SOUTHERN BAPTIST COMPROMISE WITH LGBT AGENDA & CORPORATE GIANTS BY FORCING CHRISTIANS INTO SILENT DEFEAT & SUBMISSION TO THE WORLD
TRAITOR TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH
& THE CONSTITUTION VETOES
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM BILL; BOWS TO CORRUPT, UNGODLY FORCES
ANNE HATHAWAY IN INSET ABOVE
Georgia Governor Bows to Pressure From NFL to Veto Religious Freedom Bill
SEE OUR PREVIOUS POST:
BY BREITBART.COM
SEE: http://the-trumpet-online.com/georgia-governor-bows-to-pressure-from-nfl-to-veto-religious-freedom-bill/; republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:
Georgia Governor Nathan Deal has vetoed a religious liberty bill after the NFL and other large corporations pressured him to make the decision.
The Republican governor vetoed House Bill 757, a bill aimed to protect faith-based believers from being forced to participate in gay weddings, saying it was “discriminatory.”
During his announcement Gov. Deal slammed religious Georgians for their belief in traditional marriage and insisted that the “character” of the state was at risk. Deal went on to claim Georgia is a “welcoming state” that stands against discrimination against gays even at the cost of the loss of religious freedom.
The veto comes on the heels of campaigns mounted by numerous members of the entertainment industry such as Cocoa-Cola, Disney, Time Warner, and even sports concerns such as the NCAA and the National Football League — all of whom warned that they would cancel further projects planned for the state if the religious liberty bill was signed into law.
The NFL in particular warned it would eliminate Georgia from the running for future Super Bowls while the NCAA said it may ban playoff games from being played in the Peach State.
“NFL policies emphasize tolerance and inclusiveness, and prohibit discrimination based on age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other improper standard. Whether the laws and regulations of a state and local community are consistent with these policies would be one of many factors NFL owners may use to evaluate potential Super Bowl host sites,” the NFL said in a statement last week.
In fact, Gov. Deal’s office already reported that two development deals were canceled over the threat of the law but did not detail what projects he meant.
Still, only minutes after the veto was announced, State Senator Mike Crane called for the upper chamber to override the governor’s veto.
Senator Crane said Deal’s veto “is another example of how the political class is bought and paid for by corporations and lobbyists. Rather than standing up and protecting the 1st Amendment, the political class would rather sacrifice those rights to keep the money flowing.”
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Anne Hathaway's Mother speaks
FOR GAY MARRIAGE
Uploaded on May 24, 2009
Anne Hathaway's Mother speaks FOR GAY MARRIAGE at NEW YORK'S EQUALITY AND JUSTICE DAY 2009 in Albany for all the LGBTQ bills for the year.
Uploaded on May 24, 2009
Anne Hathaway's Mother speaks FOR GAY MARRIAGE at NEW YORK'S EQUALITY AND JUSTICE DAY 2009 in Albany for all the LGBTQ bills for the year.
Anne Hathaway at 2008 HRC Los Angeles Dinner
Georgia’s GOP Governor Vetoes Religious Liberty
Report Starts at 5 Minute Mark
Anne Hathaway, Weinstein Company Among Those Urging Georgia's Governor to Veto a Bill That Threatens the LGBT Community
BY
SEE: http://www.people.com/article/hollywood-urges-georgia-governor-veto-religious-liberty-bill; republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:
As Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal decides whether to approve the controversial "religious liberty bill" that would allow faith-based business owners to cite religious beliefs in denying services to same-sex couples, the outcry from Hollywood has been swift and decisive: veto or say goodbye to the "Hollywood of the South."
On Thursday, the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest organization supporting the LGBT community, issued an open letter signed by nearly 40 Hollywood heavyweights telling Deal they would no longer work in the state if the recently passed House Bill 757 is signed into law.
"We pride ourselves on running inclusive companies, and while we have enjoyed a positive partnership on productions in Georgia, we will plan to take our business elsewhere if any legislation sanctioning discrimination is signed into state law," the letter states.
