daily basis.

Press Release from United Church of Christ's Rev. John Thomas.


In Wake of Foley Scandal, United Church of Christ Leader Criticizes Family Research Council's Perkins for Attacking Gays, Lesbians

10/5/2006 2:44:00 PM


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To: National Desk, Religion Reporter

Contact: The Rev. J. Bennett Guess of the United Church of Christ, 216-736-2177; 216-403-9862 or newsroom@ucc.org

CLEVELAND, Oct. 5 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The leader of the 1.2- million-member United Church of Christ is condemning remarks by Tony Perkins, president of the right-wing Family Research Council, who is using the Mark Foley congressional scandal to scapegoat the larger gay and lesbian community.

"Perkins recent remarks are destructive to gay and lesbian persons and their families and distract the nation's attention from the real issue at hand, which is protecting young people from sexual predators," said the Rev. John H. Thomas, the UCC's general minister and president.

On October 2, Perkins issued a statement claiming "the real issue" in the Foley scandal was a "link between homosexuality and child sexual abuse." On Oct. 3, Perkins made similar accusations on MSNBC's "Hardball with Chris Matthews," where he likened homosexuals with "sexual deviants."

Thomas said the former congressman's sexual orientation should not be part of the public debate. The American Psychological Association, in addition to numerous other reputable medical and scientific groups, has found that "gay men are no more likely than heterosexual men to perpetrate child sexual abuse."

"To suggest that gay and lesbian persons should be barred from public service, as Perkins has implied, is akin to suggesting that white, straight males should be kept out of politics because of Bill Clinton's sexual misdeeds," Thomas said. "To attach this debate to sexual orientation is not only ludicrous, it's dangerous. Many gay and lesbian persons serve honorably in public office."

"If anything, this nation's culture of silence with respect to gay and lesbian people has taught us that hiding, shame and denial, as in Foley's case, are not healthy ways to live as a gay or lesbian person - not for them as individuals and not for us as a society," Thomas said.

Thomas also called for a full investigation into the unfolding scandal, saying the nation deserves to know if congressional leaders attempted to cover up for the sake of preserving political power.

"As we say in the church, those who care for young people must be committed to creating an 'envelope of safety,' where the systems of care include levels of accountability and oversight," Thomas said. "There must be a full investigation by the Congress, not only into Mark Foley but how the leadership handled reports of his behavior."

Thomas said the church's support of the gay and lesbian community is in keeping with its concern for the safety and well- being of young people.

"In the United Church of Christ, we have encountered this nation's culture of silence and shame with a distinctive Christian message about the need for "extravagant welcome," Thomas said. "And with that message of 'extravagant welcome' comes an attentiveness to the safety and security of children."

The Rev. Robert Chase, executive director of the UCC's Office of Communication, Inc., the church's historic media watchdog group, said the mainstream media should also be scrutinized for how it is reporting on the scandal.

"One of the tragic elements in the recent incident involving Mark Foley is the way the media give credence to those who make the unfortunate, salacious and inaccurate leap that Mr. Foley's behavior is rooted in his sexual orientation." Chase said. "Such characterization slanders an entire group of citizens and fuels the forces of suspicion and division that plague our country."

The United Church of Christ, formed in 1957 with the union of the Congregational Christian Church in American and the Evangelical and Reformed Church, has more than 5,600 congregations across the United States. The UCC's national offices are in Cleveland, Ohio.

http://www.usnewswire.com/

-0-

/© 2006 U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/

Saturday, October 07, 2006

Piety and Politics

Piety & Politics The Right-Wing Assault on Religious Freedom

Read the latest book by one of our favorite authors, our own
Rev. Barry W. Lynn.

Piety & Politics is available at book stores, or save more than 30% off the regular price when you order from Amazon.com.

