Shorter Mark Sanford: God is On My Side
By Jon Perr Monday Jul 20, 2009 5:45am
Politicians of both parties routinely paraphrase Abraham Lincoln's mantra that "my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side." But in fighting his own civil war to hold onto office, disgraced South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford has turned Lincoln's maxim on its head. Proclaiming in an opinion piece Sunday that He will make him "a better and more effective leader," Sanford in essence declared God is on his side.
Sanford's misappropriation of the Almighty was featured prominently is his latest apology to Palmetto State residents. Among the lowlights:
"It is true that I did wrong and failed at the largest of levels, but equally true is the fact that God can make good of our respective wrongs in life. In this vein, while none of us has the chance to attend our own funeral, in many ways I feel like I was at my own in the past weeks, and surprisingly I am thankful for the perspective it has afforded...
It's in the spirit of making good from bad that I am committing to you and the larger family of South Carolinians to use this experience to both trust God in his larger work of changing me, and from my end, to work to becoming a better and more effective leader."
By "changing me," Mark Sanford does not mean steering clear of the C Street residence in Washington, an apparent den of iniquity which produced fellow Republican adulterers John Ensign and Chip Pickering. Instead, he seems to suggest God apparently will provide the playbook for Sanford's political survival.
As the mushrooming scandal over his "soul mate" Argentine mistress and other women keeps pressure on him to resign as South Carolina's Governor, Sanford insisted God wants him to stay in office. Just three days after comparing himself to King David, Sanford in a message to supporters three weeks ago announced he had the Almighty, if not his wife, by his side:
"Immediately after all this unfolded last week I had thought I would resign - as I believe in the military model of leadership and when trust of any form is broken one lays down the sword. A long list of close friends have [sic] suggested otherwise - that for God to really work in my life I shouldn't be getting off so lightly. While it would be personally easier to exit stage left, their point has been that my larger sin was the sin of pride...
Their belief was that if I walked in with a real spirit of humility then this last legislative term could well be our most productive one - and that outside this term, I would ultimately be a better person and of more service in whatever doors God opened next in life if I stuck around to learn lessons rather than running and hiding down at the farm."
Of course, Mark Sanford is hardly the only current high-profile Republican claiming to be part of God's plan. Soon-be-former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin declared her state's $30 billion pipeline project to be "God's will," called the Iraq war "a task that is from God" and insisted the victory of the McCain/Palin ticket last November was "in God's hands." And Joe the Plumber, who through seeming divine intervention has extended his 15 minutes of fame, announced he would not be running for office:
"You know, I talked to God about that and he was like, 'No.'"
Meanwhile, Mark Sanford is hoping his faith-based PR plan will keep angry Republicans and disappointed South Carolina voters at bay. Butchering Lincoln once again, Sanford no doubt believes you can fool some of the people all of the time, and that's his target market.
(This piece also appears at Perrspectives.)
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So you were having a menage a trois?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU3JrXt_cPk
... thy rod and thy staff shall comfort me.
God and Patriotism: BOTH the last refuges of a scoundrel.
is the rod and what part is the staff?
Well the staff might be the people who didn't know where he was.
Wouldn't the rod and staff guy be Ensign?
...thy rod and thy staff...
sanford is like a used car salesman,
he will lie to your face and then
lie that he is not lying..........
the gop scumbags have to go
their hypocrisy is underwhelmingly
disgusting.
they can fool their 29%ers all the
time,but the rest of us only need
one lesson and we wash our hands
of them.
So if he doesn't get his shit together now it will be God's fault?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2619IJ8oq0
sure: God caused his dick to accidently fall into her vagina
"Soul Mate"?
If that is true, shouldn't he listen to his "heart" and be with the one "God" led him to? All the way to freakin' Argentina too!
If he were my husband I'd make sure he never touched me again and I'd also would make sure I'd never lift a finger to help him in any other "political" races.
Sanford waxes poetic about his mistress' body parts in an e-mail, he and his spiritual advisor decry the absence of 'passion' in Sanford's marriage ...
... and Sanford is still not taking any responsibility here. Clearly, it's Jenny's fault as far as he's concerned. She wasn't putting out for the gov, and so he had to go elsewhere, apparently.
Religion...cheese
This man is so dilusional. I think he needs a couple of years in a mental hospital.
As evidenced by the fact that he does not know when to shut the fu*k up. He just keeps verbally digging that hole.
Sanford:
- Liar.
- Hypocrite.
- Unrepentant.
Yet you're going to mouth platitudes about God and lead South Carolina to greatness? Hah!
incredibly busy these days, keeping up with so many followers 'losing their way' and each demanding so much personal attention.
He seems rather selfish. I thought god was busy blessing america every day.
And how come god was so tardy on already making Sanford a great leader? Why is he only now taking on that task?
Exactly. Would God be on his side or would God be carrying him during this terrible situation the Senator is victim to?
GOP are keeping big guy busy with all their messin and confessin. I tried to book an appointment with baby jesus to get some help with my golf swing. Earliest time i could get is well into hockey season. Thanks alot thumps.
I hear ya bro. I tried to make an appointment for bigger boobs but I can't get in until I'm 78. Won't do me much good then.
that his mantra is more like Dr. Strangelove's in that one man to 10 women would be the norm.
How convenient that God wants him to continue. It's always that way, isn't it? You pray over it, and conclude that God's will happens to align with your own hopes or aspirations!
What a wanker.
Show me where he says that God wants him to continue. The headline doesn't count; that's not Sanford's words.
you can assume he thinks god wants him to continue.
But let's examine this a bit further. Since no one knows what god's wishes are, he hopes these statements fool the christians in his state, who are all brainwashed enough to believe any deed or misdeed, and the subsequent apologies and repentence that follows, are part of the supreme being's master plan.
