Bless Me, Father, with the Catholic Vote - and Pass the Collection Plate
moiv printable version print page     Bookmark and Share
Tue Sep 05, 2006 at 01:54:24 AM EST
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
As Operation Rescue founder Randall Terry's Florida state senate campaign against incumbent Jim King turned nasty, as he found that his days as Jeb Bush's bright-haired boy were over, he reached out to his longtime comrade in arms, Father Frank Pavone. And Pavone, the director of Priests for Life whose scorn for federal regulations governing politicking from the pulpit have already prompted complaints to the IRS, answered the call.

Father Pavone Joins Randall Terry in Effort to Defeat Florida State Senator Jim King in Republican Primary, September 5

Internationally known pro-life leader, Father Frank Pavone, acting as a private citizen, has signed a letter which was sent to thousands of Catholic voters in Florida State Senate District 8.

Father Pavone has also recorded a thirty second phone message which was sent by phone [on August 17] to thousands of Catholic voters in the district.

Randall Terry, candidate for state Senate has the following statement:

"Senator King is trying to repackage himself as a pro-family conservative; Father Pavone's letter and phone call will lay that illusion to rest within the next 24 hours for thousands of Catholic voters. Father Pavone's letter and phone call may be what puts us over the top, because it will help us mobilize our base."

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Yes, the tax-exempt status of religious organizations forbids overt campaigning for individual candidates. And Frank Pavone is Priests for Life. But what does that matter to a man whose contempt for federal law runs so deep that his reaction to the FACE Act -- which outlaws the violence he claims to disavow -- was to set it on fire?  
Frank Pavone isn't the only Religious Right crusader who has been working for Randall Terry's election.  Gary McCullough, Terry's media advisor when he resurfaced during the Schiavo affair, provides Terry with a testimonial on the campaign Web site where Terry publishes photos of his 1991 meeting with Pope John Paul II and compares himself to Martin Luther King, Jr.  

You may have seen -- and if you haven't, you surely will -- the flyer that is coming in the mail. It is a vicious, lying attack against Randall Terry. I know it's vicious, and I know it's lying, because I have been a close friend of Randall's for many years.

This piece of literature may have actually broken the law -- committing libel and slander.
:::
"40 arrests": This is true; but what the piece cleverly ignores is the fact that Randall Terry was arrested for peaceful protest in his work to protect the unborn from abortion.

Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested over 100 times for peacefully protesting against the injustice of segregation; Mr. Terry has been arrested for the exact same type of peaceful protest.
:::
Henry David Thoreau, Martin Luther King Jr., Susan B. Anthony, and a host of other American political activists and heroes of the past (Remember St. Paul?) also spent time in jail because they were protesting to make a point, or obeying the "higher law." Mr. Terry is a best-selling author -- and four of his books were written while he was in jail! One of his books is titled, Why Does a Nice Guy Like Me Keep Getting Thrown in Jail?

Well, on one occasion, it was because he had a fetus delivered to Bill Clinton at the 1992 Democratic Convention. The Secret Service tends to frown on stunts like that. But it wouldn't have bothered Fr. Frank Pavone, of course, as owner and media consultant of the most well-traveled and frequently memorialized fetus in America.

And according to Gary McCullough, Terry is just as non-violent as Fr. Pavone as well.

"Mr. Terry has been arrested 40 times. He is threatened others..." yes, Mr. Terry has been arrested, as we have discussed. But he has never threatened anyone. This is another lie.

Photobucket - Video and Image HostingOf course, Gary McCullough's own concept of what constitutes either a threat or a lie might not be the same as yours or mine. McCullough's extremely questionable past includes a stint as Paul Hill's media consultant, too, back when Hill and McCullough were defending Michael Griffin, the murderer of Dr. David Gunn, as a "hero," and before Hill committed a couple of shotgun murders of his own -- crimes which McCullough publicly defended as well.

So perhaps in that light, it's understandable that McCullough wouldn't have thought Terry sounded threatening when he said this about Christianity . . .

"Let a wave of intolerance wash over you. I want you to let a wave of hatred wash over you. Yes, hate is good.... If a Christian voted for Clinton, he sinned against God. It's that simple.... Our goal is a Christian Nation... we have a biblical duty, we are called by God to conquer this country. We don't want equal time. We don't want Pluralism. We want theocracy. Theocracy means God rules. I've got a hot flash. God rules."

