Alveda King

Following the NAACP’s endorsement of marriage equality, the anti-gay right quickly pounced on the news.

Alveda King, as always, tied the topic to the question of abortion rights and claimed to speak for her uncle and other relatives in claiming that the King family has always opposed the “homosexual agenda”:

"Neither my great-grandfather an NAACP founder, my grandfather Dr. Martin Luther King, Sr. an NAACP leader, my father Rev. A. D. Williams King, nor my uncle Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. embraced the homosexual agenda that the current NAACP is attempting to label as a civil rights agenda," says King, founder of King for America and Pastoral Associate for Priests for Life.

"In the 21st Century, the anti-traditional marriage community is in league with the anti-life community, and together with the NAACP and other sympathizers, they are seeking a world where homosexual marriage and abortion will supposedly set the captives free.”

Stephen Broden, a Republican politician who has said that the violent overthrow of the government should be “on the table,” dubbed the NAACP “irrelevant”:

Stephen Broden, pastor of Fair Park Bible Fellowship in Dallas, notes that the black community is suffering from soaring unemployment, an extraordinarily high rate of abortions, a high school drop out rate among black teenagers that is breathtaking, an exploding rate of single parent households and the decimation of black families.

Yet, Broden says, the NAACP is making statements about same-sex marriage. “The NAACP has proven again to be an irrelevant organization as it relates to issues of survival for the black community,” says Broden who co-authored Life at All Costs with King and Gardner. The book addresses issues such as abortion and homosexuality.

Domestic violence perpetrator turned “pro-family” activist Timothy Johnson called on African Americans to ditch the NAACP and join his own group, the Frederick Douglass Foundation:

"When you recognize that the black community is strongly a Christian-based group of people, conservative in most of the things they believe, the NAACP has gone diabolically the opposite direction of tradition of the black community," he states. "[The NAACP] really is doing this in order to stay relevant and in order to build up their revenues as it relates to what they can get from the gay community."

…

"... I think those individuals who call themselves Christian or call themselves Jewish who are members of the NAACP should denounce the organization, should cancel their membership, and really look for something else or another organization such as the Frederick Douglas Foundation to be affiliated with," he states.

Nebraska pastor Dan Delzell warned in the Christian Post that “homosexual acts become like a drug for those who give into this dangerous temptation”:

Martin Luther King's dream was that "little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers." President Obama's dream seems to be that little black boys and little white boys will watch their teenage brothers go to prom together....and eventually enter into a legal marriage with one another. Did Martin Luther King have this dream for little black boys and little white boys?

…

President Obama is leading the way on gay marriage for what he hopes will be a large following of black pastors and their congregations. Many black pastors are not following his lead. The vast majority of pastors in the black community do not want the children in their church being taught that homosexual behavior is no longer sinful. They do not want the teenagers in their church experimenting with homosexuality. These pastors know that, like other sexual sins, homosexual acts become like a drug for those who give into this dangerous temptation.

…

God is not a cosmic killjoy. That is why He created sex for man and woman to enjoy in marriage. We would be wise to share the biblical teaching on sexuality with every young person in America. Otherwise, the sexual dream that gets planted in their mind by a well-meaning preacher or politician could quickly turn into a never-ending nightmare.

Frank Pavone, the head of the prominent anti-choice group Priests for Life, has been suspended from his position because of concerns over financial improprieties. Pavone is a priest in the Roman Catholic diocese of Amarillo, Texas, but has used his position in Priests for Life to be a full-time political activist. He garnered national attention during the Terri Schiavo case when he called her husband Michael “a murderer.” He gained more notoriety after bringing in Alveda King to Priests for Life, when he launched “Freedom Rides” in the South in an attempt to connect abortion rights opponents to the Civil Rights Movement. Pavone increased his standing by working with Republican leaders including John McCain and Sam Brownback. Catholics for Choice has consistently warned about financial inefficiencies in Pavone’s organization and “PFL’s electoral campaign-style selling of Pavone as antichoice personality.”

The Amarillo Globe-News reports:

Amarillo’s Roman Catholic bishop ordered a nationally known anti-abortion leader back to his diocese starting Tuesday, citing concerns about a “potential financial scandal” over the priest’s management of millions of dollars in donations.

The move against the Rev. Frank Pavone, announced in a fiery letter from Bishop Patrick J. Zurek to his fellow bishops across the country, ignited a clash reaching all the way to Rome. Pavone said he’d comply with the suspension of his public ministry outside Amarillo, but he’d already appealed to the Vatican.