Its signers include Anne Hathaway, Julianne Moore, Matt Bomer, Lee Daniels, Seth MacFarlane, Ryan Murphy, Aaron Sorkin, Marisa Tomei, Harvey Weinstein and others who also pointed out the financial ramifications of losing their support.
"As you know, Atlanta is often referred to as the Hollywood of the South. During the last fiscal year, at least 248 films and television productions were shot in Georgia, adding at least $1.7 billion in direct spending to the state's economy.
"Only two states – California and New York – have a larger entertainment industry footprint and both have statewide non-discrimination laws on the books," it continued.
The bill landed on Deal's desk on March 16 after Georgia lawmakers signed the bill after more than three years of legislation. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the bill would allow faith-based businesses to deny services to those who are not in line with their "sincerely held religious belief," as well as the right to fire employees who do not concur with their views.
Conservative groups including the Faith and Freedom Coalition are urging people to contact the governor to support the bill, which has been condemned by the state's pro sports franchises and leading tech corporations, including Apple, Intel, PayPal and Yelp.
Hollywood has been particularly outspoken in its opposition to the bill. In addition to Thursday's letter, The Weinstein Company issued a statement vowing to cease production of the latest Lee Daniels film if the bill passes.
"The Weinstein Company will not stand behind sanctioning the discrimination of LGBT people or any American. We have plans in place to begin filming Lee Daniels' new film in Georgia later this year, but will move the production if this unlawful bill is enacted. We hope Governor Deal will veto bill HB 757 and not allow sanctioned bigotry to become law in Georgia," a company spokesman said Thursday.
The company joins Disney, Viacom, Starz, 21st Century Fox and Lionsgate in speaking out against the bill.
"Disney and Marvel are inclusive companies, and although we have had great experiences filming in Georgia, we will plan to take our business elsewhere should any legislation allowing discriminatory practices be signed into state law," a company spokesman said Wednesday, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
AMC, which films its hit series The Walking Dead in the state, also condemned the measure while stopping short of boycott promises.
"As a company, AMC Networks believes that discrimination of any kind is reprehensible. We applaud Governor Deal's leadership in resisting a previous version of this divisive legislation and urge him to reject the current version as well," it said per THR.
Deal has until May 3 to sign the bill. Although he has yet to comment on it since it was passed by the state legislature, he expressed concerns about it earlier this month – and is well aware of the pressure he's receiving from corporations who oppose it.
According to the AJC, the Baptist Republican governor said early this month that he would reject any measure that "allows discrimination in our state in order to protect people of faith."
"I hope that we can all just take a deep breath, recognize that the world is changing around us, and recognize that it is important that we protect fundamental religious beliefs," he also said. "But we don't have to discriminate against other people in order to do that. And that's the compromise that I'm looking for."
On Thursday, the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest organization supporting the LGBT community, issued an open letter signed by nearly 40 Hollywood heavyweights telling Deal they would no longer work in the state if the recently passed House Bill 757 is signed into law.
"We pride ourselves on running inclusive companies, and while we have enjoyed a positive partnership on productions in Georgia, we will plan to take our business elsewhere if any legislation sanctioning discrimination is signed into state law," the letter states.
Its signers include Anne Hathaway, Julianne Moore, Matt Bomer, Lee Daniels, Seth MacFarlane, Ryan Murphy, Aaron Sorkin, Marisa Tomei, Harvey Weinstein and others who also pointed out the financial ramifications of losing their support.
"As you know, Atlanta is often referred to as the Hollywood of the South. During the last fiscal year, at least 248 films and television productions were shot in Georgia, adding at least $1.7 billion in direct spending to the state's economy.
"Only two states – California and New York – have a larger entertainment industry footprint and both have statewide non-discrimination laws on the books," it continued.
The bill landed on Deal's desk on March 16 after Georgia lawmakers signed the bill after more than three years of legislation. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the bill would allow faith-based businesses to deny services to those who are not in line with their "sincerely held religious belief," as well as the right to fire employees who do not concur with their views.