This is no different from a murderer who says he is born again, and therefore will never kill again and deserves to be released from prison.
As far as I'm concerned, once these clowns bring god into it, they don't deserve their public office.
He's cynically using God and the rhetoric of Christian forgiveness to justify his continued governorship. The whole conflicting, contradictory, and essentially dishonest story is apparently part of God's great plan to give us a better Mark Sanford.
My question is: why put it on the Almighty? Why not just admit that he likes being governor and wants to stay--obvious dereliction of duty notwithstanding?
And I'm saying, specifically where does he say that God wants him to stay as governor? Because I'm not seeing it. I think it's pretty clear, if you read the quotes, that he's saying that HE'S deciding to stay on, with the input of his family and friends, and that he is hoping that God will help him do a better job.
I just don't think he's actually literally saying what y'all are reading.
Sanford writes, "...I would ultimately be a better person and of more service in whatever doors God opened next in life..."
I think his reference to God opening the "next doors" strongly implies that God has opened this "door" as well -- meaning Sanford's present position as governor.
Tons of Americans will believe him because they want to believe.
mark, Maria and God:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrSSSfYE2dQ
then his god must not care about hypocrisy, adultery, lying, and corruption.
How convenient.
God: I AM NOT.
through our posts of commentary. Unless you have personal knowledge of God's plan for your lives, I suggest, humbly, that you refrain from trying to intervene in God's conversation with His creation, Mark Sanford. Based on previously expressed beliefs from many here, I doubt you are listening to what He has to say to you, much less qualified to comment on what He is whispering in Marky Mark's ear.
Humbly in His name,
Ricky
P.S. Beat the Yankees for Jesus!
A while ago I was in the midst of writing a snarky comment here about god and sanford when the site crashed. I think it had something to do with god being tied up on so many lines with people asking favors that he just shut this site down for a while. Maybe you would like to try your Yankees request at a later date.
"Pardon me, Sir, but I talk to God all the time, and he never mentioned you."
-- Phillipe the Mouse, Ladyhawke
PoP: Beat the Yankees is a cheer, not a request or prayer.
If God really wanted us to beat the Yankees, he would
have made that loser Robert E. Lee say yes to Lincoln.
Shadowgm: Communications to others from God have no validity
without claims of a higher degree or a user name
taken from the movie quoted. I liked Ladyhawke,
nonetheless.
Vote for Mark Sanford
He'll use your money to fly first class and find foreign poon.
God's on his side, so you better be, too!
Paid for by his pals from that cathouse, ****-Street.
God has forgiven Mark Sanford, Bush and Dick Cheney ! Why can't you? What's wrong with you people?? Learn more about the God who forgives Mark Sanford at this website http://www.thebricktestament.com/king_solomon...
Oh, I love that site -- I spent hours with it one day, unable to stop! It's fascinating and hilarious.
Man created Gawd. So he'd have someone/thing to blame all his failings and troubles on: it wasn't me, gawd made me do it; I just can't seem to find the path gawd has for me; I can do whatever and gawd will make it all better.....what a load of crap.
What a pleasure it would be to have politicians and leaders who took responsibility for their own decisions and actions. The people of So. Carolina should demand Sanford's resignation no ifs, ands or gawds.
Have you ever had contact with religion, outside of politics? Because, wow, you have no idea what you're talking about. Ever hear of Catholic guilt? Ever hear of fire and brimstone? If anything, religion can place too much blame on the individual, instead of on human shortcomings or biochemistry or what have you. Christianity does include hope and forgiveness, but forgiveness requires repentance, which means that Sanford can't expect us to forgive him without proving himself to be a changed man; it is not simply a matter of going to confession or saying a prayer and BING! problem solved. If politicians act as if this is true, then that demonstrates their distortion and misunderstanding of their professed faith. (Unless they're Satanists; they're anything-goes kinda people.)
You mean that which they can buy their way out of? Chop off a few natives hands and feet and then go do pennance?
or three mea culpas, 100 Hail Mary's, and a few laps around the beads. /snark
You're relying on a cartoonish portrayal of Catholicism to make your point. Go in to confession and tell the priest you chopped off someone's hands and feet, and see what he tells you. It's going to go beyond a couple of Hail Marys; he will probably suggest you turn yourself in to the authorities.
The Catholic Church has done plenty of nasty stuff, but most of it has been in spite of its principles, not because of them. Kind of like the Bush administration.
your points.
Funny thing about confession, it was actually not part of the original Catholic dogma. It was later included, because it turns out that "confession" was the ideal vehicle (if not the original one) for extortion. Having priests knowing everyone's dirty secrets in town proved to be a great way to grease the people's donations towards the church. Of course all those donations were to make good with god, who somehow can do anything... except create its own wealth. What a guy, eh?
So what's your premise? That Catholicism/Christianity is being unfairly slagged? That Mark Sanford, despite being a lying sleazebag, should get a free pass because he talks about spirituality and higher callings and forgiveness and moral lessons?
And are you REALLY saying that the 'bad stuff' that the Bush Administration did wasn't driven by its 'principles,' but some other miswired circuit?
You mistake the difference between people that believe religion and people that use religion.
Is that what priests feel after they rape a kid and suddenly realize they did not offer their victim a smoke afterwards?
So all Catholics are child rapists now? Great; next thing you'll tell me all black people like watermelon. My god, you're worse than Buchanan.
Show me an atheist or a liberal who has never failed to live up to her principles before you use the crimes of a few to condemn an entire group of people.
... that in instances of the most egregious sins, we're seeing a church hierarchy that covered up its misdeeds, or - with Mark Sanford - hearing contradictory nonsense about his soulmate and his calling to serve as governor.
So the validity of the message is weakened when the faithful do not practice what they preach.
... they are a fire hazard.
BTW, raping kids is pretty f*cking far from a simple "failure to live up to one's principles."
