Last week, it was reported that Oklahoma State Rep. Sally Kern had introduced legislation that would restrict the "use of incompatibility as a ground for divorce" in the state, changing the law to prevent couples from getting divorced is "there are living minor children of the marriage, the parties have been married 10 years or longer, [or] either party files a written objection to the granting of a divorce."
On Friday, Alan Colmes had Kern on his radio program to "defend" the bill ... and I put the word "defend" in quote because she didn't really defend it at all. In fact, she didn't really seem to even understand her own bill.
When Colmes asked Kern why those who had been married for more than 10 years couldn't get divorced, Kern said that she didn't know and that it would probably be taken out. And when Colmes asked her why the state was mandating that couples could not get divorced if one party objected, Kern insisted that that provision was really more of a "cooling off provision" that was designed to protect the "due process rights" of the other party who might not want to get divorded. But, as Colmes pointed out, Kern's bill does not state that it is a "cooling off" provision, but rather flatly prevents couples from getting divorced, Kern insisted that that "was not the intent of the bill."
Really? That's a little difficult to understand considering that the text of the bill makes it pretty clear that is exactly its intent. (Interestingly, notice how Kern's bill still allows for divorce on the ground of "impotency" while eliminating it on the grounds of "incompatibility"):
STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 52nd Legislature (2010)
HOUSE BILL 2279 By: Kern
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to marriage, amending 43 O.S. 2001, Section 101, which relates to grounds for divorce; restricting the use of incompatibility as a ground for divorce; and providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 43 O.S. 2001, Section 101, is amended to read as follows:
Section 101. The district court may grant a divorce for any of the following causes:
First. Abandonment for one (1) year.
Second. Adultery.
Third. Impotency.
Fourth. When the wife at the time of her marriage, was pregnant by another than her husband.
Fifth. Extreme cruelty.
Sixth. Fraudulent contract.
Seventh. Incompatibility. Provided, however, that the court shall not grant a divorce on the ground of incompatibility if:
1. There are living minor children of the marriage;
2. The parties have been married ten (10) years or longer; or
3. Either party files a written objection to the granting of a divorce.
Eighth. Habitual drunkenness.
Ninth. Gross neglect of duty.
Tenth. Imprisonment of the other party in a state or federal penal institution under sentence thereto for the commission of a felony at the time the petition is filed.
Eleventh. The procurement of a final divorce decree without this state by a husband or wife which does not in this state release the other party from the obligations of the marriage.
Twelfth. Insanity for a period of five (5) years, the insane person having been an inmate of a state institution for the insane in the State of Oklahoma, or inmate of a state institution for the insane in some other state for such period, or of a private sanitarium, and affected with a type of insanity with a poor prognosis for recovery; provided, that no divorce shall be granted because of insanity until after a thorough examination of such insane person by three physicians, one of which physicians shall be a superintendent of the hospital or sanitarium for the insane, in which the insane defendant is confined, and the other two physicians to be appointed by the court before whom the action is pending, any two of such physicians shall agree that such insane person, at the time the petition in the divorce action is filed, has a poor prognosis for recovery; provided, further, however, that no divorce shall be granted on this ground to any person whose husband or wife is an inmate of a state institution in any other than the State of Oklahoma, unless the person applying for such divorce shall have been a resident of the State of Oklahoma for at least five (5) years prior to the commencement of an action; and provided further, that a decree granted on this ground shall not relieve the successful party from contributing to the support and maintenance of the defendant. The court shall appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the insane defendant, which appointment shall be made at least ten (10) days before any decree is entered.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2010.
Reading through this article about a proposed Christian prison in Oklahoma, I kept thinking to myself that there has got to be some Religious Right involvement in this ... and lo and behold there is, as Pat Robertson's ACLJ has already agreed to defend it against any constitutional challenges:
A 150-acre site on the edge Wakita has been selected, and an agreement has been reached with Corrections Concepts Inc. to manage the 600-bed prison if and when it is built ... [Bill] Robinson said the $42 million project would be financed with bonds.
A bond underwriting company said that if a government jurisdiction will commit to sending 310 inmates at a cost of $42.80 a day, bond sales can begin, and the project can proceed.
...
Robinson, himself an ex-con and prison minister, said he had been working for years on the idea of an all-Christian prison, and he had invested $1.3 million so far on construction plans and other expenses.
He said a lot of prisons have faith-based or Christian units, but he knows of none with an all-Christian staff.
"The staff, being all born-again believers, will see this as a mission," he said.
"I want people to understand what it's about. It's about changing criminals into citizens."
The prison would accept only men near the end of their sentences who volunteer to come into the prison and sign an agreement to participate.