What people are saying about Piety & Politics:

“The rise of the Religious Right as a political force has placed the separation of church and state at grave risk. Perhaps never before in American history has a liberty so important been so imperiled. Piety & Politics offers a compelling analysis of both the gravity of the danger and the hypocrisy behind it that fanaticism is being practiced by the very people whose faith counsels tolerance. The Reverend Barry Lynn is a shining example of what it truly means to be an American of faith.”
-- Kate Michelman, former president, NARAL Pro-Choice America

“Piety & Politics summons the silent among us to rise up and, with a firm voice, support the constitutional separation of church and state. Barry Lynn reminds us that our own one-of-a-kind founding document is a powerful stiff arm against the tyranny of the righteous, the “called,” who insist on writing your child’s biology textbooks, public funding of private schools, placing Jesus on the wall of public buildings, condemning homosexuals, disallowing choice in family planning, and working every day to reestablish America as a nation of one faith, theirs.”
-- Phil Donahue

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Pick up a copy of Piety & Politics and discover again why we are all working so hard to safeguard separation of church and state.

Friday, October 06, 2006

Boycott the Salvation Army

If you havent read Michelle Goldberg's book yet, buy it! It is full of amazing and scary stories like the one below. I will never toss another penny into the Salvation Army bucket. Considering how often these cry baby "Christian" nutbags say they are a persecuted people, they sure are doing well lately with George Bush....who has handed them the farm and still not satisfied them. Tragic. Scary. Unchristian. Unconscionable. Turns many of us Christians off --take your religion back from the fanatics like Rick Scarborough and Vision America. Enough is Enough


Some of the resulting collateral damage has been tragic. Just talk to Anne Lown. She worked for 24 years for the Salvation Army in New York City before resigning due to the hostility she felt toward her non-Christian beliefs. The office she ran had hundreds of employees with an annual budget of $50-million, almost all of which came from public sources. Lown oversaw foster care placements, day care services, residential services for the developmentally disabled and many other programs.

In Lown’s experience, the Salvation Army had always in the past been meticulous about keeping its evangelical side from mingling with its provision of social services, but all that changed in 2003. She attributes the change directly to Bush’s policies. A lawsuit filed by Lown and another 17 current and former employees of the Salvation Army alleges that religion suddenly pervaded the agency’s personnel decisions.

Lown says she was handed a form that all employees were expected to complete, asking for a list of churches she attended over the last 10 years and the name of her present minister. Lown says she was told that indicating “not applicable” was not an option. A lawyer for the Salvation Army says the form was modified after complaints were received.

But Lown said that atmosphere was fear-inducing for the professional staff.

She pointed to a mission statement that all employees were required to support as a condition of employment. It stated that the organization’s mission “is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Margaret Geissman, who is also part of the lawsuit, claims that she was asked by a supervisor to point out gay and non-Christian employees, with the overt suggestion that there would eventually be a purge of sorts. The Salvation Army denies this.

Despite the Salvation Army’s disclaimers, Goldberg cites an internal Salvation Army document describing a deal struck in 2001 with the White House. In exchange for the administration passing regulations protecting faith-based groups from state and local antidiscrimination regulations relative to gays, the Salvation Army agreed to promote the administration’s faith-based agenda.

Forget the proverbial wall. Here it is, church and state working hand-in-glove, with tax money and the government-sanctioned intolerance as the prize.

Meanwhile, money is flowing into religious coffers without anyone watching. A June report from the Government Accountability Office found that few government agencies that award grants to faith-based organizations bother to monitor whether the recipient is improperly mixing religion into their programs or discriminating against clients on the basis of religion. A few organizations contacted by the GAO even admitted to praying with clients while providing government-funded services. As to kicking out non-Christians on the staff, the Bush Justice Department says that it is perfectly okay.

Just another example of how, under this president, I hardly recognize my country anymore.

Jesus, Enemy Combatant

Excellent op ed by Anthony Wade with mention to Rev. Rick Scarborough of Vision America. Click link to go view full article.

October 2, 2006 at 13:11:57

Jesus, Enemy Combatant. When the Christian Right Becomes the Christian Wrong

by Anthony Wade

full op ed: http://www.opednews.com

We are now just weeks away from the most important election of our lifetimes as Americans, and as Christians. Faced with sagging poll numbers and general unrest within the citizenry, the Republican Party is ratcheting up their usual trump cards, fear, loathing and divisiveness. The calls for fear are coming nearly every day, with new al Qaeda videos being released, designed to scare you to vote GOP. The loathing is also being driven home daily with the calls from GOP leaders to compare anything democrat with terrorism enablers and insisting they have "no plan" even though there own plan amounts to nothing more than rubber stamping an out of control executive branch and removing all checks and balances from our system of government. The divisiveness however is occurring at many levels, as the GOP seeks to divide America into halves; us versus them, liberals versus conservatives, republicans versus democrats, patriots versus cut and runners, and most offensively; Christians versus heathens.

