ProgressOhio

A reader sent in this email that they received from Patriot Pastor Rod Parsley's political arm, "The Center For Moral Clarity".

It's nothing more than a request to give money based wholly in lies. 

From the email: 

"Your help is urgently needed today. Join with me and members of the Center for Moral Clarity to fight the hate-crimes law and preserve our rights as Christians!

Become a Premium Member of the Center for Moral Clarity with an immediate online gift of $100 or more and help to defend your First Amendment rights!

Let me tell you in no uncertain terms: We as Christians DO NOT WANT this hate-crimes legislation to pass.

The bill is, itself, a "hate crime" against Christianity and its worldview. It would levy a gag order on pastors and dilute the message of the Gospel ... particularly as it relates to speaking the truth about the homosexual agenda.

Please don't be deceived by this legislation! It is nothing more than a wolf in sheep's clothing.

While attempting to curb crimes against specific people groups, hate-crimes legislation would in fact commit a crime against the freedoms of speech and religion of believers and choke the voice of pastors throughout the United States.

As believers, we MUST stand up and protect our liberties. We MUST make it our aim to keep this legislation from being passed.

I need you to support the Center for Moral Clarity in defeating relentless efforts to pass hate-crimes legislation. Please help me lead the fight by joining as a Premium Member of the Center for Moral Clarity right now."

Go ahead, click the link . . . it's not real clear what your money goes for is it?  Could be a church donation . . . could be a political donation.  I'm not sure the average  person would know the difference particularly when it states this:

"And your $100 gift or more will support the ministry of the Center for Moral Clarity and Breakthrough to return America to its Judeo-Christian roots and spread the good news of salvation and transformation through Jesus Christ!"

Come on Pastor Rod.  I seem to remember that "The Truth Will Set You Free" . . . . what is exactly the truth here about who and for what one is contributing to?   

More on the religous right's outrageous and lying attempts to stop the Hate Crimes Bill . . .

From On Faith:

From a religious perspective, normally it is considered a moral imperative to protect people from violence motivated by hate and I and many religious leaders have celebrated this important vote. In addition, the vast majority of the American people (77%, Gallup poll, 2000) favor including gay people in hate crimes legislation.

Yet, the loudest opposition has come from from a coalition of evangelical and fundamentalist Christian leaders.

It takes some theological gymnastics for Christian leaders to argue that the “values” position is to withhold federal resources from local law enforcement when they investigate a crime where they suspect that the victim was attacked because of his or her sexual orientation. Jesus never said “hate those who are different from you and be sure to persecute them.” In fact, of course, Jesus said exactly the opposite, that we should love even our enemies and bless those who persecute us. How can you possibly argue, from a faith perspective, that it is appropriate to deny federal funds to investigate crimes against people who are manifestly persecuted?

And so we find that those conservative Christians who oppose extending hate crimes legislation to cover gay people don’t argue their position from the Bible or theology. The common thread in opposition to extending hate crimes legislation to gay people is that it would intrude on freedom of speech, i.e. “If an individual’s sexual orientation is a federally protected civil right, the logical conclusion is the moral, religious,or personal beliefs about certain behaviors would be criminalized.” The scare tactic is that those who wish to preach hatred about gay men, lesbians, bisexuals and trans-gendered people could be criminalized. One in seven hate crimes in the U.S. target gay men, lesbians, bisexual or trans-gendered people.

The idea that this new hate crimes bill amounts to efforts at “thought control” is a gross distortion of this legislation as it is directly only at support for law enforcement after a crime has been committed. The First Amendment of the Constitution protects those who wish to preach hatred. As Senator Chuck Robb (D-VA) has commented: "This legislation does not allow individuals to be prosecuted for their hateful thoughts, rather it allows them to be punished for their hateful acts. Willfully inflicting harm on another human being based on hate is not protected free speech."

See Also: For Only $50 Rod Parsley Will Protect You From the Gays