. . . or this about doctors who provide abortion care . . .

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
"When I, or people like me, are running the country, you'd better flee, because we will find you, we will try you, and we will execute you. I mean every word of it. I will make it part of my mission to see to it that they are tried and executed...

. . . or this about male supremacy . .

If we're going to have true reformation in America, it is because men once again, if I may use a worn out expression, have righteous testoserone flowing through their veins. They are not afraid of contempt for their contemporaries. They are not even here to get along. They are here to take over...

. . . or this about biblical retribution.

Somebody like Susan Smith should be dead. She should be dead now. Some people will go, "Well how do you know God doesn't have a wonderful plan for her life?" He does, it's listed in the Bible. His plan for her is that she should be dead."

Frank Pavone evidently doesn't see any of that as threatening, either, because he considers Terry's race against King to be "one of the most important in the nation."

From the Desk of Father Frank Pavone

One of the most important political races in the nation is happening in Your state Senate District in Florida - the race between pro-life champion Randall Terry, and your current State Senator, Jim King.

Dear friend of life,

I'm writing to earnestly solicit your help in one of the key pro-life battles facing us in this election cycle -- the Republican primary -- scheduled for September 5 -- between challenger Randall Terry and incumbent State Senator Jim King.

Let me refresh your memory -- Randall Terry has been on the front lines of the pro-life movement for over two decades -- a nationally and internationally known pro-life leader.

Randall and I have worked on various projects together for over 15 years.

Jim King, on the other hand, is a firm supporter of Roe versus Wade -- and he led the efforts to starve Terri Schiavo to death last year.

While Randall Terry and I were at the hospice,

Working side by side to save Terri from starvation...

Senator Jim King was working to starve Terri to death.

I am writing you as a private citizen, because I know you share my passion for life.

I know you want strong pro-life legislators in government as much as I do.  

Frankly, you could not have a more proven and dedicated servant of life in office than Randall Terry.  

I'm asking you to do three critical things in the cause of life:

1) Vote for Randall Terry. Early voting begins on August 21, and ends on September 2.  The Republican primary is on September 5, the day after Labor Day.

Please vote for my friend Randall.

2) Volunteer for Randall's campaign. I recently spent two days in the district, traveling from Daytona to Jacksonville, meeting with voters, and helping Randall put together an incredible volunteer team.  

With the election soon upon us -- there is much to be done -- but this is absolutely a race that can be won by Randall. He just needs help from people like you.
:::
3) Give to Randall's Campaign. I am asking you to give is generously as you possibly can today to help Randall launch his final wave of advertisements, mailings, literature drops, and phone banks.

Randall must hear from you by August 27, so he can have the finances for the last week of the campaign.  

Please rush your gift today!

I pray you will do all you are able for the cause of life,

Father Frank Pavone

Just in case anyone at the IRS is paying attention, Fr. Pavone adds a token disclaimer.

(This endorsement is made in my own name, not in the name or with the funds of any organization I lead.)

That's right, it says so right there at the bottom of the page: "Paid for and Approved by Randall Terry, Republican, Florida Senate"

That means that it was paid for with money raised by Frank Pavone and Alan Keyes at up to $250 a plate, as well as over $100,000 poured into Terry's campaign account from the same Religious Right network that made Terri Schiavo a household name. According to donation records, Randall Terry's campaign raised only one dollar out of five in Florida, let alone from the district "base" that he claims to represent.

And today the voters of Florida's State Senate District 7 will tell Randall Terry and his friends on the Religious Right exactly how much political power their money and their perverted version of Christianity can buy.

[Photo of Gary McCullough from BARF.org]




Display:
to objections regarding his political activity meets his usual standard of arrogance.