Priests for Life, Pavone’s Staten Island, N.Y.-based charity, “has become a business that is quite lucrative, which provides Father Pavone with financial independence from all legitimate ecclesiastical oversight,” Zurek wrote in his Sept. 9 letter. Pavone’s fame, Zurek added, “has inflated his ego.”

…

The steady flow of donations has been accompanied by growing worries over how the money is used, according to Zurek’s letter.

“The financial questions and concerns have persisted with no clear and adequate answers since the time when Father Pavone was under two previous bishop ordinaries,” Zurek wrote.

Pavone called Zurek’s assertions that he has refused to provide financial documentation “completely false.”

Pavone said in a statement:

This past week, however, I received a letter from the Bishop insisting that I report to the Diocese this Tuesday, September 13 and, for the time being, remain only there.

I am very perplexed by this demand. Despite that, because I am a priest of the diocese of Amarillo, I will be obedient and report there on the appointed date, putting the other commitments that are on my calendar on hold until I get more clarity as to what the bishop wants and for how long. Meanwhile, I continue to retain all my priestly faculties and continue to be a priest in “good standing” in the Church. The bishop does not dispute this fact. Rather, he has said that he thinks I am giving too much priority to my pro-life work, and that this makes me disobedient to him. He also has claimed that I haven’t given him enough financial information.

…

Therefore, in the interest of preserving my good reputation as well as protecting the valuable work done by the Priests for Life organization, I have begun a process of appeal to the Vatican. This process aims to correct any mistaken decisions of the bishop in my regard and to protect my commitment to full-time pro-life activity for my whole life. We are very confident that the Vatican will resolve this matter in a just and equitable fashion. Because of this confidence, we are not currently making any changes in any positions at Priests for Life, or in any of our projects and plans.

• Follow this logic: Peter LaBarbera is angry that liberals are attacking Chick-Fil-A while he simultaneously calls for a boycott of Chili's.
• Rick Santorum does not support Mitch Daniels' call for a "truce."
• Alveda King will receive the 2011 Cardinal John J. O’Connor Pro-Life Hall of Fame Award.
• Bryan Fischer says Republicans in the House should refuse to fund implementation of the DADT repeal so as to save soldiers from being "forced to share open-bay showers with leering homosexuals and living quarters with fellow soldiers who may want to jump your bones."
• Finally, do you want to watch Cindy Jacobs ramble on for ten minutes about the situation in Egypt?  Of course you do.

As Brian noted earlier, Live Action has finally gotten around to releasing its hoax video attack on Planned Parenthood, despite the fact that Planned Parenthood had already reported the "potential sex trafficking" to law enforcement officials.

And despite the fact that Live Action's Lila Rose got her start working with James O'Keefe and that this new video heavily resembles O'Keefe's own notorious ACORN smear job, Religious Right are already lining-up behind Rose and using the video as an excuse to attack Planned Parenthood:

Marjorie Dannenfelser - President, Susan B. Anthony List

"The exploitive roots and track record of Planned Parenthood is a largely untold story that now cannot be ignored. The horror of the logic behind Planned Parenthood's founding has come to roost in this modern form: it is the primary partner of those who degrade and exploit women. The exploitation of women by men through abortion was vehemently rejected by the early feminists. Yet today's footage and the unbroken trail of like evidence is a natural extension of founder eugenicist Margaret Sanger's worldview, who saw vulnerable citizens like African-Americans, the poor, and immigrants as 'human weeds' and 'reckless breeders.' She believed 'the most merciful thing a large family does to one of its infants is to kill it.' Certainly, this is not a heritage that embraces the intrinsic value of every human being. The unbroken chain of examples of such exploitation is appalling, and to further the injustice, this organization insists that it deserves the continued support of taxpayers. The moment for taxpayers to reject their compulsory involvement in Planned Parenthood has arrived. If it stays in business at all, it should do so on its own dime."

Abby Johnson - Former Planned Parenthood Clinic Director turned Pro-Life Advocate, Author of Unplanned

"As a former Planned Parenthood director, it is not surprising to me that this organization would protect individuals involved in sex trafficking. It actually seems like a natural fit. Planned Parenthood is involved in the violent killing of children and has no regard for life. People who traffic these young women for sex have no regard for their lives and are often involved in violent crimes. As someone who has witnessed this connection first hand as a clinic worker, I am so thankful Planned Parenthood's connection to this industry is being exposed."

