Texas Church Cards People Who Patronize Adult Stores

Yahoo! News ^ | Sun Jan 25,11:35 AM ET | Sun Jan 25,11:35 AM ET

[AM2000]

KENNEDALE, Texas — It's 2:30 on a Thursday afternoon, and inside a windowless adult video store a dozen people are perusing XXX-rated movie titles. Pastor Jim Norwood surmises this because he has photographed the customers' cars in the parking lot, carefully adjusting his digital camera so that each license plate is in focus.

Each car owner will soon get a postcard in the mail from Norwood's Oakcrest Family Church. On the front will be a color photo of their vehicle in the video store parking lot. On the back will be a note: "Observed you in the neighborhood. Didn't know if you were aware there is a church in the area … please stop by next time. We'd love to have you visit."

Norwood, 56, who says he is a reformed drug abuser on a mission to rid the town of sexually oriented businesses, calls the postcards an "invitation to church."

Steven Swander, a lawyer for an adult business in the area, calls it intimidation. "To me the question is, are they doing it really to communicate their message, or are they trying to blackmail people, in a way, by embarrassing them?" Swander asked.

[dogbyte12]

Oh, this pastor needs to get a late night bingo group going at his church or something. This is stalking/spying. Adults are free to go to church or to an adult store without their photos being taken. It's not illegal, but I find his behaviour just as icky as those who go to sleaze joints. Very creepy.

[buffyt]

What the hey?????

[byteback]

What's the address? I need to gift them a Hustler subscription.

[steplock]

This is a good way to embarass sleazy people.

Maybe picture taking at the local park restrooms will out the local politicos "trawling" at night?

If you do not like people trying to maintain decency in your neighborhood - MOVE OUT!

That is called "Community Standards". When did that become a "bad thing" ??

[Dog Gone]

What's he trying to do, intimidate them into coming to his church?

This has to be the dumbest recruitment effort ever.

[lelio]

"Observed you in the neighborhood. Didn't know if you were aware there is a church in the area ? please stop by next time. We'd love to have you visit."

Signed "The Busy Body Church of Kennedale"

[dogbyte12]

Picket the store then. I have no problem with that. I just find undercover surveillance, internet searches, and postcards mailed to the homes kinda crappy. No, I wouldn't have a card sent to my home. Picketing would actually stop more customers than this anyways. People would not go into the store with picketers about.

I just think the police state should be left to the police is all. If ya want to protest, do it. Spying is not a good idea.

[Enterprise]

How is he finding out who the cars belong to? Inquiring criminal minds might like to know too so they can stalk pretty women, or stalk wealthy looking citizens.

[Hugin]

Norwood, 56, who says he is a reformed drug abuser

Why is it that so many reformed (whatever) are so obnoxiously self-rightious?

[Vigilanteman]

I don't know if you read the whole story. But Norwood has a compelling life history. He has been there, done that and his church is ministering to people like that. Based on what is written in the article, he sounds sincere and on the level.

Ponography is a disease, much like gambling or alcoholism. It is entirely possible that some of the patrons are seeking the help he is offering and just need a gentle push like a postcard.

[Larry Lucido]

Who still goes to adult stores anymore? Everything in there is available on the internet now. Or, so I'm told.

[Kakaze]

Farther along in the article, he blames umnlimited pornography for his slide into addiction & lawbreaking. Like a great deal of former smokers and addicts he's now a zealot blaming the "substance" of his abuse for the problem rather than acknowledging it was his own weakness that lead to his demise.

[zarf]

Maybe the pastor would be happy if these folks just discretely visited a hooker or something?

Next thing this pastor will be railing against masturbation. You can't win with some "religious" leaders.

[Benjo]

What's he trying to do, intimidate them into coming to his church?

Naw. I'm sure he's aware that patrons of a porn shop wouldn't go to his church in any case. It's the pastor's way of saying "We know who you are and what you're doing." Presumably then the porn patrons won't come back to the store anymore for fear their names might be trumpeted publicly (or their wives, daughters or employers notified).

[mhking]

"Mr. Simpson, we want you to come to church!"

Just damn.

If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[lelio]

If I were the porno store owner I would try and strike a bargain with him. Let him put some pamphlets near the cash register and quit spying on people. That way the minister can get to some of the people that want to break with their addiction without turning them off with his wacko police state tactics.

And its not like the porno store's business is going to collapse if one or two people stop coming in. And those one or two that go to the minister is probably a 100% increase from what he's getting now.

[76834]

I cannot recall ever hearing of a child being molested in an adult store or by any of their employees.

Cant say the same for any number of churches, pastors, priests, youth ministers or other "Godly" people.

Wonder why the "preacher" is so interested in the subject??

[El Conservador]

I think you liketh John Ashcroft too much...

This tactic is clearly intrusive and violates your right to privacy.

If you want community standards, then go to your local City Council and work for driving these establishments out of your town through ordinance, not by anointing yourself a moral crusader and piss off a lot of people in the process.