Conservative groups including the Faith and Freedom Coalition are urging people to contact the governor to support the bill, which has been condemned by the state's pro sports franchises and leading tech corporations, including Apple, Intel, PayPal and Yelp.
Hollywood has been particularly outspoken in its opposition to the bill. In addition to Thursday's letter, The Weinstein Company issued a statement vowing to cease production of the latest Lee Daniels film if the bill passes.
"The Weinstein Company will not stand behind sanctioning the discrimination of LGBT people or any American. We have plans in place to begin filming Lee Daniels' new film in Georgia later this year, but will move the production if this unlawful bill is enacted. We hope Governor Deal will veto bill HB 757 and not allow sanctioned bigotry to become law in Georgia," a company spokesman said Thursday.
The company joins Disney, Viacom, Starz, 21st Century Fox and Lionsgate in speaking out against the bill.
"Disney and Marvel are inclusive companies, and although we have had great experiences filming in Georgia, we will plan to take our business elsewhere should any legislation allowing discriminatory practices be signed into state law," a company spokesman said Wednesday, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
AMC, which films its hit series The Walking Dead in the state, also condemned the measure while stopping short of boycott promises.
"As a company, AMC Networks believes that discrimination of any kind is reprehensible. We applaud Governor Deal's leadership in resisting a previous version of this divisive legislation and urge him to reject the current version as well," it said per THR.
Deal has until May 3 to sign the bill. Although he has yet to comment on it since it was passed by the state legislature, he expressed concerns about it earlier this month – and is well aware of the pressure he's receiving from corporations who oppose it.
According to the AJC, the Baptist Republican governor said early this month that he would reject any measure that "allows discrimination in our state in order to protect people of faith."
"I hope that we can all just take a deep breath, recognize that the world is changing around us, and recognize that it is important that we protect fundamental religious beliefs," he also said. "But we don't have to discriminate against other people in order to do that. And that's the compromise that I'm looking for."
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March 24, 2016
Office of the Governor
206 Washington Street
111 State Capitol
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
Dear Governor Deal,
As leaders in the entertainment industry, we have deep concerns about H.B. 757, which would
sanction discrimination against LGBT people and others in Georgia.
As you know, Atlanta is often referred to as the Hollywood of the South. During the last fiscal year,
at least 248 films and television productions were shot in Georgia, adding at least $1.7 billion in
direct spending to the state's economy. Additionally, the entertainment industry helped to bring
more than 100 businesses to Georgia through relocation or expansion in the past fiscal year. Only
two states -- California and New York -- have a larger entertainment industry footprint and both
have statewide non-discrimination laws on the books. Unfortunately, Georgia not only lacks such a
law, but could soon move from a bad situation to worse with H.B. 757.
We pride ourselves on running inclusive companies, and while we have enjoyed a positive
partnership on productions in Georgia, we will plan to take our business elsewhere if any
legislation sanctioning discrimination is signed into state law.
We urge you to veto H.B. 757 and send a strong message that Georgia will not tolerate
discrimination against citizens, employees and visitors to the state.
Thank you in advance for your consideration of this urgent issue.
