Good work! Look at all the stories on the Waynesville church this morn!

[G_j]

USA Today:
Democrats voted out of church because of their politics, members say
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-05-07-church-politics_x.htm

Kansas City Star:
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/nation/11585985.htm

Los Angeles Times:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-briefs7.3may07,1,3397790.story?coll=la-headlines-nation

Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/06/AR2005050601317.html

Biblical Recorder:
http://www.biblicalrecorder.org/content/news/2005/5_6_2005/ne060505achurch.shtml

Charlotte Observer:
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/opinion/11587156.htm

Outside The Beltway:
http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/10442

------------------

more:
http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWE,RNWE:2004-18,RNWE:en&ncl=http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-05-07-church-politics_x.htm&hl=en

Church boots 9 over politics
News & Observer, NC - 2 hours ago
By KRISTIN COLLINS, Staff Writer. A Western North Carolina church expelled nine members this week because they refused to support ...

Members say church ousts Kerry supporters
Asheville Citizen-Times, NC - 8 hours ago
By Andre A. Rodriguez. WAYNESVILLE — Nine members of a local church had their membership revoked and 40 others left in protest ...

Members say pastor kicked them out of church over politics
KPLC-TV, LA - 11 hours ago
WAYNESVILLE, NC The pastor of a small Baptist church in western North Carolina has been accused of leading an effort to kick out members because they didn't ...

Minister ex-communicates Democrat church members
WorldNetDaily, OR - 11 hours ago
A Baptist pastor in North Carolina has touched off an exodus in his church by declaring Democrats are not welcome as members. The Rev. ...

Church members say they were kicked out for being Democrats
Asheville Citizen-Times, NC - 13 hours ago
By Andre A. Rodriguez. WAYNESVILLE – Nine members of a local church had their membership revoked and 40 others left in protest ...

NC-Preacher Throws Democrats Out of His Church
WFIE-TV, IN - 15 hours ago
The minister of a Haywood County, North Carolina Baptist church is telling members of his congregation that if they're Democrats, they either need to find ...

Democrats continued to be labeled sinners
Joplin Independent, MO - 15 hours ago
The cleansing continues. Democrats are excommunicated from East Waynesville Baptist Church, Waynesville, North Carolina. For those ...

Baptist Democrats 'voted out of church'
Independent Online, South Africa - 4 hours ago
Waynesville, North Carolina - A pastor of a small American Baptist church has been accused of leading an effort to kick out church members because they didn't ...

Bush only church slammed
News24, South Africa - 3 hours ago
Waynesville, North Carolina - A pastor of a small Baptist church led an effort to kick out church members because they didn't support President George W Bush ...

Dems Booted From NC Church Over Politics
Newsday, NY - 12 hours ago
By Associated Press. WAYNESVILLE, NC -- A pastor of a small Baptist church led an effort to kick out church members because they ...

Democrats Voted Out of Baptist Church
Tuscaloosa News (subscription), AL - 2 hours ago
Some in Pastor Chan Chandler's flock wish he had a little less zeal for the GOP. Members of the small East Waynesville Baptist Church ...

Democrats voted out of church because of politics, members say
Wilmington Morning Star, NC - 4 hours ago
Some in Pastor Chan Chandler's flock wish he had a little less zeal for the GOP. During election season last year, Chandler started ...

Democrats Voted Out Of Church Because Of Politics, Members Say
WRAL.com, NC - 5 hours ago
WAYNESVILLE, NC -- Some in Pastor Chan Chandler's flock wish he had a little less zeal for the GOP. During election season last ...

Church member says Baptist preacher wants everyone to be ...
The Decatur Daily, AL - 7 hours ago
WAYNESVILLE, NC (AP) — Some members of a small Baptist church say their pastor led a charge this week to kick out nine members because they don't support ...

Dems booted from NC church over politics
News & Observer, NC - 12 hours ago
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. WAYNESVILLE, NC (AP) - A pastor of a small Baptist church led an effort to kick out church members because ...

[demnan]

1. As I posted earlier

this is going to backfire. The big news is that 40 paying parishioners left the church in protest. One of the members of the church was on Ed Shultz program yesterday. She was a lady in her 70's who didn't have any real affiliation with the Democratic Party or anything, but she was talking on liberal radio about this issue and how upset she was with the church. She wasn't even one of the ones who quit. Just think how many more people in that church are disgusted with being made a laughing stock because their minister is an ass.

That minister isn't going to be around that church very much longer, I bet you on that.

[blogbear]

2. I wonder how the P U ' s (pews) will appear..Perhaps not all that

noticeable once all the bigots take their seats..

[G_j]

3. I wonder if the preacher will appear at Church tomorrow

since as far as I know, he has been nowhere to be found.

