You probably remember my post last Sunday regarding Tony Alamo, the 74 year-old evangelist visited by federal and state police on charges he may have physically or sexually abused children. Mr. Alamo had said, “They’re just trying to make our church look evil.”

Who’s the evil one now, Tony?

Evangelist arrested in child porn case

(CNN) — Evangelist Tony Alamo was arrested Thursday in Flagstaff, Arizona, on charges related to a child porn investigation, an FBI spokesman said.

The 74-year-old founder and leader of Tony Alamo Christian Ministries was arrested without incident at 2:45 p.m. (4:45 p.m. ET) as he was departing the Little America Hotel with his wife, said Manuel Johnson, spokesman for the FBI in Phoenix, Arizona. [...]

Alamo was charged under a federal statute with having knowingly transported a minor across state lines with the intent to engage in sexual activity, Johnson said.

Alamo, whose real name is Bernie Hoffman, was taken to Coconino County Jail in Flagstaff, where he is to have an initial appearance Friday in federal magistrate court, Johnson said.

BBC Report on the Senate investigation (I’m having a hard time keeping up with all the investigations and hearings that go nowhere) into some televangelists.

From World Mag:

Billionaire Warren Buffet became one of the richest men in the world by knowing what adds value to a corporation and what does not. And one of the things that does not, he has argued for years, is a corporate jet: They’re a luxury in almost every case and a necessity for only a few. He often railed against them in the annual reports of his company, Berkshire Hathaway, and elsewhere.

That’s why, when Berkshire Hathaway finally bought a corporate jet in 1989, he somewhat ashamedly called it “The Indefensible.”

But try telling that to Fred Price, Creflo Dollar, Jesse Duplantis, Benny Hinn, or Kenneth Copeland. Their organizations are among more than 30 churches and Christian ministries with luxury jets (see sidebar), according to a WORLD investigation. And according to Ole Anthony of the Trinity Foundation, a Dallas-based ministry watchdog, ownership and use of luxury jets is one of the surest indicators that donor money is not being used for ministry purposes.

After reading the first paragraph of this article, I found myself wondering what the hell was going on in Washington:

Obama to expand Bush’s faith based programs

CHICAGO (AP) — Reaching out to evangelical voters, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is announcing plans to expand President Bush’s program steering federal social service dollars to religious groups and - in a move sure to cause controversy - support some ability to hire and fire based on faith.

Here’s a bit more clarification:

Obama does not support requiring religious tests for recipients of aid nor using federal money to proselytize, according to a campaign fact sheet. He also only supports letting religious institutions hire and fire based on faith in the non-taxypayer funded portions of their activities, said a senior adviser to the campaign, who spoke on condition of anonymity to more freely describe the new policy.

Sounds a little better. But I don’t think Obama should be sucking up to the racist bigot, religious crowd.

If heaven is filled with racist bigots, is it really a place you’d want to be?

I know this is old news, but it can’t be stressed enough that, even though the good people of Connecticut are for the most part progressive and “with it”, they can make some seriously fucked-up, colossal mistakes at the voting booths too!

Case in point:

Joseph Lieberman To Headline Upcoming Pastor Hagee Summit

Senator Joseph Lieberman is scheduled to headline Pastor John Hagee’s 2008 Christians United For Israel Washington-Israel Summit this July 22. In accepting Hagee’s invitation, Lieberman became the most senior elected representative confirmed to appear at the annual gala. Last year, when Lieberman spoke at Hagee’s summit, he compared the Texas televangelist to the biblical prophet Moses, dubbing him “an Ish Elochim,” or “a man of God.” Unless he rescinds his pledge to appear at this year’s summit, Lieberman can be expected to deliver another soul’stirring tribute.

Hagee’s vitriolic condemnation of Catholicism, his jeremiad declaring Hurricane Katrina divine punishment for New Orleans’ hosting of a “homosexual rally,” and his generally disturbing apocalyptic theology became national news last February when John McCain accepted his endorsement in a widely publicized ceremony.

McCain has finally denounced Hagee. Lieberman, on the other hand, is on his back licking the pastor’s hairy, low-hanging ball sack. Does this mean Lieberman will probably not be asked to fill the VP slot? Oh, he may still be asked. After all, “Republican” is not synonymous with having scruples.

Irmo High principal quitting over Gay-Straight Alliance

IRMO, SC - The Irmo High School Principal’s announced resignation over a controversial student group is already drawing national attention. [...]

Principal Eddie Walker says it comes after he was asked to allow the creation of a Gay-Straight Alliance club at the school.

Principle Walker, in a letter he wrote to the school, said; “Allowing the formation of this club on our campus conflicts with my professional beliefs and religious convictions.”