They would work full time at private industries that operate inside the prison, get job training, and earn money.
The money would go to support their families, pay restitution to their victims, contribute to their own room and board, and produce a nest egg they can take when they leave prison.
Classes in literacy, General Educational Development requirements and life skills would be offered, and Wayland University, a Christian college in Plainview, Texas, has agreed to put a satellite campus in the prison.
"They don't have to go to church, or Bible study, but they have to participate in the curriculum, which is Christ-centered," Robinson said.
He possesses legal opinions that say that as a religious organization, the prison will be able to hire only people of like faith, he said.
If constitutional challenges arise, he said, the American Center for Law and Justice, a major Christian law firm, has agreed to represent the ministry for free.
As David Weigel reported a few weeks ago, during one of Grover Norquist’s weekly breakfast meetings, some participants hit up the idea of launching a pledge for members of Congress to take vowing not to vote on healthcare reform legislation unless they’d read the entire bill.
A short time later, Let Freedom Ring announced its "Responsible Healthcare Reform Pledge" which has, to date, secured several dozen congressional commitments to do just that.
But one name that is not on the list is Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe, and for good reason:
At a town hall meeting Wednesday Sen. Jim Inhofe told Chickasha residents he does not need to read the 1,000 page health care reform bill, he will simply vote against it.
“I don’t have to read it, or know what’s in it. I’m going to oppose it anyways,” he said.
Back in June he similarly decided that he didn't even need to bother meeting with Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor because he wasn't going to vote for her anyway:
Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) is dead set on voting against Sonia Sotomayor's nomination. In fact, he's so certain of his position that he refuses to even meet with her.
Sotomayor has been meeting privately with Senators over the last few weeks, but when it was Inhofe's turn, he declined.
Inhofe's spokesman explained that since the Senator has already decided to vote against the nomination, there's no reason to waste time on a sit-down discussion.
It sure must make the job of being a senator easier when you just decide in advance that you aren't going to support something and thereby can avoid the tedious task of actually understanding an issue so that you can cast an informed vote on it.
Back in May we found out that fourth annual Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ conference was going to feature right-wing luminaries like Janet Porter and Peter LaBarbera, among others.
The fourth annual Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ conference, July 24-25, was another smashing success. Another near capacity crowd on Friday night enjoyed educational and inspirational messages from Janet Folger Porter, Lt. General Jerry Boykin, Peter LaBarbera, and Dr. John Morris. The conference is intended to bring believers together from all over the state to encourage them to take a strong stand for truth in our decaying society. In addition, it is hoped that the conference will help to awaken and activate pastors who, in turn, will lead their congregations to join the struggle for the soul of America. Pastors from across the state of Oklahoma attended and this year’s conference was visited by pastors from Iowa as they are beginning work to Reclaim Iowa for Christ.
...
Janet Folger Porter, founder of Faith2Action, spoke first and reminded those in attendance that God is bigger than anyone or anything else and sits above the earth to insure that His people ultimately win the victory. She said that, although we may often feel like “grasshoppers in the fight,” we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus. On Saturday afternoon, she challenged believers to attempt great things for God and reminded us that He often uses the most unlikely of candidates to do big things for Him. She ended by challenging believers to attempt “bigger things for God than we can do on our own.”
Peter LaBarbera, founder of Americans for Truth, a group dedicated to exposing the homosexual activist agenda, reminded the crowd Friday night that Americans are in a battle to preserve the biblical model for sex and marriage. He shared how the homosexual activists often gain the upper hand by redefining the terms, misrepresenting the facts. No one “labels” Christians as having a phobia for opposing pornography or infidelity, yet when we stand against the sin of homosexuality the left attempts to guilt believers into silence by labeling them as homophobes. He urged believers to unapologetically stand for Biblical morality no matter how loudly the homosexuals protest. On Saturday morning, Peter discussed the medical risks of the homosexual lifestyle. He emphasized the irony of our government’s attack on tobacco use while it essentially ignores the proliferation of STD’s and AIDS by homosexuals. LaBarbera closed by emphasizing that Christians do not hate homosexuals but rather, desire that they experience the forgiveness and transformation that comes from knowing Jesus.
What the Reclaiming Oklahoma coverage doesn't report is that LaBarbera didn't merely note the "irony" that the government is ignoring "the proliferation of STD’s and AIDS by homosexuals," he actually called for a federal study of the issue:
When it comes to combating cigarettes, the government not only restricts, taxes and bans smoking, it also funds and encourages anti-smoking messages and advertisements. Given the immense health risks of male homosexual sex, shouldn’t the federal government do a comprehensive study on the matter, tax sodomitic establishments, and educate the public and especially young people about the dangers of “gay” sex?