[RevCheesehead]

20. of course he will - it's Mother's Day

It's the big day to extol the virtues of gestating and giving birth, and reminding women of their place in the home (presumably away from the voting booth).

[blogbear]

24. True enough..Isn't the salute to motherhood just an extension of the

'ordained' and 'fulfilled' fertility ritual..It seems organized religion is often very ritualistic with all the smoke, bells, canons, decrees, cannibalistic reenactments and so on and so forth..

[rodeodance]

4. thanks for the summary

[Botany]

5. The one thing these born again haters, *, fox news, PNAC, and so on......

can not handle is the truth out in full view. That is why the message is
so manipulated either by the 700 club or Rove's whores in the press
because when held for close inspection "they" are ugly and down right
un American.

[blogbear]

7. That's correct! Their 'business' and premise operates on untaxed

and very big dollars..No wonder they throw such a shoe! With a racket like that what hood wouldn't put up a fight to protect and save his/her enterprising sect?

[dusty64]

6. Afraid nothing

in my morning rag and I just found out my piece of shit "rep" cosponsored the bill to make this legal!

[G_j]

12. I suppose that bill

is written for just such occasions as this.
Let me guess, your rep is a a Republican?

:think:

[dusty64]

23. Of course, and in

an increasingly "blue" area. He really needs someone to expose his crappy voting record and show how he is NOT representing us.

[MessiahRp]

8. This is great but...

how many more of these churches did this during the election last year. Not only should this story get out but we should press for the end of tax exemption for all churches IMO. Many, probably a very high percentage of churches, spent a lot of time last year collaborating with the Bush Campaign, handing out Bush campaign paraphenelia, and telling their parisiners that they needed to vote Bush or go to hell.

Many of the religious channels actually went to the lengths to air sermons from churches where they told you voting Kerry would send you directly to hell. Churches have indeed become a place for biased political opinion to be pressed upon it's membership and because of this their tax exempt status should be revoked immediately.

If not for all, we should begin to investigate each and every church across the country that has participated in these pro-Republican political pushes (and not just conservative church stands, I mean the real pro-Bush sermons to scare their memberships into voting Bush to save their souls) and nail them all.

They always claim they (christians in particular) are being persecuted but never mention the persecution they use onto others. It's time we give them something to complain about and single each and every one of them out and get their exemptions revoked.

Maybe then we can finally achieve seperation of church and state.

Rp

[G_j]

9. I don't know about ALL, but

perhaps if this church can have it's tax exempt status revoked, it would open the way to go after all the others who attempted to influence elections.

[MessiahRp]

10. :)

I'm just ready to open up a can of whoop-ass on the religious right, so that's mostly my goal in that statement. :)

Rp

[G_j]

11. me too

& this sure looks like a good place to start!

NEXT????

[alfredo]

22. As soon as I can get my wheat paste mixed up

A thumbnail

[snowbear]

13. I especially liked this one....

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/2381962p-8759950c.html

I didn't realize how many of the members now have lawsuits against the Chan Clan! :bounce:

[Kipepeo]

16. I like People for the American Way

They had a statement ready yesterday morning, and so accurate:

"What have we come to when the doors of a church are closed to longtime members because of their political beliefs?" said Ralph G. Neas, president of People for the American Way. "When a pastor equates political support for the 'wrong' candidate with a sin before God?"

He also said Bush needs to make a statement on this now, in order to nip this kind of thing in the bud...(well, he said that in so many words). But do you think Bush will do so? Hell no, this is what he WANTS. Cheney's out there calling Democrats "THOSE OF THE OTHER FAITH" and getting plants to repeat that phrase in staged Q&A sessions. I think they WANT a religious war and they want it tied to political parties.

[Fire Walk With Me]

27. Here is Bush's statement

Nov. 4, 2004

http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=32859

Bush says no religious divide in US

WASHINGTON, Nov 4 (AFP) - President George W. Bush, who was given significant support by the Christian right in his election victory, sought Thursday to play down suggestions of a religious divide in the United States.

"I will be your president regardless of your faith, and I don't expect you to agree with me, necessarily, on religion. As a matter of fact, no president should ever try to impose religion on our society," Bush said at his first press conference since his victory.

[Straight Shooter]

30. Little Boots is letting his minions do the dirty work, as usual.

He couldn't be happier about this travesty of religion in the NC church. Rove is probably having multiple mental orgasms.

[kliljedahl]

33. Has to be mental

Now that JimmyJeff can't get back in the White House. Was gonna say "in the back door", but that would be wrong.