I wonder if Mr. Walker realizes that the simple act of judging others is a sin?

“It is a shame that the principal at Irmo High School in South Carolina decided to place religion-based bigotry and discrimination over his former commitment to his students and staff,” said Faith In America Executive Director Brent Childers.

People sin to the left and sin to the right, and they’ll always manage to find a way to justify it. But let two men or two women, in love, show affection for one another, and all hell breaks loose! No justification allowed.

I guess we should be thankful that Mr. Walker isn’t out scouting the countryside for a quiet lane and an old barbed-wire fence.

“We are disturbed and saddened by the reports we have heard and we are praying for the Barron family.”

That’s great and all… but, is anyone praying for all those 13-year-olds this perv has come into contact with?

Texas minister charged in online sex sting

BRYAN, Texas (AP) – A minister from a Dallas-area Baptist megachurch was caught in an Internet sex sting and charged with online solicitation of a minor, police said Friday.

Undercover officers posing as a 13-year-old girl communicated with Joe Barron, 52, of Plano for about two weeks. The online conversations were sexual in nature, police said.

On May 6, Barron suggested meeting the girl in person. He eventually made the nearly 200-mile drive to Bryan, Texas, on Thursday, when he was arrested. Police said they found a Web-cam and condoms in his car.

Obama should spend his money elsewhere. In rural, mostly caucasian, KY communities, Christian love is not what they make it out to be. All-inclusive? Hell no… It’s a party and only straight, white people are invited, baby!

Obama ads in Kentucky stress that he’s a Christian

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s campaign has ramped up its efforts to emphasize his Christian faith in a series of new radio and television ads, as well as in a flier that volunteers have distributed.

Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo, who endorsed Obama on Sunday, narrated a new radio spot for Obama that highlights the Illinois Senator’s upbringing and values, including how Obama is “a strong Christian.”

Mongiardo said he felt compelled to make the ad after constituents contacted his office with what he called “misconceptions” about Obama.

“The negative calls have been talking about either the color of his skin or claims that he’s not a Christian,” Mongiardo said. “As I-ve listened to news casts of primaries across the country, it struck me that there is a segment of people who are not voting for Hillary Clinton but are voting against Barack Obama because of issues that don-t pertain to substance.”

Sickening. On one hand I feel sorry for the low income people who, out of desperation, believed this asshole. On the other hand I find it hard to believe there’s people that stupid.

To a chorus of “Amens” and “Thank You, Jesus,” the Rev. Daniel S. Mundell tells followers God will free them of debt, even make them millionaires.

Then comes the sales pitch: Back up your faith with donations. Give, even if it’s your last $100. Write a check. Pay by credit card.

Preaching mostly to a low-income following, the Hallandale Beach-based evangelist has raised millions of dollars through services and crusades in South Florida and across the country.

Former followers say the only one who seemed to attain wealth was the preacher.

Before starting New Generation Ministries in 1991, Mundell had filed for bankruptcy protection and lost a home in a foreclosure. By 2005, he was living in a $1.8 million estate in Safety Harbor, near Tampa, with basketball and tennis courts and a putting green.

The ministry paid the preacher $206,000 in 2005 and once provided him a Mercedes-Benz, a Jaguar and a Corvette, according to court records.

More the Sun Sentinel

More religious crazies…….

Two children and their mother lived for about two months with the decaying body of a 90-year-old woman on the toilet of their home’s only bathroom, on the advice of a religious “superior” who claimed the corpse would come back to life, authorities said Friday.

The children - a 15-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy - cried hysterically Wednesday after a deputy who came to their Necedah home looking for Magdeline Alvina Middlesworth ordered them out because of the stench from her body.

The children were in foster care Friday. Their mother, Tammy Lewis, and self-described “bishop” Alan Bushey remained in custody on felony counts of being a party to causing mental harm to a child.

Blessed in a warehouse by a priest!

It took two Florida businessmen to come up with this. (Florida… again?)

Someone kill me. Kill me now!

Where business meets religion: Holy drinking water

The instructions are simple: Read the Prayer . . / Drink the Water . . . / Believe in God! / Believe in Yourself!

Spiritual Water, the faith-inspired venture of two Florida businessmen, offers its drinkers clearer focus, positive thinking and connection to a higher power. The 11 different bottle designs in the company’s collection bear prayers and impressively detailed images of Jesus Christ, St. Michael and the Virgin Mary.

Where’s Robertson’s or Dobson’s outrage? Spiritual-themed gimmicks like this tend to shoot religion’s credibility right in the foot.

Don’t delude yourselves. Religion will always be intertwined with politics, and Christians will always be ‘useful idiots’ to any and every political crusade coming down the pike.

