FBI Examines Pastor's Sermons On Culture

Religion Journal ^ | 2/7/2005 | LEE WARREN

[worldclass]

Nov. 23, 2004, started out like any other normal morning for Randy Steele, senior pastor at Southwest Christian Church in Mount Vernon, Ill., a town about 80 miles southeast of St. Louis.Then the phone rang. It was the FBI. Steele said they wanted to meet with him personally. After agreeing to a time later that same afternoon, he said his first thoughts turned to his congregation. "One guy opened a file," Steele said. "And he said, 'This is pertaining to a sermon that you preached on Memorial Day.' "

[worldclass]

If the FBI spent more time examining Mosques, PETA, the borders and such and less time with churches, we would be far better protected from threats.

Absolutely insane, irresponsible and downright scarry.

[DTogo]

Sounds like The Matrix, when the Agents first interview "Mr. Anderson."

[AnAmericanMother]

Obviously a field agent didn't get the word that Janet Reno is no longer the AG, and that Justice no longer considers conservative Christians the primary threat to the safety of this nation . . .

I guess not everybody over there can turn on a dime . . .

[Balding_Eagle]

The miniter is working to make a mountain out of a molehill. This from the full article:

Steele said that after the two FBI agents examined his two sermons in question, they realized he was not a physical threat to abortion clinics and apparently dropped their investigation.

Had he actually made a physical threat (as his accuser falsely alleged), the FBI would have gone further. As it is, based on actual history, they were obligated to do what they did.

His gripe should be be about why mosques etc. don't get the same scrutiny.

[opus86]

His gripe should be be about why mosques etc. don't get the same scrutiny.

Perhaps mosques don't get the same scrutiny because none of the attendees report the imam to the FBI.

[wmichgrad]

Steele said that after the two FBI agents examined his two sermons in question, they realized he was not a physical threat to abortion clinics and apparently dropped their investigation.

The FBI acted on what turned out to be a false tip and closed their investigation. I do not see how this is insane, irresponsible or scary.

[FormerACLUmember]

The preacher denounced abortion.

The lucrative abortion industry sends its agents to monitor moral opponents to abortion, and then use Gestapo federal stooges to lean heavily on ethical folks like the good Reverend.

This was started by the evil Clintons, but in case you haven't noticed it is the Bush administration still doing the democrats' dirty work.

[worldclass]

"The FBI acted on what turned out to be a false tip and closed their investigation. I do not see how this is insane, irresponsible or scary."


Will every pastor who speaks on culture have to fear an FBI visit? Last summer I was concerned about what my pastor said on an issue; I wrote him, not the FBI and everything was clarified. Yet, here the FBI VISITS a pastor based on ONE complaint. That is insane, irresponsible and scary. Do they visit everyone they receive a complaint about, or only those that appear to threaten left-wing interests?

[worldclass]

Be careful. You just called Clinton evil and I really think you meant to say we should all physically attack him. I am going to report you to the FBI. They should be knocking on your door....now. :-)

Are your really ex-ACLU?

Thanks for the post.

[newgeezer]

After skimming the entire article, it sounds like the FBI did the right thing.

I have no reason to suspect the FBI would act any differently if it received a similar tip about a mosque.

Sometimes it seems as if a lot of this alleged "anti-Christian" stuff is a lot of hooey. Keep yelling "Anti-Christian! Anti-Christian!" often enough and, sooner or later, the defenders of freedom will no longer hear it. Then, when persecution really happens, no one will pay attention.

[wmichgrad]

I have no idea what FBI operating procedures are. I would guess that they would visit anyone about whom they received this kind of tip.

[redgolum]

Sounds like someone was yanking the FBI's, and the pastor's, chain.

Still, with the Philly 7 and all, I wonder how long till someone like this pastor ends up in jail.

[CyberAnt]

I don't think so! What if the guy WAS really advocating WAR against the abortion clinics .. wouldn't you want to stop that ..??

I don't believe in abortion - but I don't believe in killing people who have them, or perform them, or fire bombing abortion clinics - that's lunacy.

[taxesareforever]

Steele said that after the two FBI agents examined his two sermons in question, they realized he was not a physical threat to abortion clinics and apparently dropped their investigation.

Aw, the ole "don't threaten an abortion clinic" or your butt will be in a ringer. But as long as a Muslim is in a mosque inciting terrorist diatribe, well, that is okay.

[PAR35]

FBI examines pastor’s sermons on abortion & homosexuality
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1334618/posts
51 replies · 1,680+ views

[Prophet in the wilderness]

This story is just one example of what the feminist and the left are planing and scheming to do, to bring down and destroy our Christan organizations and institutions.
I was watching C - Span last June and heard this commencement speech by ( Barbara Ehrenreich , well known feminist and socialist ) to a woman's collage. ( the speech is 1/3 down this page http://hereticscorner.typepad.com/the_heretics_corner/politics/ ).
In her speech, she said that the feminist need to " infiltrate, and subvert ( to bring down and destroy ) the Christian and Islamic organizations and institutions ".
Make no mistake, the feminist and the left have their armies out in force to infiltrate ( moles ) and to cause mayhem in our churches and organizations.
I resent the fact that she and the feminist equate Christianity with radical Islam.
It's time the Christians wise up to this fact and be on the lookout for moles in out churches and organizations.
Make no mistake about it, those feminist and leftist are already in our churches and institutions now.

[gracie1]

DING! DING! DING! WE HAVE A WINNER!

It's not that the FBI investigating a complaint that's the problem here. It's the mole sitting in the congregation that dropped a dime on her pastor, playing a game of "gotcha", Her hope was to intimidate him into silence.

[worldclass]

"What if the guy WAS really advocating WAR against the abortion clinics .. wouldn't you want to stop that ..?? "

I doubt if he would do it in a sermon at church and it would probably have received far more attention from the congregation if he had done so.

No, this is simply a case of the FBI over-reacting to a basis left-wing complaint.

[CyberAnt]

"I doubt if he would do it in a sermon at church"

I don't! A lot of people who attend a church have no idea about the beliefs of their Pastor or church leaders.