Frances Kissling, president of Catholics for a Free Choice, noted that "Priests for Life's current violations and open and flagrant contempt for the IRS and the tax-exempt regulations is breathtaking.  Fr. Pavone is fully aware of the legal parameters of 501(c) (3) incorporation and its restrictions on political activities.  He has clearly decided he is above the law."  In his April 24 blog entry, he wrote:

We will repeat and intensify this year all we did in the previous election cycles. The pro-abortion groups, the liberals in the Church, the over-cautious attorneys, and the people who don't want to see the Church "influencing elections" can yell and scream all they want. In fact, I invite them to. It won't make a shred of difference. We will move forward with more boldness than ever before.

A Dallas physician received the following email from Pavone on November 3, 2004:

"This election is my gift to you and every abortionist."

And Karl Rove thought he did it all by himself.

by moiv on Tue Sep 05, 2006 at 02:19:17 AM EST

What will it take to heve this monster defrocked?  

He no more represents the Catholic faith that Ken Lay and George Bush represent America.

I know molesting little boys won't do it so I suppose it will have to be really bad.

by nofundy on Wed Sep 06, 2006 at 02:59:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

"with a dead girl or a live boy" only counts for politicians.

Although if Pavone got his way and sent us back to the bad old days, there would be plenty of dead girls, too.

by moiv on Thu Sep 07, 2006 at 10:14:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]




What bothers me most about Fr. Frank Pavone (among many, many things) is his one dimensional Catholicism. In his fanaticism over fighting choice, stem cell research and birth control, he completely disregards Catholic social teachings on the poor, distributive justice, the environment as well as the rights of labor. He will support a candidate that is anti-choice but who will destroy unions with large Catholic memberships.

Fr. Pavone is not truly pro-life. As Sister Joan Chittister has described such hypocrites, he is merely pro-birth.

by Frank Cocozzelli on Tue Sep 05, 2006 at 01:48:58 PM EST


Moiv-

I too am with Frank. There are a lot of us who are Catholic and who are disgusted with the one-issue approach to politics that Fr. Pavone exemplifies.

by khughes1963 on Wed Sep 06, 2006 at 01:05:34 PM EST



WWW Talk To Action


Job Security/Religious Right Style
Jack Van Impe, Hal Lindsey and similar professional Nostradamus clones, have plenty of job security.  All they have to do is sit back and......
By wilkyjr (0 comments)
Ah, True Remonstrance!
In previous posts I have called for mainstream Catholics to offer remonstrance - an earnest presentation of reasons for opposition or grievance against the......
By Frank Cocozzelli (4 comments)
Congressman Wants Citizens of ALL Religions to Reflect on the Ten Commandments
Well, spring is in the air, and that can mean only one thing. It's time for a member of Congress to introduce a resolution......
By Chris Rodda (0 comments)
Happy Birthday, Pat!: Virginia Legislature Lauds Extremist TV Preacher Robertson
TV evangelist Pat Robertson's 80th birthday is on Monday, and to mark that momentous occasion, the Virginia legislature decided to pass a resolution lauding......
By Rob Boston (1 comment)
Netanyahu and Hagee, Serial Obstructionists
Last week I wrote about Prime Minister Netanyahu's participation at John Hagee's CUFI rally held in Jerusalem on the evening of Joe Biden's arrival......
By Rachel Tabachnick (0 comments)
Bill Donohue: Defender of Glenn Beck.
Glenn Beck's recent admonition that people who attend a church that teaches social justice should leave -- was anti-Catholicism. This was obvious from a......
By Frank Cocozzelli (5 comments)
Blog Against Theocracy!
It's that time of year again.  It's time for the annual Blog Against Theocracy, April 2-4, 2010.   The prime mover of this blogtacular......
By Frederick Clarkson (1 comment)
Creeping Religious Rightism in the Democratic Party, Cont.
  Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State has an op-ed today at AOL News discussing how, campaign......
By Frederick Clarkson (6 comments)
Invoking Intolerance: Religious Right Throws Fit Over Islamic Prayer In Virginia
Today an imam delivered the opening prayer before the Virginia House of Delegates - and once again the Religious Right is having kittens. Three......
By Rob Boston (1 comment)
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and John Hagee Share Stage as Biden Arrives in Israel
Yesterday (Monday) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to hundreds of Christian Zionists in Jerusalem at an event organized by John Hagee and Christians......
By Rachel Tabachnick (6 comments)
When the Truth Is Shown to Be Lies
It's been a year since President Obama lifted the Bush administration's restrictions on the federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.  Nevertheless, religious opponents......
By Frank Cocozzelli (7 comments)
Repent Amarillo's Spiritual Mapping and Vigilantism
Repent Amarillo, a Texas ministry which refers to itself as an "Army of God,"  is making news for its spiritual warfare and vigilante tactics.......
By Rachel Tabachnick (17 comments)
Whale Tale: AFA Staffer Says Bible Mandates Death For SeaWorld Orca
On Feb. 24, a tragedy occurred at SeaWorld in Orlando, Fla. A six-ton killer whale known as Tillikum pulled trainer Dawn Brancheau underwater to......
By Rob Boston (5 comments)
A Call to Censor the Religion Blogosphere
Some time ago, I filled out a survey from the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) in connection with an academic study they were doing......
By Frederick Clarkson (8 comments)
Prayer Warriors of the New Apostolic Reformation Getting Some Exposure
Yesterday Alternet published an article by Bill Berkowitz including an interview with me about the New Apostolic Reformation, or the "largest religious movement you......
By Rachel Tabachnick (8 comments)