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Log Cabin on Foley

Shameful, hateful, unchristian [rick scarborough vision america]

News Release
For Immediate Release


October 4, 2006


Log Cabin Republicans Respond to Shameful Tactics of Anti-Gay Groups
(Washington, DC) – “Anti-gay groups should stop using the Mark Foley scandal to push their anti-gay agenda,” said Log Cabin Executive Vice President Patrick Sammon. “This is a political scandal and a personal scandal, but it should not be used to denigrate gay and lesbian Americans. The anti-gay groups appear more interested in using this situation to score political points than in figuring out exactly what happened in this terrible situation.”

“Millions of gay and lesbian people go to work, pay taxes, raise families, and make this country a better place to live. Their lives and character shouldn’t be demeaned because of Mark Foley’s disgusting behavior or the Congressional leadership’s response to it,” Sammon said.



Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, Paul Weyrich from the Free Congress Foundation, “American Values” President Gary Bauer, and Pat Buchanan, among others, have been using this situation to push their anti-gay agenda. Tony Perkins said on “Hardball with Chris Matthews” that gay men are more likely than heterosexual men to molest young people. Also, Pat Buchanan made an identical claim on the same program. These claims are categorically false. In fact, in 1998 the Journal of the American Medical Association found that 98 percent of male pedophiles are heterosexual.



“These people should spend more much time holding our elected officials accountable for their behavior and less time scapegoating gay Americans,” said Sammon.

###

Log Cabin Republicans is the nation's largest organization of Republicans who support fairness, freedom, and equality for gay and lesbian Americans. Log Cabin has state and local chapters nationwide, full-time offices in Washington, DC and Sacramento, CA, and a federal political action committee. www.logcabin.org

Is Rick Scarborough a Moonie?

So if Rev. Falwell is being financed by cult leader Sun Myung Moon and Falwell's people are funding Lufkin, Texas based Vision America run by [dr][rev]Rick Scarborough -- is Vision America being financed by a cult? Just wondering. Since Vision America doesnt seem to belong to any of the religious oriented non profit financial watchdog groups (none of them!) - you have to wonder where the HELL is all that money coming from? How much money is coming from Rev. Moon? Maybe Moon owns the Washington Times and Vision America? Yikes. Yikes Yikes.

Don't forget that foot in mouth syndrome poster fatcat Jerry Falwell was the guy pushing to have Moon's US Tax Evasion conviction pardoned in the 1990's.

And don't forget what a loony this moon(Y) man is! Great information from
http://www.rotten.com here:

It should be obvious to sensible persons that whatever fraction of Sun Myung Moon which isn't pure bullshit artist is necessarily raving lunatic. As the wacko billionaire who made his fortune off the backs of the Moonie cult (otherwise known as the Unification Church), Moon has established his niche in the world as the Korean version of L. Ron Hubbard.
Over the years, Moon's gargantuan wealth and legions of worshippers have evidently corroded away any sense of propriety or self-restraint he might have once possessed, leaving only a megalomaniac and his vast financial and human resources.

As evidence, consider the day in April 2002 when he received the latest in a long series of earthshattering religious visions. This one was especially noteworthy. In it, Moon learned that he had been selected as "the Savior, Messiah and King of Kings of all of humanity" by God. Also on the selection committee: Jesus Christ, Mohammed, and Buddha (in addition to several others, including the godless Communists Marx and Stalin for some mysterious reason).

Anyway, that's how Moon described it in his full-page newspaper ad, which ran in papers all across the U.S. (including the Los Angeles Times). It was a $720,000 print run, but it was worth every penny. Finally middle America would get the word and rally behind their messiah. Except it was a bit of a reach. Moon's captive congregation is accustomed to his indefatigable hubris, but the general public who have yet to send their mind through the laundry just find it repugnant.