‘Evangelical Manifesto’ Ponders Politics

(May 3) - Conservative Christian leaders who believe the word “evangelical” has lost its religious meaning plan to release a starkly self-critical document saying the movement has become too political and has diminished the Gospel through its approach to the culture wars.

The statement, called “An Evangelical Manifesto,” condemns Christians on the right and left for “using faith” to express political views without regard to the truth of the Bible, according to a draft of the document obtained Friday by The Associated Press.

“That way faith loses its independence, Christians become `useful idiots’ for one political party or another, and the Christian faith becomes an ideology,” according to the draft. [...]

“All too often we have attacked the evils and injustices of others,” they wrote, “while we have condoned our own sins.” They argue, “we must reform our own behavior.”

Richard Land, head of the public policy arm for the Southern Baptist Convention, wasn’t asked to sign the document. Focus on the Family founder, James Dobson, did not sign either. Without their endorsement, the document carries no weight. Big surprise.

Who says religion and oil don’t mix?

Choir director brings prayers for lower gas prices to SF

SAN FRANCISCO - A choir director who hopes prayer can bring down high gas prices is trying out his approach at some of the costliest pumps in the country.

Rocky Twyman of Washington, D.C., came to San Francisco over the weekend to stage a pray-in at a Chevron station. He is also calling on churchgoers to ask for God’s intervention where he says politicians have failed. [...]

The 59-year-old Twyman says people praying for cheaper fuel should also walk more and use car pools.

“He is also calling on churchgoers to ask for God’s intervention where he says politicians have failed.”

Politicians fail when they bow down to those who ask for God’s intervention.

What does it say about religion when it is forced upon people? Does one really “believe in their maker” or have “faith”, if they’re under a constant threat of retaliation of some sort?

What does it say about our military, an organization created to protect our “separation of church and state” country, that refuses to practice the same laws of the land?

Is religion so fragile that, without the threat of personal harm on people, it would crumble and whither away? Is faith really faith if a gun is pointed at the back of your head?

Fort Riley atheist soldier speaks out on lawsuit

JUNCTION CITY, Kan. (AP) — Like hundreds of young men joining the Army in recent years, Jeremy Hall professes a desire to serve his country while it fights terrorism.

But the short and soft’spoken specialist is at the center of a legal controversy. He has filed a lawsuit alleging he’s been harassed and his constitutional rights have been violated because he doesn’t believe in God. The suit names Defense Secretary Robert Gates. [...]

Hall was in Qatar when the lawsuit was filed on Sept. 18 in federal court in Kansas City, Kan. Other soldiers learned of it and he feared for his own safety. Once, Hall said, a group of soldiers followed him, harassing him, but no one did anything to make it stop.

The Army told him it couldn’t protect him and sent him back to Fort Riley. He resumed duties with a military police battalion. He believes his promotion to sergeant has been blocked because of his lawsuit, but he is a team leader responsible for two junior enlisted soldiers. [...]

“I hope this doesn’t define me,” Hall said of his lawsuit. “It’s just about time somebody said something.”

“Academic, nonreligious Bible classes.”

If the aim here is to discount and ridicule the Bible, then I say go for it! Other than that, let them teach religion in the tax-free buildings it was meant to be taught in - CHURCH.

Tennessee Attorney General says Bible classes okay

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A state attorney general’s opinion approves of public schools offering classes on the Bible as long as the lessons don’t include endorsements of a particular religion.

The opinion released Tuesday also says a pending legislative bill that would allow the state to create a nonsectarian Bible elective curriculum is constitutional.

Four Tennessee counties currently offer such classes as a special course that counts as an elective. Such courses are designed to look at the Bible’s impact on literature, art and politics.

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Roy Herron, D-Dresden, says he requested the opinion in hopes of gaining support for the idea that academic, nonreligious Bible classes have a place in public classrooms.

Neither chamber has taken any action on the bill, which would have to be approved by the state board of education if it passed.

At what point does one cross the line into fanaticism???

Parents Pick Prayer Over Docs; Girl Dies

WESTON, Wis. (AP) — Police are investigating an 11-year-old girl’s death from an undiagnosed, treatable form of diabetes after her parents chose to pray for her rather than take her to a doctor.

An autopsy showed Madeline Neumann died Sunday of diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition that left too little insulin in her body, Everest Metro Police Chief Dan Vergin said. [...]

The girl’s mother, Leilani Neumann, said that she and her family believe in the Bible and that healing comes from God, but that they do not belong to an organized religion or faith, are not fanatics and have nothing against doctors.

This is exactly why religion has no business being woven into politics. Actually, religion should be held hostage in churches and homes of people who practice it… and never allowed to see the light of day.