Reply #19: Pastor: Political charges not true

[MelissaB]

Pastor: Political charges not true

By Andrew Welsh-Huggins
The Associated Press

ON THE NET:
Parsley's Web site: http://www.breakthrough.net /

Blackwell: http://www.kenblackwell.com /


COLUMBUS - A pastor with ties to one of three GOP candidates for governor said Friday that a complaint filed with the IRS over those connections is off base and part of a liberal political agenda.

Pastor Rod Parsley of World Harvest Church acknowledged making political contributions only to the campaign of Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell but said he's within his rights as a citizen. Blackwell also appears at events with Parsley and provided Parsley a glowing blurb for his latest book.

"I don't check my citizenship at the door of my church, nor do I check my Christianity at the door to the Statehouse," Parsley said. "As a private citizen, I am more than entitled to contribute to a political campaign."

...snip

Blackwell has dismissed the complaint as an attempt "to run God out of the public square." He says he's been invited to events sponsored by Parsley and Johnson because of his support for a successful 2004 ballot issue to ban same-sex marriage and his stance against abortion.

Blackwell is a favorite among conservative voters because of his positions, including his backing of anti-tax initiatives.

More: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200...