Sincerely,
Ali Adler, Writer and Producer
Greg Berlanti, Writer and Producer
Matt Bomer, Actor & Simon Halls, Publicist
Dustin Lance Black, Screenwriter and Filmmaker
Bradley Bredeweg, Executive Producer and Showrunner, Kristin Chenoweth, Actress and Singer
Diablo Cody, Writer, Producer and Director
Bruce Cohen, Producer
Lee Daniels, Producer and Director
Lucy Fisher, Co-Head, Red Wagon Entertainment
Dana Fox, Writer and Producer
John Goldwyn, Producer
James Gunn, Writer and Director
Anne Hathaway, Actress
Alan Hergott, Entertainment Attorney
Kevin Huvane, Talent Agent
Nina Jacobson, Producer
Dan Jinks, Producer
Kathy Kennedy, Producer
Zoe Kravitz, Actress
Bryan Lourd, Talent Agent
Seth MacFarlane, Writer, Producer and Director
Laurence Mark, Producer
Frank Marshall, Producer and Director
Brendan Mason, Producer
Neil Meron, Producer
Julianne Moore, Actress
Ryan Murphy, Producer
Max Mutchnick, Producer
Peter Paige, Executive Producer and Showrunner
Rob Reiner, Actor, Director and Producer
Sarah Schechter, Producer
Adam Shankman, Director and Producer
Aaron Sorkin, Writer
Marisa Tomei, Actress
Gus Van Sant, Producer and Director
Bob Weinstein, Producer
Harvey Weinstein, Producer and Film Studio Executive
Doug Wick, Co-Head, Red Wagon Entertainment
Craig Zadan, Producer and Director.
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Governor Deal Caves to Perverts, Hollywood, and Big Business!
SEE: http://the-trumpet-online.com/governor-deal-caves-to-perverts-hollywood-and-big-business/; republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:
Don Boys, Ph.D.
Governor Nathan Deal permitted himself to be bullied, badgered, and blackmailed into doing a shameful, sordid, and senseless act. He vetoed legislation (House Bill 757) that would have protected churches, Christian schools, mission boards, etc., from militant, mad, and malicious homosexuals. Contrary to published reports the bill would not have protected Christian-owned businesses in their refusal to advance a perverted lifestyle.
Neal looked pathetic in his office with a disreputable gaggle of left wing activists figuratively standing beside him twisting his left arm behind his back as he vetoed the bill. The twisting was done by Georgia’s homosexual community, pathetic transgenders, the Hollywood crowd, the ACLU, Disney, Coca-Cola, the NFL, Democrats, and other far leftists.
Deal, now known as “the pathetic puppet of the perverts,” made an obviously untrue statement when he declared: “I do not respond very well to insults or to threats. The people of Georgia deserve a leader who will make sound judgments based on solid reasons that are not inflamed by emotion.” Nathan caved to some of the most despicable people on earth proving his statement to be a lie. Georgia does not have such a leader in him. His veto was not one of “sound judgments” or based on “solid reasons.” This action smells of the foul odor of capitulation, cowardice, and corruption.
The Governor said that one reason he vetoed the bill was because people of faith don’t have to worry about discrimination because of the “broad protections of the First Amendment of the United State Constitution.” Nathan must have been living in a cave for the last few years. The first amendment has been skewed and twisted like a pretzel to where Christians have lost what protection they used to have. That’s exactly why this bill was so important! Without this bill, preachers and Christian school administrators will be made criminals because of their biblical principles. That is pre-Bill of Rights days.
A news report declared, “Republican majorities passed the bill to broadly protect people acting on their religious beliefs. It would have protected clergy who won’t perform gay marriages and people who won’t attend a wedding for religious reasons. Churches and affiliated religious groups also could have declined to serve or hire someone based on their faith.”
However, the bill’s adversaries said it would permit discrimination and could trample local ordinances protecting LGBT people. In this up-side-down world where right is wrong and wrong is right, it has become acceptable, even desirable, to take rights away from Christians and favor the discriminators who try to force us to change our deeply held beliefs.
Furthermore, the bill had been “watered down” where it offered no protection to a business person with biblical convictions being permitted to refuse to celebrate or endorse any kind of perverted behavior. It would have only protected churches, Christian schools, mission boards, etc., so Deal’s veto was even more disgraceful, despicable, and deplorable than at first glance.
Money speaks and politicians listen. The Metro Atlanta Chamber, a business powerhouse, was a major player in this sell-out. So were Atlanta’s three professional sports teams. It was simply a cold, cruel, and cynical decision made disregarding the decent people of Georgia. The proponents of perversity used undisguised threats of boycotts to control the Governor. Now, maybe it’s time to boycott Coca-Cola, Disney, all three Atlanta sports franchises, the NFL, Time Warner, and all Hollywood movies. We should hit them where it hurts: their cash registers.