Publicizing the existence of the NAR -- some suggestions
Some regular columnists here on Talk to Action have complained about difficulties in getting the mass media to notice the existence of a new but rapidly growing - and already highly influential - religious......
Diane Vera (4 comments)
School Board, State and school prayer
Now both the Polk County School Board and the state of Florida are trying to push prayers in the schools! ......
ArchaeoBob (0 comments)
City in trouble for sectarian prayers
The city of Lakeland, Florida has been challenged by Atheists of Florida and the local synagogue for having sectarian prayers before public meetings. ......
ArchaeoBob (0 comments)
The Blind Side's Blind Spot
The hit movie, The Blind Side, is all about the Christian values of being your "brother's keeper." Or is it? ......
John Sheirer (3 comments)
When Christianity is Un-American
Just thought readers might be interested in linking to this article at The Yurica Report: ......
TMurray (1 comment)
Violence increasing
I think people should read this article- and realize that the dominionists are becoming more and more violent.  If something isn't done to counter their hate, this country is in deep trouble! ......
ArchaeoBob (3 comments)
His "Freedom" Means Denying Yours - With Your Own Taxes
Referring to recent political skirmishes over the rights of gays and lesbians to marry, Cardinal Francis George called five rocks thrown at empty buildings and the theft of a few lawn signs "quasi-fascism."  He......
bettyclermont (0 comments)
Rome has spoken....Man the lifeboats!
When Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected Pope Benedict XVI in 2005, it was widely reported that he preferred a smaller, more obedient flock in his Church. Once again, he is proving those reports to......
bettyclermont (0 comments)
Your children will be forced to shower with gays! (says the AFA)
I've just received the following American Family Association email, which claims that the Obama administration has a nefarious plan to force gays and straights in the US military to shower together ! Donald Wildmon......
Bruce Wilson (3 comments)
Pope John Paul II's Penitential Practices: The Opus Dei Connection
We are pleased to once again welcome theologian William Lindsey as a guest front pager. This piece is crossposted from the new progressive Catholic group blog, The Open Tabernacle: Here Comes Everybody. -- FC......
William Lindsey (0 comments)
WallBuilders, Inc., Promoting a dominionist "Christian Nation"
Cherry Hill Seminary Supports Patrick McCollum in 9th Circuit Case Against California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation http://snipurl.com/u8kcj ......
Dragonzmajick (2 comments)
Roeder verdict sparks fears of more anti-abortion violence
cross-posted at dKos Scott Roeder is likely to spend the rest of his life in prison for the murder of George Tiller.  At the very least, he'll by 75 years old before he can......
Christian Dem in NC (0 comments)
The dark underside of the Latter Rain--a walkaway's view
cross-posted at dKos I read Bruce Wilson's posts on dKos and Talk To Action regarding the "Pray For Newark" initiative with particular alarm.  While Pray for Newark appears to espouse an admirable goal--community empowerment--it's......
Christian Dem in NC (2 comments)
Bishops as Provocateurs
In a thinly-veiled reference to the campaign of President Barack Obama, Archbishop Emeritus of St. Louis, Raymond Burke, charged that Americans are "embracing a totalitarianism which masks itself as the 'hope,' the 'future' of......
bettyclermont (0 comments)
The Vatican v. Children
Yesterday was not a good day for children seeking justice from the Roman Catholic Church. The internet brought the following news: ......
bettyclermont (0 comments)
Religious bigots control supermarket chain
Well, they've won again.  The religious bigots have forced Publix Supermarkets into bowing to their wishes. ......