Keith’s Barbeque Central

[Kipepeo]

32. Right but what is his statement on THIS issue?

He hasn't said anything. Because he can give all the platitudes he wants when (s)elected but he never steps up to walk the talk when the issue comes up.

[libnnc]

14. *gulp* ...Wow...

Guardian UK
South Africa
USA Today
AP

*whistles*


...this has really struck a nerve in people. I had no idea this would capture so much interest. Those of us who are familiar with rural communities sort of take for granted this kind of mentality.

What's so important and shouldn't get lost in whatever spin might come our (or personally my) way is that this church and its people have suffered with this thing for months. These members went to the media (Russ Bowen @ WLOS tv) out of despiration, I think. I know its been talked about within the community since before the election.

And the broader issue here is that the GOP has OPENLY encouraged this kind of manipulation among clergy all over the nation--its not just East Waynesville Baptist. Its everwhere...

libnnc

[snowbear]

17. BTW libnnc,

You've become quite famous :o !!

I went over to smirkingchimp last night to see if they were talking about it.

They were. Someone there copied your original post about the story.. but they didn't get it from here, they said they got it off of the Randi Rhodes site.

You're becoming famous. You need to run for office or something! :headbang:

[libnnc]

21. I posted it on Randi's site

linking the threads here.

I post on that message board too as libnnc--more than I do here...but this board is much more user friendly and quicker than theirs so you guys won the scoop. (Sorry RRMB friends)

[AuntPatsy]

26. Im also impressed. An excellent find and one you should be proud of. n/t

[G_j]

18. Some Activist Contact info & stuff.. :-)

Western NC group: Separation of Church and State:
http://churchandstate.meetup.com/boards/ (national site)

Asheville chapter Separation of Church and State
has a former Baptist minister as its leader:
http://churchandstate.meetup.com/11/members/

File with the IRS to have their tax exempt status investigated:
http://www.irs.gov/help/page/0,,id=13148,00.html

Western NC ACLU:
[email protected]

Sixty Minutes:
[email protected]

CNN Comment Line:
404 827 1500


Next?

[Gothmog]

15. The Houston Chronical picked up the story also

The same story is being carried by a number of papers. It is getting some good play

[Stinky The Clown]

19. She's Out baby ... An' She Ain't Goin' Back In!

[warrior1]

25. great

.

[Catherine Vincent]

28. The Houston Chronicle too!

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/3171493

* oops, didn't read the thread before I posted. Sorry.
:P

[jbnow]

29. There surely are some who agree with the minister

As others have said it is the frame of mind that is being encouraged by the right wingers. (Better called wrong wingers)

Those not with them are less then good, less then holy, unpleasing to god, dangerous to all that keeps us safe ad nauseam. I guess that is clear by those who applauded the exile of the Kerry supporters.

The good part about it being played out so clearly is that those more moderately right wing might realize the need to shift toward center, might see the damage being done.

If that minister was prone to spewing his political beliefs, can't imagine how those who didn't feel the same could stand to go there. If there is a blessing in church it is not in the building but in the shared energy. Who wants to share that energy?

My friend's sister died a couple years ago. During the service the minister went into a rant about homosexuals destroying American values. The family was appalled...what was his venom doing at this dead beloved sister's funeral?

This seems to be prime time for preaching hate and not love, exclusion and separation rather then inclusion and unity.

[AuntiBush]

31. The USAToday quoted one member as saying...

"He's the kind of pastor who says do it my way or get out," said Selma Morris, the former church treasurer. "He's real negative all the, time."

Dr. Dean should see this: Analysising this statement in itself tells you how much "mind control" these church leaders have on the people in regions of this country far from the mainstream of society. These are not churches, they're brainwashing occults run by control/power freaks.

There is a lesson in this message for our Dem leaders to dig deeper into. They need reaching out to... they need reasonable, kind, compassionate people to guide them into the real world.

[mwb970]

34. This could affect whether the "nuclear option" occurs...

...since Frist basically wants to throw the Democrats out of the Senate, or at least out of its decision-making, since they supposedly have the wrong religious beliefs.

Taken together, this could be another Schiavo-DeLay self-inflicted 1-2 punch landed by the Republicans.

[Geo55]

35. The more slime oozing from cracks is exposed,

the better off we will ALL be.......cheers to the courage of the 40 who walked.

[G_j]

36. London, South Africa, 446 news hits on "East Waynesville Baptist Church"

I guess you could say the story has legs.

http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWE,RNWE:2004-18,RNWE:en&ncl=http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article%3FAID%3D/20050508/NEWS01/50508005/1001&hl=en


Below: Pastor as he drives away from Church today.
**I wonder how much of a media circus it was there today. If I hadn't been busy, it would have been fun to drive over there just to see for myself.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/050508/480/wxs10505082342