.
the RCC old boy network. As a recovering RC, I can tell you that the hierarchy goes out of its way to protect the molester. This isn't about a few bad apples, this is about how an entire organization hides and perpetuates a wrong.
The RCC is a degenerate institution that needs to die. Anyway that this can get done, including tying the RCC to degenerates like Sanford has my support.
ABUSE, RAPE "ENDEMIC" IN IRELAND UNDER CATHOLIC CARE
A 9-year investigation by a government commission in Ireland released on May 20 found that rape and sexual molestation were “endemic” in Irish Catholic church-run industrial schools and orphanages. Priests and nuns terrorized thousands of children for decades in the Irish Republic, while government inspectors looked the other way, according to the 2,500 - page report.
Thousands of former wards testified about chronic beatings, rape, humiliation and abuse occurring in 250 church-run institutions housing more than 30,000 children from the 1930s to the 1990s. Many children were removed from unmarried mothers. Boys' facilities were mainly run by the notorious Christian Brothers order, where rape and molestation were “endemic,” according to the report. Girls, mainly supervised by the Sisters of Mercy, were more likely to be physically assaulted or humiliated than sexually molested. Deprivation was routine for both boys and girls.
Archbishop Vincent Nichols, the newly appointed head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, praised the “courage” of abusive clergy for confronting their past abuse. Most abusers are, in fact, now dead and never accounted for their crimes. The Irish Survivors of Child Abuse condemned the archbishop's remarks. The group called upon the Vatican to investigate its religious orders.
"The safety of children in general was not a consideration," the report concluded, documenting that religious authorities repeatedly placed offenders in new locations where they were free to abuse again.
Survivors recounted post-traumatic stress syndrome, alcoholism, mental illness, self-harm, aggression and social exclusion affecting generations of families. The report recommends a total overhaul of the Inspection system for childcare services, to include unannounced inspections and national standards. Another report on Catholic crimes against children Is scheduled to be released in July.
...but that's a pretty old story. Maybe the final report is just coming out, but the info has been out for 10(?) years or more, maybe.
Honestly, though, I think it has less to do with the church than it does an overwhelmed social services network. The same sort of stories came out of the former communist bloc counties when the Iron Curtain "fell", and those institutions were completely secular.
And the same sorts of things happened at (secular) mental institutions in the good old US of A during the post WW II boom days. It was Geraldo Rivera's reporting on this sort of abuse in NY state in the early '70's that led to reforms of the states' mental health systems all across the country.
...Setting time aside and irregardless of territory, I was primarily supporting [LCforevah's] premise.
When you say..."I think it has less to do with the church than it does an overwhelmed social services network." - are you suggesting more human resources would alleviate these types of problems? If that is what your claiming, I can see the plausibility of having more eyes and ears to counter the crimes, yes.
One only needs to point to "The Florida School for Boys in Marianna, Fl." as an example of abuse, with regard to oversight. This is a secular nation and why this stuff happens is a matter of opinion albeit ultimately free will.
With regard to the "post WW II boom days" - It's my opinion that along with it's fascist overtones it was the era that put in god we trust on our paper money, one nation under god in our pledge of allegiance and coincidentally... President Truman signed the first National Prayer Day proclamation... President Reagan made it a permanent occasion! Under Bush, the day was a political event.
I guess it's just a mater of opinion and I always welcome yours... Thanks
The Florida School for Boys in Marianna, Fl.
[ http://thewhitehouseboys.blogspot.com/ ]
Yeah.
Funding of programs for orphans, the developmentally disabled and the mentally ill is always far short of what it should be because those groups are, for all intents and purposes, voiceless. Yes, there are advocacy groups out there, but they really don't have a ton of pull, ya know?
...it's troubling where the interests lie, dualistically speaking. ;)
And I find it a little ironic that we've gotten to this point in our conversation in a thread where a philandering politician is claiming God sides with him. You can bet your ass that Sanford has, at some point or another, advocated or voted for slashing funding for social services for these segments of the population.
I've got a feeling that if Christ was to return to Earth (not expecting that to happen, mind you) and have a face-to-face with Gov. Sanford, JC would look at the sexual escapades and shrug 'em off with a, "No big deal." But the other stuff? The kind of stuff we've been talking about for a few minutes? I'd expect the Son of God to give Sanford an earful of Beatitudes.
...I believe you are right √ and before I jump onto my electronic board and move on, I'd like to thank you, for all your help in the past. ♥
It's my pleasure. :-)
I think you are misunderstanding the religious view here. Sanford is not saying that God wants him to stay in office-- in fact, in the quotes above at least, Sanford doesn't say that God has told him anything at all. Instead, he's expressing hope that God will help him become a better person. It is an expression of pious humility and faith, a standard and admirable part of Christianity, and it does not imply either that (a) God will make everything all better, without Sanford's involvement; or (b) God thinks that Sanford should be re-elected.
Take a secular example: suppose a drunken politician says that, with the help of AA, he will be able to continue in office. That hardly implies that AA is endorsing the guy.
Whether Sanford is sincere, I don't know, nor do I think he should be given a pass for his execrable politics. But the statement itself is not what y'all are claiming it is: it is not hubris. Hubris is Bush saying that God told him to invade Iraq.
Are you serious? Sanford hasn't been humble about anything yet!
... your characterization of Alcoholics Anonymous.
1. AA members seek to remain anonymous at the level of press, radio, and film.
2. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution, neither endorses nor opposes any causes.
So your example is nonsense, because AA's principles do not allow endorsement, implied or otherwise. Its focus is on helping individuals through the process of recovery.
who admit they have a problem... not blame God or anyone else for something that's entirely within their sphere of doing or declining. Sanford is a wimp who's not willing to stand up and accept responsibility or accountability for what HE did... freely of his own choice. As far as I'm concerned, he doesn't deserve his wife and family, or his mistress, or to be governing anyone... quite frankly he's shown he cannot even govern himself.
double posting... sorry!