Speaking Friday at the annual Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ conference in Edmond, OK, Americans For Truth about Homosexuality (AFTAH) President Peter LaBarbera called for a comprehensive government study on the heath risks of homosexual sex.
LaBarbera read from a Food & Drug Administration (FDA) report explaining why “men who have sex with men” (MSM) cannot donate blood due to the high incidence of sexually transmitted diseases linked to MSM. He noted that since government agencies and politicians are active in confronting the health risks of smoking (using taxpayer dollars), they should do the same for homosexual sex — especially between men — which appears to be as dangerous or more so than smoking cigarettes.
I have no idea on what LaBarbera is basing his assertion that gay sex is more dangerous than smoking ... and neither does he apparently, because the only link he provides to any sort of "evidence" makes no such claims or comparisons.
And, let's just imagine that the government did undertake this sort of study - what exactly would it do then? Institute bans or taxes on gay sex?
Anyway, the biggest development from the conference seems to be the resurrection of Coral Ridge Ministries' Center for Reclaiming America, which shut down back in 2007:
A highlight of this year’s event was the announcement that Coral Ridge Ministry is allowing Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ to carry on the legacy and work of Dr. D. James Kennedy.
Reclaim Oklahoma will be more actively working with other states in awakening pastors from across the nation to take back their own communities and states in an effort to Reclaim America for Christ.
The article mentions that there are already efforts underway to create a similar organization in Iowa, and with the announcement that organizers seek to spread the effort throughout the nation, it looks like we'll be hearing a lot more about the effort to "reclaim America for Christ" in the months and years ahead.
Apparently, not all Republicans in Oklahoma are pleased with the spectacle that Rep. Sally Kern has been making of herself over the last year, at least according to an email that Brenda Jones, an active Republican in the state and owner of Jones PR, which describes itself as "Oklahoma's most senior-level team of experts accredited in national public relations," sent to Gary Jones, the Chairman and Executive Director of the Oklahoma Republican Party.
The Republican Party needs to do something about this.
About a year ago when you and I talked about the future direction of the Party, I stated that the Party needs to stay focused on economic growth, jobs, jobs, jobs, stay true to our anti-tax and pro-business platform. No Party, no group, no any person can ever win new members and sustain its base when the public image is single focused on legislating morality. Especially in these difficult times when people are losing jobs and retirement funds are vanishing, economic growth and a vision for a prosperous future is what will attract young people. This judgmental rhetoric on morality is exactly what repels people away from the Republican Party; and frankly, contracts our core principles for less government and liberty.
A year ago after Sally Kerns [sic] received national coverage on her “terrorist” comment, Oklahoma immediately lost 2 companies who were a week or two away from announcing they were moving to Oklahoma and bringing high-paying engineering and technology jobs.
I was horrified at the Republican National Convention when I personally witnessed her seeking CNN, FOX News and other national media cameras on the convention floor because I knew she would embarrass not only Oklahoma but the entire Republican Party with her inflammatory decisive rhetoric.
My great aunt and uncle built Olivet Baptist Church as members since the late 1930s. Now they are 90 years old and were forced to leave Olivet a couple years ago because they were made to feel that they were going to hell because they are registered Democrats, although they are strong conservatives who voted for Ronald Reagan and both Bushes. She and her husband are politicizing God’s pulpit. It is starting to look scary and a bit like that crazy church in Kansas. They are up to something, and it’s not good.
Gary, we can never build Oklahoma’s Republican Party as long as Sally is the face of our Party. Everyone keeps touting “Ronald Reagan.” As someone who worked for him very closely for 9 years and in The White House West Wing, he rebuilt and grew our Party by attracting Independents and Democrats by standing strong on economic issues and national security. Of course, he strongly opposed abortion and supported many family value issues, but he advocated for these issues from the heart and not a bully pulpit. For example, he strongly opposed the gay agenda. But from concern and compassion about the gay community’s health, he started a Presidential Commission on AIDS to bring healthcare and other leaders to the table to discuss how to stop the spread of AIDS and HIV for the common good of the country. President Reagan understood that his duty was to protect ALL Americans, although he may disagree with their life choices, which is their liberty that does not need government intrusion.
This is very damaging to Oklahomans, Oklahoma Republican growth, and the Republican Party at the national level.
It's odd that Jones seems to rely so heavily on the memory of Ronald Reagan in criticizing Kern as the sort of thing that is keeping the state party from moving forward considering that one of Reagan's most famous axioms came to be known as the "Eleventh Commandment: Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican."