But he can't help it. Moon has been claiming for decades (like The Beatles before him) that he is bigger than Christ. In a 1990 sermon, he reiterated this belief (note that Moon always addresses himself in the third person, usually as "Father"):


"Jesus never achieved a thousandth of what Father has done. In his two years and eight months of public ministry, [Jesus] didn't even establish the national foundation. Now, Father has established a foundation of worldwide power that is unprecedented in history."
Moon has a bad habit of comparing himself favorably to his predecessor, proclaiming that he will succeed where Jesus has failed, and so on. This kind of material kills with the home crowd, but it doesn't really do so great on the road. But apparently this is irrelevant, since Moon seems to have become utterly oblivious to the shocked reactions of his public audiences.
Case in point: an April 2001 appearance at a Methodist church in Las Vegas. It was just another typical sermon by Reverend Moon. There were about 600 people in the congregation when the sermon began. But for some reason, people kept walking out, well before he got on a roll about schlongs:


"The head of the love organ is shaped exactly like a poisonous rattlesnake. And just like a rattlesnake, it's always looking for a hole."
Oh yes, there was more. He went on to explain that 70% of all divorces result from the wife's inappropriate feelings of entitlement toward her husband's genitals. As Moon explained it, a man's "love organ" can only serve its master, and the spouse just needs to get used to it. He told the audience that these women, along with childless couples and homosexuals, are destroying the fabric of society. Offended churchgoers left in droves; some of them even heckled him on their way out. And this was by no means an isolated incident. He's been spouting that snake-genitalia lunacy for years and years. In April 1996, Moon preached:


"The Bible refers to the origin of free sex by using the image of a snake. Woman's sexual organ is like the open mouth of a snake filled with poison. Man's sexual organ is like the head of a snake. If you think of fallen love action in these terms you feel disgusted and so you should. It is poison to humanity."
In November of that same year, he was in Buenos Aires to celebrate the launch of his newest Spanish-language newspaper. At the ceremony (attended by guest speaker and former President George HW Bush for a reported fee of $100,000), Moon passed along this revolutionary insight:


"You use the bathroom each morning. When you defecate, do you wear a gas mask? This is not a laughing matter but a serious one. If you are near someone else defecating, you will quickly move a good distance away. But when you smell your own feces, you do not even notice it. This is because that fecal matter is one with your body. Therefore, you do not feel that it is dirty.

"When you were young, did you ever taste the dried mucus from your nose? Does it taste sweet or salty? It's salty, right? Since you can answer, you must have tasted it! Why did you not feel that it was dirty? It is because it was part of your body.

"Reverend Moon has figured out something that no one in the world knew."

Why would anybody (who isn't brainwashed or getting paid) sit through an entire speech by this screwball? Ever since 1954, Moon has made no secret of his nutball theology:

Eve bumped uglies with Satan and thereby consigned humanity to the Kingdom of Hell.
Jesus ruined his chance to purify mankind when he neglected to get married and father children.
Sun Myung Moon is succeeding where Jesus failed.
Worshipping Moon is now mankind's last chance for redemption.
Being the world's savior, Moon preaches that no one can enter Heaven without his explicit blessing. But he is only willing to bless married couples. Which is where those Guinness Book mass weddings come in.
In a Moonie marriage, the choice of a partner is handled for you. Church elders make the seemingly-random selections by pairing up photos of prospective brides and grooms. Maybe they shuffle Polaroids like a deck of cards. Sometimes the lucky couples wind up with a common spoken language. Sometimes not.

They meet for the first time during the week leading up to the wedding day, often on the day of the ceremony itself. The event is so big that it has to be held in a sports arena or stadium, complete with a closed-circuit video feed on the Jumbotron.

Because of these antics and his blasphemous theology, you might expect that Moon would be shunned by respected Christian leaders. Which he is. For instance, Jerry Falwell told Esquire magazine in 1978: "Reverend Sun Myung Moon is like the plague: he exploits boys and girls, and he should be exported. [sic]"

This negative general attitude poses a significant problem for the Unification Church. Its goal is the absorption of every national government and competing religious faith. Which is a tall order, considering the horrible reputation the church has earned over the years. But Moon is nothing if not determined.


"The democratic world has hated Reverend Moon until now, but from now on it will like the Reverend Moon. The time has already come when America will start to like Reverend Moon."
Moon's chosen tactic, which has been highly effective, is to purchase his legitimacy outright. In addition to United Press International (UPI), Moon is the owner of the Washington Times, a conservative newspaper devoted to right-wing causes. Every operating year, the Times loses tens of millions of dollars, but profitability has never been a priority. Its intended purpose was made clear when, during Watergate, the paper ran an endless stream of pro-Nixon editorials urging the American people to forgive and forget.

