FBI Questions Pastor

[Ovedya]

This type of thing could have a "chilling effect" on freedom of speech especially when it is intertwined with the freedom of religion.

What if those FBI agents had taken a "disliking" to this minister?....dangerous times we live in, not all that danger is coming from "foreign enemies".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Charlie,

It seems that you are making issue where there is no issue. I mean, you can "what if" until the cows come home, it doesn't make it an issue....

Back to the point I made earlier in this thread: The FBI keeps files on all high-status, high exposure figures. Why should that surprise anyone? They've done it for years. When someone has access to people's ears they have influence over people's minds. And when someone has that kind of control over large groups of people I think the FBI should know what kind of message they're preaching. What if that guy started talking like, "Hey let's all take up our rifles and march on down to the free clinic and start blowing away doctors and nurses in the name of the Lord!"? What if he encouraged a public lynching of a homosexual?

The fact is, free speach in this country has never been absolutely "free." With any freedom comes responsibility. As a citizen I want nutcases who could incite violence on file with the FBI. I want them keeping their ears pealed for radical Muslims, Christians - whomever - that could cause harm to myself and family just by the words that they speak.

[LOVE SONGS]

It took them 6 months to question him.

They may have been watching his every move.

And the guy never knew it.

LOVE and PEACE to everyone,

[RustyAngeL]

Then what happened?

[eric]

I agree with Ovedya. All public speakers should have their speeches or sermons monitored by the proper authorities.

Well IMHO,

eric.

[nebula]

I completely agree, IR.  There are certain organizations out there - Planned Parenthood and gay rights activists - that are sitting the pews of local churches and recording the sermons, and taking notes.  These are the real culprits, and these are the ones that, in my opinion, need to be preached directly to, and then kindly escorted out on their ears.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Don't forget the ACLU cult!

[WayneB]

Surely we don't believe that pastors should have some kind of immunity to police investigation when questions arise as to the content of their messages?

[Guest charlie]

I'm just saying that I'm glad the FBI didn't take a dislike to him; otherwise there could have been an abuse of power. I'm glad that didn't happen.

What amazes me is that they got one complaint on one minister and followed up but there were lots of warnings that we were going to be attacked on 9/11 and NOTHING to my knowledge was done to avert it.

>>When someone has access to people's ears they have influence over people's minds. And when someone has that kind of control over large groups of people I think the FBI should know what kind of message they're preaching. <<

Are you talking about preachers or politicians? FTR I don't think either should be immune to investigation when it's warranted.

Edited February 11, 2005 by charlie

[Eadora]

Ovedya you make the point:

Edited February 11, 2005 by Eadora

[apothanein kerdos]

Do you know what the Russian people called the Secret Police and the KGB in Stalinist Russia

They called them the

[Guest charlie]

I agree with Ovedya. All public speakers should have their speeches or sermons monitored by the proper authorities.

Well IMHO,

eric.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That sounds like something the Soviet Union would have done.