God doesn't endorse candidates either (contrary to what some would have you believe), which is why the analogy is apt.
The reason anonymity is emphasized is to keep AA from becoming embroiled in controversy.
For your analogy to be accurate, all expressions of religion would have to similarly be removed from politics.
That's why the secular example is credible. Appealing to the Pie Goddess is not credible for thinking people. The more politicians appeal to deities, the more obvious it is they're unfit for office, not that their delusions are admirable.
There's a Pie Goddess? Cool! Blueberry.......
help themselves. Yeah. That's it. Aren't there some others allegedly from Christ, that say this praying, and such behavior, should be done in private? What about obeying those? And are you actually comparing a drunken politician with an adulterous whore? Talk about specious arguments. I do mean Sanford is a whore, because I do not believe that the word "whore" has any particular gender attached to it. Hubris, schubris. The fool has to go.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il41Yn-zNes
I love the movie "Fallen".
The baby Jesus loves hypocrites and liars. Especially rich ones who exploit the poor and commit adultery.
Republican Evangelical Christianity 101.
http://www.stinque.com/
Take the authoritative national survey that asks: 'What's the best thing about living at C Street?'
You will love the answer choices!
I looked around stinque.com and saw a couple of articles about C Street, but not the survey. Could you please provide more info? Thanks!
There is only one survey on the index page. You will love it!
You know they are psycho when they mention the dog. It surprises me anyone that's had an education in high school can still believe that the dog is the big deal. I am ashamed that Murka is as statistically as stupid as Iran or Israel, that still have dog plastered on their face so they can go around in public embarrassing themselves talking about fiction as though reality.
Guess it will get worse before it gets better. Hard times come and the stupid keep shouting at this poor dog to fix the issues. I think the subliminal messages on TV have done their trick too well. We have sat back while idiots, real cretins, have waged a successful war against education.
I am amazed everyday by the number of people I meet who are on the verge of complete ruin thanks to Bush and the GOP, and all they do is spew rightwing talking points about socialism and libruls'.
When I ask them why, WHY they would believe or even listen to anything these fucktard conservatives have to say after what they did to this country, they just stop and stare off into space with a "never thought of it that way " look.
When people are that easily brainwashed or totally incapable of making even the most basic cause and effect connections, we are truly screwed.
The worst part, is watching these morons commit suicide while knowing that they are taking the rest of us down with them.
Just like you, NoGWB, I know many people whose lives are devastated due to a Bush-ravaged country after an eight year binge. Some are collecting welfare checks, food stamps, and getting free healthcare via medicaid, AND STILL FAIL TO RELAIZE THEY HAVE VOTED AGAINIST THEIR OWN WELL BEING BY DOING SO.
Excuse the shouting rant, honestly, I must induldge from time to time so this toxic energy does not get trapped and manifest in DIS-EASE.
STILL WAITING FOR THE PROSECUTIONS TO START.
Things like religion, race, guns and gays are used as wedge issues to convince people to vote against their economic interest. Republicans run on social issues, but then rule on economic issues (tax cuts, increasing military budget, deregulation, etc. which have not worked)
You should ask someone who votes for a Republican on social issues what exactly have the Republicans delivered for you for the last 30 years on the social issues. The answer is nothing. Abortion is still illegal, gays have more freedom than they ever have had, minorities are becoming more powerful, etc. etc. Bush II, Bush I and Reagan have delivered absolutely nothing for the religious and social issues people.
So as a middle or lower class Republican you are often not only voting against your economic interest, but you get nothing on the social issues side from the Republicans either.
will be hit by a hurricane this year because God is too busy forgiving and 'changing" scandal ridden repubobstructionists.
And what the hell is this sanford clown ON anyway? It'd be damn'd odd for a person to not attend their own funeral!!!
Hurricanes are caused by sodomy and abortions.
Hurricanes are caused by sodomy and abortions.
Hurricanes are caused by sodomy and abortions.
.
who use God to justify their behavior are the reason I am a secular humanist.
You know, it used to be that people like Sanford would claim that "the Devil made them do it." when they got caught. I guess that doesn't play well with highly religious voters today though. So, Sanford, like all the rest of them immediately claim AFTER they are caught that God is on their side. I guess that works as both God and the Devil serve the same purpose to people like Sanford. Both God and the Devil are a convenient way to explain away his actions and cover his ass.
If God is on Sanford's side was God always there or only after Sanford got caught? If God has always been with Sanford then God must have been part of Sanford's actions while he was carrying them out so wouldn't that mean that God and the Devil are actually interchangable?
Diabolus Inversus Deus.
http://www.stinque.com/
Take the authoritative national survey that asks: 'What's the best thing about living at C Street?'
You will love the answer choices!
Robert Wright, senior fellow at the New America Foundation, and editor-in-chief of Bloggingheads.tv, was on with Bill Moyers this week. He was talking about his new book, THE EVOLUTION OF GOD, and said:
I really like that definition because I have always said I am much more interested in person's spirituality than their religion.
Excellent interview: Full Transcript
They only trouble is Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, Charles Darwin and J J Bachofen beat him to it.
Being religious and being spiritual are two different things.
I grew up in a tug-of-war between my Catholic grandmother and my Baptist(northern) grandmother (who later switched to a Congregationalist-no big difference that I could see). Neither ever seemed particularly spiritual to me, but boy could they go on about their respective religions.
;o}
It must be nice to have God on the side of your entire party. Ironic that the same forgiveness, mercy and lesson learning Sanford is crediting God for, wasn't showered on Bill Clinton when he did his dirt. The hypocracy is mind numbing. It's a pity more individuals aren't empathetic from the start. It takes tumbling from their high horses to finally be able to put themselves in someone else's shoes.