Ever since then, Moon has made substantial inroads to the Republican party by parlaying access to his media outlets and exorbitant cash contributions. For instance, it was $100,000 of Moon's money that initially kicked off the Nicaraguan Freedom Fund, a nonprofit organization conceived by Oliver North and headed by a group of conservatives including Charlton Heston. The NFF's mission in life was to raise private donations for the Contras, in the eventuality that Congress cut off funding. Also recall that former President George HW Bush was paid six figures to attend a 1996 ceremony in Buenos Aires. At the podium, Bush gushed:


"I want to salute Reverend Moon, who is the founder of the Washington Times, and of the new paper here."
Not to mention mainstream church leaders, like our old friend Jerry Falwell. The man who called for Moon's "exportation" in 1978 was singing his praises years later. Falwell changed his tune after one of Moon's front organizations handed Liberty University $3.5 million and otherwise forgave tens of millions in debts so he could bail out his college in 1994. Later, Falwell reciprocated by appearing at various Unification Church events and called upon President Ronald Reagan to pardon Moon's felony conviction for tax evasion.

Oh, that. Well, it turns out that the messiah didn't want to pay his taxes. So he underreported his income by omitting $162,000 and hoped that either the Internal Revenue Service wouldn't notice, or his high-placed friends in the government would squelch any investigation. But the IRS did, and his friends didn't. Moon was convicted in 1982. He fought his conviction all the way to the Supreme Court and lost, after which he announced that God evidently wanted him to go to prison. In 1984 he finally submitted to God's will and spent the next 13 months in the clink.

It's all part of the divine plan. As Moon himself might say: You just gotta trust Father on this one.

Monday, October 02, 2006

Rev. Rick Scarborough re: IRS

Go ahead Rev. Rick Scarborough and Vision America -- tell those "patriot pastors" to go ahead and challenge the IRS, go right ahead and bark all you want. If these "patriots" are true "patriots" --they won't mind writing a check to the IRS as do most other "businesses" in the United States. Maybe it is time to tax the megachurches anyway -- it's not like the Country and/or local counties couldnt use some help filling the potholes created by your congregations.

In its “Tax Guide for Churches and Religious Organizations” the IRS clearly states

Under the Internal Revenue Code, all IRC section 501(c)(3) organizations, including churches and religious organizations, are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made by or on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violation of this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise tax.



[F]or their organizations to remain tax exempt under IRC section 501(c)(3), religious leaders cannot make partisan comments in official organization publications or at official church functions.

The IRS even offers this example of prohibited political activity and it sounds exactly like the sort of activity Staver is advocating


Example 4: Minister D is the minister of Church M. During regular services of Church M shortly before the election, Minister D preached on a number of issues, including the importance of voting in the upcoming election, and concludes by stating, “It is important that you all do your duty in the election and vote for Candidate W.” Since Minister D’s remarks indicating support for Candidate W were made during an official church service, they constitute political campaign intervention attributable to Church M.

I 'll Bid a Dime!

Suggestion: Buy a Book, Read it, then toss it your fireplace this winter.

Book: Enough is Enough by Jerry Falwell, Jr aka Rick Scarborough

Current Cost on Amazon : 0.25 cents
Current Value: ZERO

Synopis: Unsigned copy of Gospel of Hate's [so called] "Christian" Texas Baptist megachurch reverened leader turned jetset politico with $100,000 plus salary from his Liberty, Texas based "Vision America." Book was distributed free to all Southern Baptist ministers a few years ago before they voted not to elect this clown to a leadership position. Reportedly funding for Vision America comes from extremist right wingers like Falwell, cult leader Rev. Moon and friends. Book is full of fabricated lies about gay and lesbian people, false Visions for America, and the separation of church and state.

Buyer Strategies 1. Wait til the book drops to a dime 2. Spend a quarter and buy now and read why it is important to say no to the hate speech of the extreme religious right 3. Email the Amazon seller and bid a penny 4.Mail a copy to RS's blow buddy Tom Delay and his thief wife Ms. Tom Delay at their new mansion in Virgina.

Expose the Gospel of Hate of Rev. Rick Scarborough and Vision America.