Marie Tasy - Executive Director, New Jersey Right to Life

"New Jersey taxpayers and every state and federal elected official and law enforcement agency throughout this country should be outraged that an organization claiming to conduct 'extensive community outreach' has been caught on tape doing everything in its power to conceal the sexual abuse and exploitation of girls as young as 14. When Planned Parenthood says they provide 'family planning' services and brags that 'we welcome everyone -- regardless of race, age, income, sexual orientation, or disability,' what they really mean is that they're willing to make money on anyone, even child sex slaves."

Tony Perkins - President, Family Research Council

"Planned Parenthood has again proven that they are nothing more than a money-grabbing and highly corrupt abortion organization that will conceal a crime as disgusting as child prostitution -- and ensure that it quietly continues. Americans work too hard for their dollars to fund an organization this devoid of concern for young women and basic decency, much less to the tune of $350 million a year."

Dr. Charmaine Yoest - President & CEO, Americans United for Life

"This video will help Americans see the appalling truth behind Planned Parenthood's glossy public relations machine. The world's largest abortion provider poses as the defender of women's health in the glare of the spotlight. But when real women enter their doors, only money matters. We must make defunding Planned Parenthood a national priority: not one tax dollar should be given to fuel the abortion industry. Americans United for Life is proud to stand with Lila Rose and Live Action in their courageous work exposing the threat to women posed by the abortion industry and Planned Parenthood."

Wendy Wright - CEO, Concerned Women for America

"Sex traffickers will take their victims to abortionists to end pregnancies or test for sexually transmitted diseases in order to keep their victims usable for sale. Planned Parenthood has apparently realized this, and that they could make not only one sale, but repeat sales. Medical professionals are on the front lines to detect a sex trafficking victim and are duty-bound to rescue the victims. Imagine the crushing despair of a trafficking victim, taken outside the shadows to a 'respectable' government-funded health care provider, only to learn that they are partnering with the trafficker to assist his illegal abuse. This latest tape confirms that Planned Parenthood continues to partner with abusing men against the women and girls they claim to serve. Congress and state governments need to quit funding Planned Parenthood and their corrupt practices that abuse women."

David Bereit - National Campaign Director, 40 Days for Life

"As the father of a young girl, I cannot imagine any parent trusting Planned Parenthood with their daughter after watching this shocking and disturbing video. The revelation that a Planned Parenthood office is willing to aid and abet illegal trafficking of sex slaves -- to help line the pockets of pimps with cash -- raises the question: Who else is being exploited at Planned Parenthood's other 820 locations? This demands an immediate federal investigation for the sake of all our daughters, and -- at the very least -- Congress should freeze all taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood until the investigation is complete."

Kristan Hawkins - Executive Director, Students for Life of America

"This explosive video confirms what many of us in the pro-life movement have long suspected; that Planned Parenthood engages in practices that exploit women and underage girls in human sex trafficking and statutory rape. Now, thanks to this sting operation, we have the proof. Pro-Life students must share this video with their classmates, friends and teachers. Planned Parenthood can’t be trusted on -- or off -- campus."

Dr. Alveda King and Fr. Frank Pavone - Priests for Life

"Now we know that Planned Parenthood is not only targeting the abortion of black babies, but they are eager and willing to cover up the prostitution enslavement of young girls -- including minorities -- so long as they make money doing it. We must defund Planned Parenthood and their bogus claims of protecting women."

Yesterday I wrote a post noting that Alveda King is claiming that her anti-gay, anti-choice activism is the true legacy of her uncle Martin Luther King's "I Have a Bream" legacy ... but I didn't realize the true extent to which King believes that she alone represents MLK's legacy.

That is something I discovered, along with lots of other interesting things, from this Daniel Denvir profile King in Salon today:

King’s academic credentials have also raised eyebrows. She is regularly referred to as "Dr. Alveda King" in promotional material, although her doctorate is an honorary one, bestowed by St. Anselm College, a Catholic school in Manchester, N.H. And she could not recall why she was awarded the honorary degree.

"I guess for my stand on the support of marriage, and family, and education, and life."

...

In the late 1970s, King was elected to the Georgia state Legislature, where she served two terms as a Democrat -- a period she is not eager to recount.

"I’m not involved in politics anymore," she insisted. "Make sure you note that."

By the mid-1980s, King left office and began work on a romance novel, "Arab Heart." A few years later, she filed a lawsuit against Paramount Pictures, charging that Eddie Murphy stole her plot for his 1988 comedy "Coming to America."

"I gave the manuscript to be read by Eddie Murphy, and he decided to take that and cut me out," she said. "But that’s what happens in the industry."