DeniseD
www.reallybadboss.com
Where's a sanitarium when you need one?
Leave me fu@#$%ing alone, you hypocrite and adulterer.
is snapping his noodly appendages in anger.
Do not use His Balls in vain, Mark Sanford...
Bob drop-kicks the flying spaghetti monster right in his meatballs.
This is the crux of the problem with these ixtians. They have convinced themselves and the saps in the media and the glass church believers that they have the inside track to the big G. Each and every one of these frauds think they are some kind of modern day prophet who can interpret the entire belief system to correct any "uncomfortable" situation that might arise. I call it the Etch-A-Sketch effect. This allows them (the males at least) to commit any sin, then simply turn the board over, shake it, and start over again.
IOW, Mark Sanford will tell us when God has fixed the problem.
"There! all fixed!"
What a relief. Next scandal please. God is a busy diety.
I think these malignant fuckers actually think God has a room at C Street.
sorry for the double post.
no it isn't
leave your god out of this
... so he kind of could be by his side, theoretically at least. ;-)
But don't bother him when he's busy spying on the girl's locker room.
at the foot of your bed watching you get in a good wank.
:)
ah, yes, the omnispresent god. where it is "by" his side. thus also by his ankle, or by his car, by his nostril hair... not to mention by the tomato cart, by the homeless kids... by the minefield, by the clown, by the octopus, by the ___________
theoretically *cough* it is everywhere.
now, whether said celestial-stretchy-thing is "on" one's side... well, let me quote some scripture *lightning flash* nevermind...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gma5IUNMTn0
Sanfords claim fits the classic definition of "faith" -- belief in something there is absolutely no proof for.
*
Black Collar Crime Blotter...By Their Fruits Ye Shall Know Them
Charged:
Tomas Gonzales, 61, of Mercedes. TX: two counts of indecency with a child and eight counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child. Gonzales, who serves as pastor at Templo Nuevo Vida, as arrested after 15-year-old female relative wrote a letter to her mother saying that the man had sexually abused her since she was about 5 years old. Eventually, the girl’s 13-year-old sister came forward with similar accusations. “I committed the error,” he said in Spanish during the arraignment. “Now I have to pay for it,” He has confessed to the charges against him and is awaiting a formal plea. The pastor Allegedly abused the two girls when they visited him at his home, the sergeant said. The sisters are currently receiving counseling. Investigators said they are following leads that could result in more charges against Gonzales. He was believed to have picked up children from around the neighborhood to take them to church services. One parishioner said, "if one doesn't go with the children, they shouldn't let Them go at all."
Source: The Monitor, 6/23/09
William Frank Brown, 45, Waco, TX: four counts of Indecency with a child by contact and four counts of aggravated sexual assault. The pastor of the First Baptist Church of Bellmead was named in an eight-count indictment stemming from a series of child sexual abuse incidents involving two girls that started four years ago in another state. Brown was arrested after one of the victims told a school counselor about the sexual abuse. Which started when the girls were between 9 and 10 years of age. Source: KWTX, 6/19/09
Vernitt Hoheb, 31, Stratford. CT: second degree sexual assault. Hoheb is a youth group advisor at Mt. Avery Baptist Church. The counselor was teaching teenage girls how to say no to sexual advances front adults. He was allegedly giving a girl, 16, from his youth group a ride home when he pulled into a parking lot and touched the girl inappropriately. Source: Huffington Post, 6/18/09
Rev. David Pierce, 56, Benton, AR: 54 counts of sexual indecency with a minor. Four male teens came forward with accusations of abuse at the hands of their youth choir director. The crimes allegedly happened at the church and at a rural cabin: The investigators said the sexual activity dates back 3 years, but might go back as far as 15. Each count carries a prison sentence of up to 6 years.
Source: Courier, 6/16/09
Cindy Ferrell, 37, Raleigh. NC: embezzlement. The church pre-school director is accused of stealing more than $150,000 from the Children's Center at Highland United Methodist Church. She was In charge of collecting tuition and buying supplies. Source: WRAL, 6/10/09
Rev. John Schneider, 56, Asheville, NC: felony obstruction of justice. The pastor of St. Eugene Catholic Church is charged with deleting hundreds of images of child pornography from the computer of his music minister. The music minister is Rev. Paul Berrell (see below) Source: Citizen Times, 6/9/09
If these folks are gettin jiggy with it, what are the odds Sanford is gonna get healed? I know the omnipotence thing, well in case you didn't know...
...the "magic man" couldn't Repel chariots of iron.
"And the Lord was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron." (Judges 1:19)
a slippery slope when humans think they're better than just being human. The crimes you cite are crimes against children and therefore humanity, and are totally appalling. Some people just don't get it, do they? Who the eff do they think they are?! And for someone to do something morally, ethically, and legally wrong to state God's forgiven them, honestly!! Someone needs to check their brains!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0_1F0_20mE
thyroid?
I'm sure Mark Twain would be surprised he's a classic now.
on cult figure status among river transport operators and buffs.
Sanford's comments are right out of his C-Street, The Family or Children of God (all the same) cult's play book. They preach that their members are above the law and normal moral and ethical guidelines don't apply to them because they are the chosen people by god.
Are people, even religious people, really that stupid to believe this? This guy is just a horn dog. He admitted to "crossing the line" with five women. That is only what he is admitting. First of all what does crossing the line mean. A BJ? Are there many many more woman that he is not telling us about?
This guy is a nut. He govern's one of the poorest and most economically depressed states in the country. His rule has done absolutely nothing to improve the lives of the people of his state. And this guy has the nerve to turn down stimulus money. What a freak?
According to TPM, C Street is now rebranding. Gee, I wonder why. ;o}
C Street Rebranding: GOP Cheaters Need Our Discreet Counseling!
