Departments
Ashcroft speaks with Reformation Ohio’s Rod Parsley
by Rady Ananda
December 7, 2005
Former Attorney General John Ashcroft spoke in Columbus at the World Harvest Church, Center for Moral Clarity.
Ashcroft appeared before 1200 “Ohio Pastors & Christian Leaders,” a third of whom are Black. Telling many jokes throughout his short speech, Ashcroft began by giving a brief history. He graduated from Yale in 1964 but began as “a preacher’s kid – raised in church” in Hartford, Connecticut. “I don’t want government hostile to our churches,” he explained, insisting that he is “opposed to passing laws for spirituality.” “It’s against my religion to impose my religion.” He later characterized those who attacked us on 9/11, without naming them, as “want(ing) to impose their religion” on the world.
“I can’t overemphasize the value of energized and motivated pulpits,” Ashcroft continued. “Thou and thy seed – for generations – make a difference.” Several times he urged congregants to “operate at your highest and best” level and to inspire rather than impose on others.
Ashcroft is the main architect of the Patriot Act, which allows federal authorities to invade citizens’ homes, without judicial review, oversight, or published reason, to spy on the contents and remove anything they desire. Citizens never have to be told this occurred. The Patriot Act also allows authorities to kidnap anyone and hold him or her without charge, without contact, and for as long as they desire. US citizen Jose Padilla was held for over three years without charge by the US government. The Center for American Progress believes that “secret detention is the gateway to torture.” (Al Franken Show, Dec. 5, 2005)
Ohio Representative Linda Reidelbach (R-21st District), gave the breakfast address on pending legislation that seeks to limit adult-oriented business (HB 23). She explained they are opposing the stem-cell and cloning bills (SB 210 and HB 355), the expansion of gambling (HB 158), and the bill legally requiring the clergy to report abuse (SB 17). This group supports requiring judges to keep disabled and life-supported people alive if they didn’t declare their wishes otherwise (SB 130), creating Youth Sex Abstinence Week (HCR 8), and creating a “faith-based task force” to reduce penal recidivism.
In 2004, Reidelbach introduced the failed initiative to teach “Intelligent Design” in high school science and successfully introduced the ban on gay marriage.
Other Ohio public officials in attendance included Jim Jordan (R-21st Dist.), Mike Gilb (R-76th Dist.), Larry Flowers (R-19th Dist.), and Assistant Secretary of State Monty Lobb. Pittsburgh Judge Cheryl Allen was one of a few public officials from outside Ohio.
Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Ken Blackwell passed along a welcome and was excused by “Pastor Rod” for not being there, since he must raise money, something Parsley admitted that pastors are also wont to do.
In mid-October founder Rod Parsley gained statewide attention when he brought a delegation of several hundred people to the Ohio State House and used the steps to launch his campaign, Reformation Ohio. His three goals by November 2008 are to:
Preach to 1 million people
Gain 100,000 converts
Register 400,000 people to vote
Parsley’s lengthy revivalist sermon preceded Ashcroft’s speech, and included a video. Within a few frames of showing a gay pride march, which the video called a sin, Osama bin Laden was then seen with his fellow jihadists, posing to shoot their AK 47s. The video linked gays and lesbians with Al Qaeda terrorists. Another video focused on abortion, and called for compassion for those who suffer from “post-abortion syndrome.” Debby Stacey explained, “Abortion is sin and there is no justification for it.”
Parsley’s speech was expectedly energetic and radical, being an evangelist. “The modern church is more recognizable for its adultery.” He later stated, “Our society is collapsing under the weight of corpulent corruption.” Then he warned, “There’s about to be a revolution, a reformation… We’re ready to lock and load; we’re ready for revolution.” He then quoted Kansas Representative Sam Brownbeck (R), “Freedom without religion is dangerous and unstable.”
For students of democracy, he offered, “History is never ruled by the majority, but by a dedicated minority.” He twice mentioned, with reverence, President George W. Bush and Martin Luther and his 95 Theses. In closing, Parsley stated, “We’re not Democrats. We’re not Republicans. We’re Christocrats!” The audience thundered its appreciation.
|
 |
Recent Ohio Articles
Redfern backs corrupted Noes; Wins ODP Chair seat December 20, 2005 Rady Ananda
Ohio AFL-CIO: Pryce earns “F”, DeWine “Barely Passing” in “Mid-Term Report Cards” grading 2005 votes by Ohio Congressional delegation December 20, 2005 Tom Powell-Bullock
Report on Ohio Democratic Party election December 20, 2005 Marian Lupo, Co-Chair, CIRCA
Blackwell lifts Libertarian campaign theme: Freedom to Prosper a great idea December 19, 2005 Robert Butler, Executive Director, Libertarian Party of Ohio
Cleveland AFL-CIO announces unanimous support of Ted Strickland for governor December 19, 2005 Jess Goode
Does the Democratic Party need to be more democratic to win? December 19, 2005 Clifford O. Arnebeck, Jr.
Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council endorses Ted Strickland for Governor December 13, 2005 Jesse Goode
Ashcroft speaks with Reformation Ohio’s Rod Parsley December 7, 2005 Rady Ananda
Holiday Hop hears about the heat December 6, 2005 Rady Ananda
Strickland wins 18th, 19th, 20th county party endorsements November 30, 2005 Jess Goode
Fraudbuster Bob Fitrakis announces bid for governorship November 28, 2005 Ohio Green Party
Theocracy rising: Blackwell and Parsley intend to hijack Ohio October 27, 2005 Bob Fitrakis
Ohio's supermax on trial September 6, 2005 Daniel Sturm
Protests at the Dispatch continue over Bill Moss cartoon August 25, 2005 Robbt
Mr. Bill Moss's Light Shines Brightly! August 13, 2005 Jamia Shepherd
Mr. Bill Moss's Light Shines Brightly! August 3, 2005 Jamia Shepherd
GAP visits OSU July 20, 2005 Marley Greiner
Bush Greeted by Angry Protesters; Democrats Told to Get a Spine June 13, 2005 Rady Ananda
The disappearance of black police officers in Columbus, Ohio June 13, 2005 James Moss
Ohio State Students Support Plaintiff in Case Alleging University Wrongdoing in Rape Case June 8, 2005 Jennifer A Yoder
Ohio Preparing Law Enforcement for Increasing Non-English Speaking Communities June 8, 2005 Ohio Criminal Justice Services
Columbus endorsement slate May 3, 2005 League of Independent Voters
Ohioans Rally to Stop Social Security Privatization as Congress Begins to Write Privatization Plan April 26, 2005 Tom Powell-Bullock
Columbus League of Pissed Off Voters Release Endorsement Slate for May 3 Primary April 24, 2005 Pissed Off Voters
Kent Students Are More Than Numbers March 21, 2005 Charles E. Campbell
Higher Education Funding Cuts Hurt Ohio's Future March 15, 2005 Lisa K. Zellner
Boy Scouts of America's Simon Kenton Council Attempts to mislead United Way of Central Ohio to get funding January 29, 2005 Beacon Fellowship Columbus
Read Ohio Articles by Year: 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 |