Minister at center of politics debate calls clergy group 'unholy alliance'
Hartville, Ohio- Prominent Ohio evangelical minister Russell Johnson fired back Tuesday at critics who charge him and others with mixing religion and politics, saying they are guilty of the same sin - if sin it is.
Accused recently by a group of moderate clergy of using his pulpit to benefit Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, Johnson described them as part of an "unholy alliance" and "secular jihad" against expressions of faith.
Thirty-one clergy members on Sunday asked the Internal Revenue Service to investigate the tax- free status of Johnson's Fairfield Christian Church and affiliated organization, Ohio Restoration Project, which is trying to rally pastors to take an active role in this year's statewide races.
The Rev. Rod Parsley of World Harvest Church also was accused of illegal political activities. Both churches are in the Columbus area.
During a lunch meeting of Restoration Project adherents in Hartville in Stark County, Johnson poked fun at his critics for ignoring two left-leaning clergymen: Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton.
"I'll feel a little better when I understand they file a grievance against Rev. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton," he told the group.
Blackwell, who was the featured speaker at the luncheon, was honored for his support of last year's successful drive for a statewide ban on gay marriage. He defended Johnson and Parsley and denied that he has received special treatment from the churches.
He described the actions by the 31 clergy members as "a de liberate spread of misinformation" and a "double standard."
Though he said he had not read their complaint, he said he is not the only politician given a forum by the conservative churches.
During his speech, he told the cheering crowd, "You tell those 31 political bullies that you ain't about to be whupped."
Eric Williams, senior pastor of North Congregational United Church of Christ, who helped organize the clergy against Johnson and Parsley, said Monday that he expects the rhetoric to sharpen.
"It was an act of personal conviction and courage," he said. "A few of us are concerned that there may be some type of retribution."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
mnaymik@plaind.com, 216-999-4849
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Again and again LEFTIST churches get a pass when it comes to political activities, but conservative churches are vilified and attacked for their activities.
The truth of it is that ministers like Johnson and Parsley have been extremely effective in what they have been doing, while leftist churches are often ineffective. And Republican and conservative campaigns have learned to win in spite of the religious left.
One thing that I will never forget is an event on Martin Luther King Day a couple of years ago that I attended in my then capacity as a member of Bedford City Council. A large local church with a predominantly black membership held a program in observance of MLK day.
Now Bedford is nearly 80% white and has an all-white Council, neighboring Bedford Heights and Oakwood are heavily African-American. The entire council of Bedford attended the program, and it was an uplifting and entertaining event, the kind that such services ought to be-----Until the guest speaker reached the podium.
Rev. Marvin McMickle, a failed candidate for Congress and U.S. Senate gave a sermon that largely consisted of attacks on President Bush and Republican policies. That led me to declare McMickle one of the leading assholes in Cuyahoga county. (and that is saying a lot!)
However just look at the antics of Hillary Rodham Rodham this past week, it is nothing out of the ordinary. The LEFTIST ministers and their ideological soulmates have their "right" to speak their mind, inspired by their faulty interpretation of God (actually from the doctrines of Karl Marx); while conservative churches are violating the law by doing essentially the same thing.
It will be interesting to see how this one develops.
Big World Blog Homepage- http://www.bigworldblog.com
The next inductee to the Conservative Heroes Hall of Fame coming Monday Jan. 23rd!
Conservative Heroes Hall of Fame- http://ronlisy.bizland.com/bigworldheroes/
posted by RonL at 10:38 AM
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