ArchaeoBob (11 comments)
Manhattan Declaration is to Theology what Fox is to Journalism
The December 20, 2009, New York Times ran a lengthy article by David D. Kirkpatrick about Robert P. George, "The Conservative-Christian Big Thinker." The occasion was release of George's "Manhattan Declaration" signed by the......
bettyclermont (2 comments)
Merry Freakin' Christmas: I'm Taking Your Stuff, and you Can't Stop Me!
A humorous look at the larger implications of a seemingly harmless holiday tradition. ......
John Sheirer (1 comment)
Lou Engle, September 25, 2007, Los Angeles: "Holywood"
[This is a partial transcription of a sermon/speech Lou Engle, Founder of TheCall gave on September 25, 2007, in Los Angeles. The full sermon is slightly over 63 minutes. This partial transcript is of......
Bruce Wilson (0 comments)
Rick Warren Tweet complains my videos of his "Hitler/Lenin/Mao" speech are unfair
It's gratifying to know "America's most powerful pastor" seems to have taken notice of my videos, showcasing Rick Warren's 2005 speech at California's Anaheim Angels Stadium, during which Warren outlined a "stealth" program to......
Bruce Wilson (4 comments)
Blurring Reproductive Rights and the Religious Right
The principle of the Hyde Amendment, which restricted federal funds from paying for abortion back in 1976 -- is now seen as an acceptable, "abortion neutral" position for the prochoice Democratic Party. How did......
Frederick Clarkson (0 comments)
Rick Warren Calls on Followers To Be Dedicated as Followers of Lenin and Mao
[note: for more recent news on Rick Warren, see Rick Warren's Dissertation Advisor Leads Network Promoting Uganda Anti-Gay Bill] Video, below contains audio recording, photos, and transcript from Rick Warren's April 17, 2005 speech......
Bruce Wilson (6 comments)
Julius Oyet Touts The College of Prayer
A new Talk To Action story identifies Apostle and bishop Julius Oyet as a major player in the recent effort in the Ugandan parliament to pass a draconian anti-gay bill. In this video [transcript......
Bruce Wilson (1 comment)
Mark Silk on the Hagee / Rodriguez Entente
Mark Silk, at Spiritual Politics has picked up on my notice of the Hagee-Rodriguez embrace and zeroes in on what's certainly one of the most notable aspects: "The key thing to understand about the......
Bruce Wilson (1 comment)
Inscribing Christian Values in our Children Before Birth?
Following the evolution of evangelical discourse as it re-defines homosexuality as evidence of "fallen creation", Terri Murray looks at how the Christian right have shifted their rhetoric to adapt to empirical research showing that......
TMurray (1 comment)
US News & World Report Showcases Creationist Ray Comfort
US News and World Report's Dan Gilgoff has charitably provided evangelist Ray Comfort a media platform in the form of a US News & World "exclusive" through which Comfort defends his efforts to distribute,......
Bruce Wilson (0 comments)
Atheist billboard in Central Florida
The organization "Atheists of Florida" sponsored a billboard promoting atheism in Lakeland, Florida.  I, however, have some concerns. ......
ArchaeoBob (4 comments)
Transcript: Billy Graham and Richard Nixon, February 21, 1973
The following is my own transcript of a 20 minute phone conversation between Richard Nixon and Billy Graham, on February 23, 1973. As far as I am aware this is the only publicly available,......
Bruce Wilson (0 comments)
Rifqa Bary being sent back to Ohio now
Well, there's a change in this case.  After the judge gets immigration documents and so on from the parents, he will send her back. ......
ArchaeoBob (2 comments)

More Diaries...




All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective companies. Comments, posts, stories, and all other content are owned by the authors. Everything else © 2005 Talk to Action, LLC. Powered by Scoop