You've got to wonder if this guy really believes his God stuff or whether he's just saying that to placate his constituents. In either case, it just rubs me the wrong way. Let him (and others) believe what they want, but don't preach your nonsense to me.
It's the utter solipsism of these guys that gets me. They live together at C-Street and convince each other that they are special - chosen by god. They have enough privilege, wealth and power to believe their own B.S.
what do you bet there's gay sex going on in that c-street house?
what do you bet there's gay sex going on in that c-street house?
I don't think that's solipsism which is the belief that only the self exists, because then they would be turning on each other.
To my mind it's more like an enclavesque.
Rev. Paul Lawrence Berrell, 29, Asheville, NC: sexual exploitation, indecent liberties with a minor. The music minister at St. Eugene's Catholic Church faces nine counts of sexual exploitation of a minor after police searched his home. They found pictures of a minor engaged in sexual activity.
Source: Citizen-Times, 5/23/09
Timothy A. Holmes, 40, Medina, OH: possession, receipt, and distribution of child pornography. According to FBI agents, Holmes worked at the Medina Christian Academy as a teacher and staff member for 16 years, teaching bible, health, computer, video editing and other courses. He also performed first aid and photography for various sports teams around Medina.
Source: Akron Beacon Journal, 6/6/09
Fa. Ted Rothrock, Guerin, IN: operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. The head of Carmel deanery, pastor at St Elizabeth Seton Church, and president of Guerin Catholic High School was stopped for a traffic violation and given a field sobriety test, which he failed. His blood alcohol content was 0.11.
Source: WTHR-TV, 5/12/09
Rev. Antonio Cortes, 41, Salinas, CA: child molestation and providing alcohol to a minor. In graphic detail, two Salinas Police Department officers testified at a hearing about alleged sexual molestation by Cortes, pastor of Saint Mary's of the Nativity church. The victim, "John Doe,” male, 16, alleges Cortes gave him a massage in the priest's house. He then placed a white washcloth over the boy's eyes, and Cortes unzipped his pants and the sex act started. The detectives found tens of thousands of pictures of young boys as well as boys at church functions. The defense maintains no actual rape occurred and the child porn might not be Cortes’. The judge ruled the trial could proceed.
Source: KION-TV 46. The Californian, 6/15/09
Rev. Ernest Beal, Jr,. 56, Pont Wayne, IN: felony Theft. The administrator of the client trust or an organization called “Your Friends and Neighbors” told police that Pastor Beal ordered her to write checks several times from the residents' accounts so he could cover various expenses. including payroll. He claims to have promised to pay back with interest, but to date, over $75.000 is missing.
Source: NewsCenter, 6/3/09
Rev. Patrick Dunne, 63, White Plains, NY: pleaded not guilty to second degree grand larceny when accused of stealing $432,000 from a Katrina relief fund. The money was used to feed a gambling addiction. Dunne has been the pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Church in White Plains since 1991.
Source: Newsday, 6/4/09
Loyce Leon Petty, Walhalla, SC: first degree criminal sexual assault. The director of the Faith Center Academy allegedly assaulted his grand daughter, 6. The Alabama police alerted the South Carolina police after learning of separate alleged incidents in Alabama.
Source: Upstate Today, 6/2/09
Fa. Joseph Ndagijlmana, Kabgayi, Rwanda: charged for his alleged role in the 1994 genocide in which close to 1 million people were exterminated. The priest who has been in prison for more than 10 years is accused of having helped organize killing of ethnic Tutsis. The Catholic priest's colleague. Fa. Josaphat Hitimana was convicted for his role in the genocide, and has been on the run since May 12. Source: Catholic information Services, 5/26/09
Rev. Billy Paul Masters, 65. Fort Payne. AL: sexual abuse of a child younger than 12. The convicted sex offender is a preacher at the Harvest Baptist Church in Crossville. In 2001, Masters was convicted of first degree sodomy of three young boys and served 5 years in prison.
Source: USA Today, AP, 5/26109
Rev. Curtis Maurice Allen, 48. Park Heights. MD: sexual abuse of a minor, second degree rape, and assault. A boy, 17, who was a parishioner at Bethel Temple Church of Christ, where Allen was a deacon, claims Allen molested him. The alleged abuse occurred three separate times inside Allen's home between Sunday morning and evening worship services.
Source: WBFF-TV, 5/22/09
Rev. Cesar Najera-Zavala, 65, Garland, TX: aggravated sexual assault of a child. The director and pastor of the Amiel Christian School is accused of sexually assaulting a child between the ages of 3 and 14 while at school. Officials are investigating the possibility of more victims.
Source: Dallas Morning News. 5/19/09
Rev. Richard Ordonez, 37, White Plains, NY: three counts of first degree sexual abuse and one count of first-degree attempted sexual abuse. The pastor of St Vito's Church was supported by his Church members, who profess his innocence. The alleged victim came forward after learning Ordonez, a native of Ecuador, was returning to the church. She claims Ordonez, who has a bedroom at the church, groped her and attempted to sexually assault her during a marriage counseling session. She fled the counseling session and avoided him. He has been ordered to surrender his passports. If convicted, he could face up to seven years in stale prison.
Source: Lower Hudson Journal, 5/13/09
Rev. Joseph Kennedy Ragland, Angier, NC: second degree rape, second degree sex offense and sex offense in a parental role. Ragland was pastor of Church of God in Jesus Christ. The alleged victim spent the night at his home after he told her parents she needed counseling. Ragland gave the girl some beer and forced her to have sex three times, authorities say.
Source: Capitol Broadcasting, 5/2/09
...get it in writing. His word isn't worth shit. Not with the good lord telling him how to fuck you on the deal.
William S. Burroughs
This nitwit used the lord to absolve himself of responsibility and is talking only of his journey, not what he's done to others.
I meditated upon the situation and God told me that Mark Sanford is full of horse shit.