The powers-that-be made it clear that Atlanta would have no chance of hosting the Super Bowl if Bill 757 became law so Deal made a deal and sold his birthright for a bowl of porridge. How ironic it would be if Atlanta did not get the Bowl. At least Deal got his.
Deal said, “Our people work side by side without regard to the color of our skin, or the religion we adhere to. We are working to make life better for our families and our communities. That is the character of Georgia. I intend to do my part to keep it that way. For that reason, I will veto HB 757.” That is the reason! What is “that”? What does the color of one’s skin have to do with the freedom of Christians (or other religions) to simply practice their faith as they have done for centuries? Deal is trying to project himself as doing a brave and salutary act when he is more like the piano player in a whore house pretending he is totally innocent of what’s going on upstairs.
Deal failed to “keep it that way.” What he did was continue the status quo for a homosexual to require a Christian to cater to his perverse lifestyle such as bakers being forced to bake a cake celebrating homosexuality; photographers forced to photograph “gay” weddings; etc. He further failed to protect pastors who refuse to “marry” homosexuals. He failed to protect school girls who want to shower without a horney boy watching them.
I doubt Deal will sleep well tonight knowing he betrayed decency, decorum, honor, morality, the Scripture, and thousands of years of civilization. Deal chose to stand with the likes of the ACLU, LGBTQ, every Democrat in the General Assembly, the transgenders, the National “gay” rights groups, the Big Business Boys, and other totalitarians.
But his sleep will also be disturbed by courageous Republicans who plan to override his veto, and his pastor should make immediate plans to bring him under church discipline. He told Republicans to “recognize that the world is changing around us.” But I will remind him that God doesn’t change.
The Governor showed himself to be a weak, wishy washy, wimp trying to ingratiate himself to the most radical groups that are a scab on the face of civilization.
I think the Governor needs to make an appointment for a spinal transplant but he will need to get in line behind Governor Pence of Indiana.
Boys’ new book was just published by Barbwire Books; to get Evolution: Fact, Fraud, or Faith? click here . An eBook edition is also available.
(Dr. Don Boys is a former member of the Indiana House of Representatives; ran a large Christian school in Indianapolis, wrote columns for USA Today for eight years; authored 15 books and hundreds of columns and articles for Internet and print media publications; defended his beliefs on hundreds of talk shows. These columns go to newspapers, magazines, television, and radio stations and may be used without change from title through the end tag. His web sites are www.cstnews.com and www.Muslimfact.com and www.thegodhaters.com. Contact Don for an interview or talk show.)
Follow Dr. Boys on Facebook at CSTNews and TheGodHaters, Twitter, and visit his blog.
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The Baptist-on-Baptist fight within Georgia’s ‘religious liberty’ debate
SEE: http://the-trumpet-online.com/the-baptist-on-baptist-fight-within-georgias-religious-liberty-debate/; republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:
BIll Coats – Pastor – First Baptist Church – Gainesville, Georgia
April 2, 2016
Gov. Nathan Deal announces that he was vetoing religious liberty legislation at a Monday press conference in his ceremonial office. Bob Andres, bandres@ajc.com
Very seldom do you hear governors wax theological. Even then, they usually stick to the noncontroversial basics: Thou shalt not steal, honor thy father and mother, and beware of demagogues with comb-overs.
But if you were among those packed into Nathan Deal’s office last Monday, you saw something different. Tucked within the governor’s veto message on “religious liberty” legislation was a solid blow struck in the 35-year-old fight over what it means to be a Baptist in the South.
House Bill 757 was intended to offer legal protection to opponents of same-sex marriage. In his rejection of the measure, the governor went old-school Baptist. Danbury Baptist. Jefferson-and-the-wall-of-separation Baptist.
“I find it somewhat ironic that today some in the religious community feel it necessary to ask government to confer upon them certain rights and protections,” Deal said. “If indeed our religious liberty is conferred by God and not by man-made government, we should heed the ‘hands off’ admonition of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.”
