Radical Clerics Rallying at Statehouse

[Algorem]

Religion comes to Statehouse with rally

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/news-20/1129265344135911.xml&storylist=cleveland

10/14/2005, 12:30 a.m. ET

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — ...

It scheduled a Statehouse rally on Friday expected to be attended by U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, a Kansas Republican, and U.S. Rep. Walter Jones, a North Carolina Republican...

The Restoration Project also is committed to signing up 400,000 new voters by next May's primary election. Should both groups succeed, that would add 10 percent to the nearly 8 million voters who were registered for the November election...

Turnout in the last election was 72 percent, a figure buoyed by conservative Christians voting for Bush and the gay marriage ban, which passed with 62 percent of the vote. By comparison, turnout in the 2000 presidential election was 64 percent. Bush's win in Ohio gave him the electoral votes he needed for victory...

Shortly before Friday's rally, a coalition of church leaders and gay rights activists planned a news conference at a church across the street from the Statehouse. In a news release, it described Reformation Ohio's agenda as "narrow" and promised to "share an inclusive vision for Ohio that respects and honors all people."

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http://www.reformationohio.com

http://www.cc.org/

http://www.ohiorestorationproject.com



http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/news-20/1129265344135913.xml&storylist=cleveland

Goals of two Christian groups
10/14/2005, 12:30 a.m. ET
The Associated Press

(AP) — ...

• Register 400,000 new "values voters" by April 2006.

• Recruit over 1,000 "patriot pastors" and have them each enlist 100 volunteers from their congregations for their cause.

• Promote conservative issues through ballot initiatives...

• Contact with at least 1 million people with goal of converting 100,000 new Christians....

[Algorem]

1. Radical clerics come to Statehouse with politically partisan rally

Religion comes to Statehouse with rally

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/news-20/1129304041186511.xml&storylist=cleveland

10/14/2005, 12:39 p.m. ET

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — About 1,000 people streamed onto the Statehouse grounds Friday for a rally supporting a conservative Christian movement's new foray into the public arena built on its success in helping gain passage of a gay marriage ban and re-elect President Bush...

"This is a spiritual reformation. This is not a political agenda," Parsley said at a pre-rally news conference. "We are not here for any political partisan reasons."

Participants were mostly members of Parsley's World Harvest Church, with many entire families in attendance. A production staff choreographed the event, much like Parsley's broadcasts from his church, with directors huddled inside a tent and cameras throughout the grounds, including one mounted on a small crane that hovered over the crowd.

Speakers included Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, a Republican running for governor next year and Parsley is supporting. Blackwell endorsed Parsley's goals...

[Algorem]

2. Radical clerics' far-right voter drive claims snub by Democratic mayor

Religious voter drive claims snub by Democratic mayor

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/news-20/1129303443174051.xml&storylist=cleveland

10/14/2005, 11:16 a.m. ET

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A far-right, religious-themed voter registration drive kicking off Friday on the Statehouse lawn put the mayor in a tight spot between his city ambassador duties and his statewide ambitions.

A group called Reformation Ohio led by a suburban Columbus pastor, Rod Parsley, rallied downtown to celebrate the start of an effort to help the poor and convert 100,000 people to Christianity while registering 400,000 voters. The group vehemently opposes gay rights, and Parsley has written that the teachings of Islam were inspired by demons.

Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman, a Democrat running for governor in 2006, has a good relationship with Parsley and has attended services at his church, campaign advisers said. Parsley supports Republican Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell for governor...

"Mayor Coleman was never scheduled to participate in any of Reformation Ohio activities and his wife will not participate either," the release said. "For too long, faith and values have been manipulated to push political agendas by dividing our citizens."...