KNOW the mind of God. Isn't that amazing. Most of the rest of us poor souls here on earth hope for the best, but Mark and all the fellows at the C Street house know His every thought. May they can ask him how we can achieve world peace and do the whole world some good, rather than just their personal shaky lives.
From Andy Borowitz -
BorowitzReport.com
"At no point did I say that I was trying to make Mark Sanford a better person," the Almighty told reporters. "And the only time that bastard has prayed to Me was last month, when his exact words were, 'Please don't let Jenny find out where I really am.'"
he would listen to the Lord.
delusional...
I am sick to my stomach of the christian republican party and candidates envoking the name of GOD and Christ when they are running for office and when they get caught WITH THEIR PANTS DOWN! They are more than hypocrites and Pharisees..they are PHILESTINES ! The entire GOP, and those who support their immorality, are a stinch in the nostrils of GOD!
Note to Sanford and any of these other false prophet politicians: If you hear a voice in your head; it's not God. You're fucking crazy.
... they're crazy.
They're fucking something else.
...like these folks have.
Rev. Kenneth Dyar Wood, 70, Danville, AL: first degree rape and sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years old. Wood is a pastor at the Barnett Chapel Pentecostal Church in Morgan Co. He is accused of raping a girl, 11, who is an acquaintance of Woods family. The child told her mother about the incident after developing medical problems. The alleged rape occurred at Wood's residence while the child was visiting. Authorities believe there are more victims, as two other people said Wood touched them inappropriately. “No one is ever too old to be a perpetrator or too young to be a victim." says Kathy Connolly, executive director of Rape Response. Wood faces 20 years in prison. Source: Times Daily 4/30/09
Rev. Timothy Richard Stewart, 50. Grinnell. SD: window-peeking. The pastor of First Baptist was arrested after a woman called the police to complain that a man was looking in her window. Police found Stewart wandering around the apartment complex, and the victim gave a positive identification. Stewart admitted looking through the window. Stewart told Sioux Falls police he was in town for a ministry conference. Source: Des Moines Register, 4/25/09
Convicted--
Fa. James Janssen, 85, Davenport, IA: pleaded guilty to hiding assets from his nephew, whom ho sexually abused as a child. The nephew has collected about half of the $1.4 mil. Settlement. The defrocked priests falsely testified that he had not transferred assets to family members. In fact, Janssen transferred over $700,000 in bonds to his sister. Janssen also testified that he did not know about $80,000 in savings bonds. Source: Quad City Times, 5/14/09
John Patrick Curry, 49, Fort Smith, AR: pleaded guilty to a federal charge of failing to register as a sex offender. The follower of Tony Alamo Christian Ministries lived in a warehouse compound and failed to report for his sentence of attempted lewdness with a child younger than 14. Alamo is awaiting trial on charges that he transported juvenile girls across state lines for sex. Source: AP, 5/14/09
Rev. Manuel "Memo" Taboada, 57, Kaneohe, HI: pleaded guilty to eight counts of second degree sexual assault. He faces 10 years in prison. Taboada, a minister in a commune called “Back to the Cross,” molested an underage girl. He told her parents he was grooming her for a leadership position in the church so he could move her to another living facility. He assaulted her 8 times over an 8-year period. Taboada is also under investigation for similar sex offenses in Portland.
Source: Honolulu Advertiser, 5/2/09
That is one of the attractive benefits of Christianity. This belief that you will become more god like (or Jesus like) because Jesus (or God) dwells within you. This makes you a god. It is really an arrogant religion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zljZmfTX660
?
for a second opinion? Thanks.
HOW DO YOU KNOW THE C STREET HOUSE IS A RELIGIOUS ONE?
EVERY TIME I WALK BY, I HEAR "OH GOD! OH GOD SWEET JESUS!"
Sentenced
10 years: Holly Michelle Barnes, 25, Powder Springs, GA, convicted of child molestation and statutory rape after pleading guilty to having a sexual relationship with a student, 14. Barnes taught at Powder Springs Christian School and Grace Baptist Church. Barnes must register as a sex offender and serve 20 years probation. Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 6/12/09
Six months: Teddy Simerly, 50. Elizabethton, TN, convicted of four counts of having inappropriate contact with a teenager. The deacon and Sunday school teacher at Upper Gap Creek Free Will Baptist Church touched a students legs, back and breast while he taught Sunday School lessons and read scripture. The judge wondered what Simerly might have done in a less “sacred” location.
