PRESS RELEASE ** PRESS RELEASE ** PRESS RELEASE
INCLUDED IN THIS MESSAGE: 1) Alito Rally Pastor Received 'Faith-Based' Funds
2) TV Preacher Prophesies Great Year for Bush
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For Immediate Release
January 4, 2006
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Contact: Joe Conn, Rob Boston or Jeremy Leaming
202.466.3234 telephone
202.466.2587 fax
http://www.au.org/site/R?i=Y_gHSOloe0NWmTNdJt_aew..PASTOR OF CHURCH HOSTING ALITO RALLY RECEIVED
FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM BUSH ADMINISTRATION
Church-State Watchdog Group Notes That 'Justice Sunday III'
Pastor Has Received $1 Million In 'Faith-Based' Funds
Pastor Herb Lusk, the Philadelphia preacher hosting the Religious Right-led "Justice Sunday III" rally this weekend, has a long history of partisan activity on behalf of Republicans and has been awarded more than $1 million in "faith-based" grants by the Bush administration, says Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
The event at Greater Exodus Baptist Church, which will be broadcast nationwide, is intended to rally support for the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito Jr., President George W. Bush's choice to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
"I'm not at all surprised that Pastor Lusk would turn his pulpit over to the Religious Right for partisan purposes," said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. "Lusk long ago decided to play ball with the Bush administration in exchange for government grants."
Lynn noted that Lusk endorsed Bush from his church by video hookup during the Republican Convention in July of 2000. Speaking on behalf of his congregation, Lusk said, "We are supporting Gov. Bush, and we are supporting him because we know that he understands that we must give faith a chance." After Bush was elected, his administration began funneling tax money to Lusk's church.
According to media accounts, Lusk's ministry has received more than $1 million in "faith-based" grants. Lusk is now allowing his church to be used by the Rev. Jerry Falwell, James Dobson and other far-right figures who want to help Bush stack the courts with judges like Alito, who oppose church-state separation.
"Lusk's case highlights one of the often overlooked dangers of the faith-based initiative," Lynn said. "Government funding too often sucks churches into partisan politics. After all, if church leaders want to keep the pipeline to tax funding open, they had better back administration policies."
"Justice Sunday III" is sponsored by the Family Research Council, a Washington-based Religious Right group headed by Tony Perkins. The event, scheduled for Jan. 8 from 7-8:30 p.m., is the third in a series designed to pressure Congress to stack the federal courts with judges hostile to church-state separation and to promote Republican political hopefuls.
The event this weekend has been timed to coincide with the Senate Judiciary Committee's confirmation hearings of Alito, which get under way Jan. 9. Speakers include Lusk, Falwell, Perkins and U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.). (Santorum faces re-election this year and is locked in a tight race.)
Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.
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For Immediate Release
January 3, 2006
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Contact: Joe Conn, Rob Boston or Jeremy Leaming
202.466.3234 telephone
202.466.2587 fax
http://www.au.org/site/R?i=yADXPFa5Cpa7akSRYT2ZNA..TV PREACHER PROPHESIES GREAT YEAR FOR BUSH, REPUBLICANS
AND HIS MINISTRY, BUT TROUBLE FOR MOST EVERYONE ELSE
Pat Robertson Says God Told Him Justice Nominee Alito Will Be Confirmed And New Supreme Court Vacancy Will Occur In 2006
TV preacher Pat Robertson says 2006 will be a good year for President George W. Bush, Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, the Republicans in Congress and Robertson's broadcast ministry, but a bad year for most everyone else.
On his "700 Club" program today, Robertson revealed his recent conversation with God in which the deity shared with the televangelist the upcoming events of the year. Robertson, founder of the Christian Coalition, is a long-time booster of Bush and conservative Republican politics. He has also advocated confirmation of Alito and stacking the federal courts with justices who oppose church-state separation, reproductive rights and gay rights.
In his report today, Robertson said, "Bush is going to strengthen in 2006. The fall elections will be inconclusive, but the outcome of the war and the success of the economy will leave Republicans in charge.... And Alito is gonna get confirmed. I believe another liberal judge is going to retire, step down from the Court; we'll have another opening there. The war in Iraq is going to come to a successful conclusion, and we'll begin withdrawing troops before the end of the year."
The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church, said the Robertson prophecy is more than a little suspicious.
"Isn't it odd," said Lynn, "that God's prophecies and Robertson's political agenda are one and the same? Could it be that Pat is confusing his wish-list for God's will?
"I know Robertson wants President Bush to succeed in stacking the Supreme Court with nominees who share his extreme views," Lynn continued, "but I don't think God has given Pat a green light for this agenda."
In addition to political advances for Bush and an opening on the high court, Robertson reported that God indicated that Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network TV ministry and his school, Regent University, will receive extraordinary prosperity in the new year while most of the world is suffering dire calamity.
Said Robertson, "I think that with CBN and with Regent, we're looking forward to the greatest year in our history."
The rest of the world won't be so lucky.
Robertson quotes God as saying, "It is my plan that a shaking will begin. Much more disasters will befall the Earth than have happened heretofore. There will be panic and terror."
Later in the program, Robertson added, "There will be earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanic eruption. The coasts will be lashed by storms and disasters, and yet this still isn't the big one."
Robertson warned, "It's a bad word for the sinners. This is not going to be a fun time. They've gotten away with it, gotten away with it, gotten away with it, and God says, 'You're not going to get away with it any more. I'm going to bring my judgment on those who are blaspheming my name, who are breaking my laws, who are violating my commandments.' You know, this is going to be the year when the hand of the Lord will be felt, and those, again worldwide, who are standing up against God."
Robertson concluded the segment, "Well, for everybody, Happy New Year and look forward to some unusual things happening."
Said AU's Lynn, "Happy New Year to you too, Pat! Frankly, I'd rather Robertson not send me new year's greetings if he's going to wrap them in catastrophe."
Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.
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