Faith group defends criticism of megachurches' politics

[Algorem]

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1138267882217260.xml&coll=2

Thursday, January 26, 2006

Columbus- Religious leaders who recently accused two central Ohio evangelical ministers of using their pulpits to promote conservative politics defended their criticism Wednesday and vowed to keep pushing their claims.

"This is a public concern that affects everyone around the state of Ohio, so I think it needs to remain a public conversation," the Rev. Eric Williams, senior pastor of North Congregational United Church of Christ, said at a news conference from the North Broadway United Methodist Church in Columbus.

Williams is one of 31 religious leaders who signed a complaint asking the Internal Revenue Service to investigate the World Harvest and Fairfield Christian megachurches and their affiliated organizations.

Their complaint, filed Jan. 15, accused the churches' leaders - the Revs. Rod Parsley and Russell Johnson, respectively - of breaking the separation between church and state by using their organizations to promote conservative officeholders, especially Ken Blackwell, the Ohio secretary of state and candidate for governor...

[tanyev]

1. That's how it's done! Do NOT apologize for telling the truth.

[Nikki Stone 1]

2. Amen

in a matter of speaking

[trogdor]

3. You get an AMEN from me, too.

[donheld]

4. If it's the truth then by god stand behind it

Maybe some Dems can learn from these guys.