Source: Kingsport Times News. 6/10/09
10 years: Lt. Rev. Shane Dillman, 35, Bethesda, MD, convicted of rape. A sell described “hopeless addicted” is convicted of raping a young women enlistee he counseled. Dillman was a chaplain in the US military and a Pentecostal pastor. Source: Lansing State Journal, 6/2/09
15 years probation: Rev. Donald Dean Budd, 65. Winona, MN, pleaded guilty to sexual contact with a woman seeking spiritual guidance. On more than one occasion, Rev. Budd had sexual contact with a woman who was seeking his help at the United Methodist Church. Such contact is forbidden by state law. Budd will have to register as a sex offender, seek psychosexual therapy, and may not have a license to preach while on probation. Source: Community Record. 5/31/09
7 years: Rev. Alfred R. Brown. 56, Wichita, KS, pleaded guilty to criminal sodomy and attempted criminal sodomy on a girl, 15, in his home. Brown had been charged in 2007 with nine counts of sex crimes against two girls. Around the time of the crimes, Brown was under parole supervision and repeatedly tested positive for cocaine. A parole officer wrote in a log that he learned from police that Brown had admitted to having sex with the girls, taking them one by one into a bedroom. An officer told the parole officer that Brown “really doesn't think there is anything wrong with this, because he is doing it for the Lord." Brown is self-described free-lance minister. Source: Wichita Eagle, 5/29/09
6 years: Rev. Charles Newman, 58, Philadelphia, PA, was found guilty of stealing $900,000. The priest and former principal of the largest Roman Catholic high school In Philadelphia stole money from the school and his religious order to buy the silence of victims he molested after providing them with drugs and alcohol. Former student Arthur Baselice III told authorities that Newman started sexually molesting him in 1995 when he was a junior and Newman was principal of Archbishop Ryan High School. The pair would meet in his office, where Newman would use drugs. Prosecutors were disappointed they couldn't charge other priests due to time limits under existing Pennsylvania law. Newman is believed to have molested three or four other students who have yet to come forward. Source: The News Journal, 5/23/09
Five years probation: Rev. Samuel Pettagrue, Birmingham, AL, was sentenced on charges relating to a corruption scheme. A federal judge ruled Pettagrue must spend 1 year in home detention, 4 more years of probation and pay over $300,000 in restitution. Pettagrue's extremely fragile medical condition played a major role in sentencing, as he suffers from need for dialysis, and from shingles, which requires a sterile environment to treat, and takes 17 medications. Pettagrue was prosecuted in connection with former Ala. State Sen. E.B. McClain, who was found guilty in a scheme to secure public funds for Pettagrue's community programs for which Pettagrue was to provide a kickback. The two were convicted on 47 counts of conspiracy, mall fraud, bribery and money laundering. McClain is serving a 6-year sentence, marking the end of a 14-year political career.
Source: The Birmingham News, 5/22/09
60 years: Rev. Sandy Martin Cook, 48. Kanawha, WV, convicted on 16 counts of sexual abuse by a parent or guardian and third degree sexual assault. The senior pastor of Shrewsbury Church of God targeted teenage boys.
Source: WSAZ, 5/14/09
1 month: Rev. John Caskey, 54, Morris, MN, possessing child pornography. Caskey was pastor of Assumption Parish in Morris and administrator at St. Mary's in Chokio and St. Charles in Herman. He resigned from those duties in December, when Caskey sent an inappropriate letter to an unidentified person.
Source: KARE11, 5/14/09
10 years: Paul Fontenot, 25, Ponchatoula, LA, pleaded ‘no contest’ to a sexual battery charge and was given a 10-year sentence. Fontenot was charged in connection with an alleged church-cult that was also a child-sex ring. He was one of seven members of the Hosanna Church indicted in the sexual abuse of three children. The pastor, Louis D. La Monica, 49, and Austin ‘Trey’ Bernard III, 40, were convicted of child rape by juries and are serving life sentences. Two other people have pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and have been sentenced. Two additional people have been charged with aggravated rape and await trial.
Source: The Advocate, 5//21/09
5 years: Rev. Daniel Cormier, 57, Montreal. Can., was convicted on sexual assault charges for marrying a girl, 10. The self-described pastor and head of the Church of Downtown Montreal, took in the girl's mother, a recovering prostitute. Relatives and parishioners describe him as a father figure, often taking the girl and her sister on vacations. On these trips, parishioners became suspicious of their relationship. Cormier believes he did nothing wrong, as he married the girl in a ceremony at his evangelical church. The victim testified she was too young to grasp the Idea of marriage. She denied entering a union with him but remembered the sexual abuse in vivid detail. Source: The Globe and Mail, 1/27/09
Resigned
Rabbi Leib Glanz resigned his positron as chaplain with the Department of Correction in New York City. Glanz was appointed during the Guiliani administration. He is being investigated to determine whether he misused his chaplain position to arrange a bar mitzvah celebration for an Orthodox Jewish inmate in December. He is accused of using his Influence to transfer Orthodox and Hasidic Jewish inmates from Rikers Island to a more hospitable Manhattan jail. The Manhattan District Attorney is looking into possible criminal conduct in connection with the bar mitzvah, such as whether money changed hands. Deputy Mayor Kevin Sheekey, the top political lieutenant of New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, had three mysterious meetings with the rabbi last fall.
Source: New York Times, 6/17/09
Man i hope this ego maniac sanford guy resigns. Visions of grandeur. A slave to superstition. A sex cultist. A power cultist. Good for nothing republicanzi.
...how the phrase "changing me" means one thing to Mark Sanford, and quite another thing to David Vitter.
The Christ complex Sanford exhibits reminds me of the cult classic film The Ruling Class. Peter O'Toole plays a character who is an English Lord who thinks he's Jesus Christ. When threatened he climbs up on a huge cross in the drawing room of his estate. Since he's a lord, they humor him instead of throwing him a mental institution. One of my favorites in college.
getting, that God's aleady forgiven your sin when you screw up, and you just need to "accept" His forgiveness. It seemed like no one was ever expected to try and make their wrongs right because God had forgiven them even before they got into any trouble...
To be forgiven according to the Catholic Church, you must ask for forgiveness, make restitution if possible, do penance and repent. Otherwise, confession just doesn't take.
But I spent almost 7 years as an evangelical, so that's what I was referring to.
One of the well known teachers who puts forth this idea is Joyce Meyer the televangelist...
Actually, that sounds about right across the board. This schema allows for the doctrine that God is omnipotent and can't be surprised, and merciful at the same time.
The main difference between the Protestants and the Catholics on this point is what do you do to deserve the forgiveness? Because of Renaissance era abuses of the RC (Church not Cola), the Protestants have a bug up their ass about works. They've tied themselves into oratorical knots (kinky huh?), concerning works over grace. But then the RC had the same difficulty arising during the 5th century with Pelagianism and semi-Pelagianism and later with the Quietists.
I look at religion or theology as a social system that teaches people how to live in a group. Some people have a tendency to exploit others and so there must be public pressure to behave and make restitution. I don't know the minutia of different Protestant sects and how they look at forgiveness. Do they require restitution to be forgiven?
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