FBI examines pastor’s sermons on abortion & homosexuality

[rainbow4321]

http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/bpnews.asp?ID=20055


"I shared the number of people who have died in wars versus the number who had died through ‘legal’ abortion since 1973,” Steele said. “I stated that we are in a different type of war that is being fought under the 'presupposition of freedom.’”

Steele said that he went on to name an abortion clinic in Granite City, Ill., a city just outside St. Louis, and pointed out that they perform as many as 45 abortions per week.

Somebody in the church that day apparently misunderstood Steele’s “different type of war” comment to mean that he was actually calling his congregation to a physical war against abortion clinics, so he or she placed an anonymous phone call to the FBI.
The informant allegedly told the FBI that in addition to Steele calling for a war against abortion clinics, he also said he was willing to go to jail over such a cause.

Steele said that he had spoken about his willingness to go to jail, but that he made those remarks in a different sermon that dealt with homosexuality from the same sermon series. “I had mentioned a pastor in Canada who had been arrested for speaking about homosexuality in his church,” Steele said. The pastor said he went on to tell his congregation that “if speaking the truth means that we go to jail, then by golly, that’s where I'm going to be and I’m going to save you a seat next to me.”

[beyurslf]

1. Sometimes it is a shame we have to defend the Constitution. I would

love to lock them all up and throw away the key. No need for a trial. They're nuts.

[rox63]

3. They have a constitutional right to spout nonsense

But when they try imposing their idiocy on unwilling others, that's where their rights end.

[Maple]

2. What pastor in Canada

got arrested for speaking about homosexuality in his church??

:shrug:

[rainbow4321]

5. Think fundies mixed their anti-Canada attitude up w/ an arrest in Sweden

From the original article:


“Just look at what’s happening in our society and what’s happening in Canada—the laws that have been made there—and the pressure on Americans today to enforce hate crime laws,” Lipe said. “Obviously it’s going to mean that someday when you (as a pastor) get into your own pulpit, your own church, among your own people to preach against subjects like abortion and homosexuality and other biblical things that we’ve got to preach on, then there’s probably going to be a price to pray.”

____________________

Just googled and the only arrest of a pastor/gay sermon listed is in Sweden....details, details.. who needs them...they just get in the way of fundie's hate spewing, anyway.

[kweerwolf]

6. The Canada/Sweden confusion

Not long ago (last year, I think) Canada passed a hate crimes law. The fundaMENTALists claimed they could no longer preach "the biblical truth about homosexuality" for fear of being prosecuted and held the Swedish case up as an example.

Here's a link (from the Concerned Women of America's web site - so hold your noses) to their take on the Canadian law:

http://www.cwfa.org/articledisplay.asp?id=5588&department=CFI&categoryid=freedom

[theresistance]

4. I don't think it is right for them to give out info

about where the abortion clinics are etc. It only encourages people to protest there, harass workers etc. In Australia, a conservative member in the government re-opened the "debate" about abortion and he said he wants info on abortion clinics, there number and so on. I think its for the same reason: give the info out so protesters can organize action against them.

[leesa]

7. Nail him....and certainly take away his tax breaks.

[Melynn]

9. Great Idea

Take away the church's tax breaks. This "minister" is using the pulpit to advocate his political views. A clear violation of the IRS rules.

[TexasLawyer]

8. Oh Lord...

Please protect me from thy followers!