In 1994, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against King, finding that her self-described "historical tale of romance and adventure" did not have "substantial similarity" to the film, noting that the former was a "serious work with few lighter overtones, whereas 'Coming to America' is a quintessential light romantic comedy."

...

King, who until recently went by Alveda Beal King, has political commitments born of a difficult personal life. She frequently describes the formative role played by her divorces and two abortions, holding tight to her family name even as she became estranged from family.

In 1994, she released a letter condemning Coretta Scott King’s support for abortion and gay rights, saying it would bring "curses on your house and your people...cursing, vexation, rebuke in all that you put your hand to, sickness will come to you and your house, your bloodline will be cut off."

...

Alveda is dismissive of her aunt, who died in 2006, saying, "I've got his DNA. She doesn't, she didn't...Therefore I know something about him. I'm made out of the same stuff."

On a related note, CNSNews.com ran an article today looking at King's claims that her uncle was anti-choice, noting that he had once accepted an award from Planned Parenthood. Of course, King dismisses this fact entirely:

He pointed out that Planned Parenthood, America’s largest abortion provider, awarded the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. its Margaret Sanger Award in 1966, and it highlights King's acceptance of that award on the organization’s Web site.

But Alveda King told CNSNews.com that the award does not prove her uncle supported abortion, and pointed out that Dr. King did not even attend the award ceremony.

“Mrs. Coretta Scott King knew that her husband, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was pro-life,” she said. “Mrs. Coretta King, who was pro-abortion, took and did read the (acceptance) speech, and accepted on behalf of her husband.”

In her analysis of the acceptance speech, Alveda King concluded -- based on the words spoken by Dr. King in his lifetime -- that the speech, and a subsequent letter thanking Planned Parenthood for the award, were not written by Dr. King.

“He did not write the speech. He did not deliver the speech,” she said. “There was a thank-you letter with what appears to be his signature on it, but he had other people who signed his letters in his office, so you can’t even really say he signed it.”

Basically, Alveda King has been cut off from the King family because she has made a career out of trading on the King name while peddling views that are diametrically opposed to those held by Martin Luther King Jr ... and so it only makes sense that Glenn Beck has tapped her to speak at his rally being held on the anniversary of MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech as Beck tries to claim King's mantle for himself.

Sarah Palin's decision to come rushing to Dr. Laura Schlessinger's defense last week after Schlessinger announced that she would be leaving her radio show because of criticism she received for repeatedly saying the "N-word" on a recent broadcast did not sit well with a lot of people, including us.

And it looks like it didn't sit well with a variety of Black conservative leaders either, though they seemingly tried to downplay their displeasure by issuing their statement blasting Palin for using "this incident as a stepping stone for her political ambitions" late on Friday night:

Dr. Schlessingers' use of the "N" word on her program was in poor judgment and an unfortunate choice for which she has apologized. While we do not condone her behavior, we accept her apology and understand she did not intend to offend. We are disappointed, however, that Sarah Palin used this incident as a stepping stone for her political ambitions, raising her political goals above principle, said leaders in the black prolife movement.

"Many of these politicians are involving themselves in matters that have nothing to do with them," said Day Gardner, President of the National Black Pro-Life Union. "Just as the President should not have involved himself in the Mosque issue in New York, or the Police incident in Massachusetts, Sara Palin should not have involved herself in this matter or -- the Georgia governors race where she supported a candidate that supplied funding to Planned Parenthood. Doing so caused us all to question her assertion that she is pro-life. Palin should forget about political leverage and deal with the righteous principles of human dignity." Gardner said.

"When I heard the caller on the Dr. Laura show, I wondered if she was a plant, someone designated to provoke a reaction from Dr. Laura," said Catherine Davis, a founding member in the black prolife movement. "It is unfortunate Dr. Laura took the bait. But Sarah Palin's insertion into the matter just seems opportunistic and political." she said.

"Every time Sarah Palin chooses politics over principle, something is lost," said Dr. Alveda King, Director of African American Outreach for Priests for Life. "Palin can't win by jumping into the game where the nefarious race card is being played."

"It's time to strike a nail in the coffin of racism in America," King continued. "Governor Palin could better use her time in trying to unite the human race. This battle can't be won with politics. This is a matter of the human condition -- and the human heart," concluded Dr. King.

Interestingly, Alveda King issued a separate statement announcing that she would be joining Glenn Beck's upcoming "Restoring Honor" rally, where Sarah Palin will also be speaking, as did Gardner ...  so maybe they will get a chance to voice their displeasure with Palin in person.

