Posted on 03/22/2005 5:58:03 AM PST by Dr. Marten
CLEARWATER - Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge George Greer left his church last week after the pastor wrote him a letter suggesting "it might be easier for all of us" if he leave.
Greer, whose orders on the Terri Schiavo case have brought him criticism, is a Southern Baptist who attended Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater.
Though he had other unrelated problems with the church, Greer's attendance faltered after a Baptist publication the church supported criticized his decisions in the Schiavo case. He stopped his donations to the church, but remained a member. He briefly discussed his relationship with the church in a March 6 St. Petersburg Times article.
Four days later, Calvary Pastor William Rice wrote Greer a letter: "I am not asking you to do this, but since you have taken the initiative of withdrawal, and since your connection with Calvary continues to be a point of concern, it would seem the logical and, I would say, biblical course."
Rice's letter became public when he sent a copy to the Clearwater courthouse. Rice also said the church supports keeping Schiavo alive, though he said he was "truly saddened and embarrassed by the level of harassment and vitriolic nature of so many comments that purportedly come from people of faith."
Rice, who has been pastor at the church for five months, added: "But you must know that in all likelihood it is this case which will define your career and this case that you will remember in the waning days of life. I hope you can find a way to side with the angels and become an answer to the prayers of thousands."
Greer responded with a letter severing his relationship with the church.
I felt you got to the point and covered the issue without wasting a lot of words. I admire that.
Too bad you were not representing her. This whole thing is a sham, and the husband looks guilty as hell.
05C20, Uijongbu, Korea, '65 - '67.
Judge Greer also parted ways with Florida law when he failed to terminate Michael Schiavo's custody rights, as Florida law clearly states he must when faced with a "conflict of interest" on the part of the spouse. If a new common-law wife and two children doesn't constiture such a conflict, then nothing ever will. Greer's conduct should result i his impeachment and removal from the bench, regardless of this case's outcome.
This is not about the right to die for me. It is about the who has the right to decide. Michael is an unfit guardian by any measure. I know what would happen if this was my daughter. Heaven help me for what I'm thinking. There, my thoughts are clear again.
Too bad she never had a lawyer. May God comfort her in this dark hour and bring her renewed into His Eternal Light.
No, no no. In fact, I'm partly basing the punishment on a) seriousness and b) repetition. Not "who it is" - how did you get that?
And please forget the smart-alecky "oh, you're so perfect?" rhetorical straw-man attitude.
Withholding discipline isn't love.
"In Alabama Michael lost all spousal rights including guardianship when we decided to live with another woman."
He should be charged with bigamy. I am certain that is still illegal in Florida.
In defence of the church, it is evident that Greer has had many chances to repent, from the bench, and refuses to do what is right. He has a body of witnesses to testify to this effect. It is best the Church do what it has done.
He isn't married to the other woman, yet. He is commiting adultery which is still against the law in FL
I believe a Judge can have a prejudice against certain laws. Especially when it comes to killing an innocent human being.
I do not believe in separation of conscience from the law. Civil disobedience would be absent and that would allow an unjust law to prevail.
There has to be some law of man he is breaking that would render him unfit to be her guardian. He's broken a few of God's laws.
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The church is not required by law to retain Greer as a member, is it?
Hey CG, he is breaking the law..Adultery... FL has adutery laws that do include jail time.
NO, it isn't. Greer can attend any church that will have him.
Thanks for posting the reality of the Bible not the liberal PC interpretation:
What happened to hate the sin not the sinner, or is that just a slogan?
Jesus said
"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector." (Matthew 18:15-17)
The Apostle Paul said
"I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people–not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. Expel the wicked man from among you." (I Corinthians 5:9-13)
Good for this church and this pastor.
"He is commiting adultery which is still against the law in FL"
Apparently a law they conveinently chose to ignore.
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