When it comes to religion, even when legislatures try to do good, Deal said, “the inclusions and omissions” in the laws they draft can lead to trouble. “That is too great a risk to take,” he said.
If you were raised anything other than Southern Baptist, there’s a good chance you didn’t hear that dog whistle. Others did.
In the immediate aftermath of the veto, the governor was called a minion of the Antichrist and worse. But perhaps the sharpest criticism came from Albert Mohler, the president of the Louisville, Ky., seminary that serves as the flagship school of the Southern Baptist Convention.
In one of his daily podcasts, the seminary president declared Deal’s veto to be “fueled by a theological agenda,” as well as an economic one.
Mike Griffin (right), the public affairs director for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, steps away as Timothy Head (at podium), national executive director of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, speaks against the veto. Conservative groups held a press conference Tuesday to address Gov. Nathan Deal’s veto of the religious liberty bill. Bob Andres, bandres@ajc.com
Mohler pointed out that the First Baptist Church of Gainesville, where Deal and his family are members, was among those that split from the denomination during the great Southern Baptist schism, a series of battles for the institutions of the denomination that rocked Georgia congregations from the 1980s through the turn of the century.
The seminary president also noted that when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned state bans on gay marriage, Deal’s pastor, the Rev. Bill Coates, opined that whether Baptist clergy conducted same-sex ceremonies was a matter that should be left to individual congregations.
“It is all of a piece,” Mohler concluded. Never mind that the deacons of the governor’s church voted not to allow them.
The Southern Baptist schism erupted in clashes over inerrancy — is the Bible the literal word of God or open to interpretation? — and the role of women in church leadership.
“Fundamentalists” rejected the ordination of women. “Moderates” embraced it. In each case, the key point was whether these positions should be decided congregation by congregation or were an inviolable part of being a Southern Baptist.
Fundamentalists won: Literalism and a ban on female clergy became part of Southern Baptist orthodoxy. Moderate churches, whose members included President Jimmy Carter and Governor Deal, departed and formed the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
One byproduct of the fundamentalist victory — the winners now prefer the term “conservative resurgence” — was a shift in the denomination’s detached attitude toward government and political activity, which had its roots in that letter from Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist Association endorsing “a wall of separation between Church & State.”
The Southern Baptist Convention quickly became a major force for social conservatism within the national Republican Party — and remains so today.
In that sense, the Georgia fight over same-sex marriage and religious liberty has become another chapter in Baptist vs. Baptist argument.
In the state Capitol, lobbyists for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board have served as the primary force driving the issue. Other major denominations have declined to be involved. The state’s Catholic bishops, including Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta, this week reiterated their opposition to any legislation that discriminated.
Backers of HB 757 now realize that their main opponent, Nathan Deal, is a member of a Baptist denomination that still prefers a wall of separation between church and state.
The Rev. Bill Coates, the governor’s pastor, took a few days off last week. The Easter holiday can be hectic. But we reached him by email and asked him whether the governor’s veto reflected the values of the First Baptist Church of Gainesville.
“My perception is that the great majority of our congregants are very supportive of Governor Deal’s veto of this bill — primarily for two reasons,” Coates replied. “First, we hold to the strong historical Baptist principle of separation of church and state.
“The second is personal: We know Nathan Deal the man, the strong Christian who has held numerous positions of leadership and influence in this church and who worships faithfully.”
Coates characterized his most prominent congregant as a conservative Christian who knows he can’t always govern the state through his own personal beliefs.
“For example, some years ago he supported a measure which expanded the sale of alcoholic beverages on Sundays even though he personally does not drink at all,” Coates wrote.
On Thursday, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and House Speaker David Ralston said they wouldn’t back a legislative override of the governor’s veto. But they intend to bring the issue back next year.
It will be a somewhat refined debate in 2017: Legislators will be asked to decide which Baptist brand of religious liberty they prefer.