But honestly, I can't think of a better example of the absurdity of Beck trying to claim Martin Luther King's mantle by hosting his rally on the anniversary of MLK's iconic "I Have a Dream" speech than this decision to include the one member of MLK's extended family who least represents his legacy.

It is important to remember that when he is not hosting massive prayer rallys for young people, Lou Engle focuses on turning those spiritual warriors into activists through things like TheCall School where students can spend a semester engaged in a "disciplined schedule of prayer sets, awakening services, classes and training sessions led by Lou Engle and the leadership team of TheCall School" in order to prepare themselves to become members of TheCall's mobile prayer force called the "Prayer Strike Team":

The Prayer Strike Program is a ministry of the International House of Prayer in conjunction with Lou Engle and TheCall. From its base in Kansas City, teams will be developed and deployed to key regions in the earth where breakthrough is needed for the spreading of the Lord's justice and salvation. In those regions, the teams will engage in concentrated worship, prayer, and fasting. Like a military's air force, these teams will provide the needed “air support” for the "ground troops" – the onsite ministries and churches – to advance in the Lord’s assignments. Such a role is described in Paul’s exhortation: “Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for Me.” (Rom. 15:30)

Years ago, Lou Engle had a dream in which he was playing soccer. He was the goalie, and in the midst of the game, he heard the Lord’s voice repeating, “You are a striker, not a goalie. You are striker, not a goalie…” From that dream, he knew that God wanted to raise up a people who would go on the offensive instead of the defensive. They would take their intercession right into those places bound by injustice and gripped by evil. We believe that these Prayer Strike Teams will play a key role in God’s strategy in this hour of history.

And later this month, Engle's acolytes are launching something called 8:18 The Sign which is an effort to bring more African Americans into the movement:

The black community is in an hour of crisis!

Our community is bending underneath the weight of the spiritual and moral bankruptcy that has manifested in the leadership of the church.

As a people, the physical chains around our necks and lashes on our backs have ceased. We are no longer fighting for the right to vote, or the opportunity to drink out of a water fountain. However, the number of fatherless kids and single-parent families in our communities is astounding. Our teens are being swept away by music and media that promotes death, while our young men without purpose or hope, are filling up prisons cells and graveyards. HIV/AIDS, violent crime, illiteracy and poor education plague us while the death decree of abortion is exterminating us as a race.

Through the seemingly inexhaustible list of issues that grip us, it is clear that the battle in this hour is for the lives of our sons and daughters.

Engle, Harry Jackson, and Alveda King are among the "current members of the 8:18 Leadership Team":

-Rev. Arnold Culbreath
Protecting Black Life

-Dr.Alveda King
Priests for Life

-Catherine Davis
Georgia Right to Life

-Bishop Harry Jackson
High Impact Leadership Coalition

-Lou Engle
The Call

-Will Ford
Hilkiah Ministries

-Stacy Campbell
RevivalNOW! Ministries

-Christina Martin
IHOP-Atlanta

-Stuart Greaves
International House Of Prayer-KC

-Dehavilland Brown
Blacks United For Life

-Jonathan Tremaine
EastGate Studios,Inc.

-Pastor Kyle Searcy
Fresh Anointing House of Worship

-Faith Chilongo
Warring Ministries, Intl.

Here is a new video from Engle and crew announcing the effort to "raise up an army of African American children from the prayer movement that will bring forth justice and revival to this nation": 

I have to admit that it never fails to amaze me how anti-choice activists can take any issue and turn it into an excuse to talk about abortion:

Today, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reed, John Lewis and other members of Congress including John Boehner are unveiling a plaque honoring the efforts of Black slaves who helped build the nation's Capitol Building.

"It is appropriate to recognize the fact that our forefathers helped to build the Capitol," said Alveda King, Director of African American Outreach for Priests for Life, and a leader of the www.prolifefreedomrides.com campaign. "Yet, much more needs to be done. For example, amending then passing HR 40 which calls for an investigation of the impact of slavery on our nation. The harmful impact of abortion needs to be included in that legislation."

"Here's the part I don't get..." said Day Gardner, President of the National Black Pro-Life Union, "How can Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and others flash their pearly-whites in front of television cameras supposedly to honor black slaves yet adamantly support the genocidal killing of the great, great, grand children of slaves by abortion? Right here, in the nation's capitol, for every black child born--another is brutally killed by abortion."

The unveiling of the plaque takes place just days before "Juneteenth," which is the African American celebration of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

"If Congress really wants to honor African Americans, they can start by ending federally funded programs that allow abortion," said Alveda King.