Kern insists that what gays really want is to destroy marriage so that they can legalize polygamy and pedophilia, saying that the push for gay marriage is just the beginning of the effort to "take away the Bible." She claims that the government is "being intolerant of those who hold Biblical views" and that what she merely wants is "laws that protect the most people in all situations" instead of passing laws that make legal "behavior that we know is harmful."
When Colmes asked her if she thinks that being gay ought to be illegal, Kern responds that "it used to be illegal" but insists that she doesn't want to put gays in jail ... but then insists that "we need to get back to our Judeo-Christian values where we have a sense of things that are right and wrong and we should not have a government that's out there promoting behaviors that we know are harmful."
Obviously, her insistence that "we need to get back to our Judeo-Christian values" harkens back to a time when gays were thrown in jail, so Colmes asked her again if she thinks that those who engage in gay sex should be arrested, to which she responds "no, unless they are doing that in some way that is illegal, like maybe trying to entice children."
Of course, trying to entice children is already illegal and will forever remain illegal, regardless of what happens on the issue of full equality for gays - but Kern is so obsessed with the notion that all gays are pedophiles that she just can't understand that obvious point.
We mentioned this earlier this week, but via HRC's Back Story we see that Oklahoma's News 9 has done a segment on Rep. Sally Kern's Proclamation for Morality in which she blames the nation's current economic and other problems on gays, abortion, divorce, and all around lack of Christian faith:
News 9 has also posted a copy of the proclamation, which you can read here [PDF]:
WHEREAS, the people of Oklahoma have a strong tradition of reliance upon the Creator of the Universe; and
WHEREAS, we believe our economic woes are consequences of our greater national moral crisis; and
WHEREAS, this nation has become a world leader in promoting abortion, pornography, same sex marriage, sex trafficking, divorce, illegitimate births, child abuse, and many other forms of debauchery; and
WHEREAS, alarmed that the Government of the United States of America is forsaking the rich Christian heritage upon which this nation was built; and
WHEREAS, grieved that the Office of the president of these United States has refused to uphold the long held tradition of past presidents in giving recognition to our National Day of Prayer; and
WHEREAS, deeply disturbed that the Office of the president of these United States disregards the biblical admonitions to live clean and pure lives by proclaiming an entire month to an immoral behavior;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we the undersigned elected officials of the people of Oklahoma, religious leaders and citizens of the State of Oklahoma, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world, solemnly declare that the HOPE of the great State of Oklahoma and of these United States, rests upon the Principles of Religion and Morality as put forth in the HOLY BIBLE
[Pastor Paul Blair of Fairview Baptist Church in Edmond, Okla.] is founder of a group called Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ, an outreach to pastors that encourages church leaders to take a stand against the spread of immorality in American culture. He is urging pastors across the nation to stop being silent and muster the courage to speak out against efforts to criminalize Christianity. He said church leaders have abandoned the prophetic call and have chosen instead to be CEOs of competitive church businesses rather than proclaiming "faith in Christ alone and repentance from sin."
"Pastors used to speak strongly about issues – like when Billy Sunday led a crusade, and the next thing you know, liquor was outlawed. So they made a difference," he said. "The year 1954 is when pastors began to grow timid because, all of the sudden, they had this misguided notion that they might lose their tax exemption if they made too much noise."
Shortly after ministers grew silent, prayer and Bible reading were taken out of schools. The sexual revolution immediately followed, along with Roe v. Wade. Now, he said, attacks on Christian liberty and morality have become more brazen and coordinated than ever – with widespread movements to legalize homosexual marriage, the Department of Homeland Security's efforts to profile Christians as "potential terrorists" and strategies to silence pastors through hate crimes legislation.
...
Blair is stepping up the effort by calling on "patriot pastors" to lead their congregations in three areas: 1) evangelizing and leading people to Christ to change the culture 2) educating people about the truth of America's Christian heritage and real threats like the Hate Crimes Prevention Act and 3) contacting elected representatives by writing letters and participating in petition drives.
His church is planning a special Memorial Day weekend sermon where he will bring in a 150-foot crane to fly the American flag as he warns his congregation of attacks on freedom.
"We absolutely will be addressing the fact that freedom isn't free," he said. "We'll talk about the great sacrifice that was paid for the liberty we enjoy and how there are attacks on that liberty not just abroad, but here at home."
Accompanying this article was this ten minute video in which Blair runs through the litany of right-wing lies about hate crimes legislation:
While watching it, my first thought was “this sounds an awful lot like the nonsense Janet Porter has been peddling” which, as it turns out, makes sense because Blair’s organization has ties to Porter, having signed on to her recent effort to pressure Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to resign.
It made even more sense when I saw that she was going to be a featured speaker at the upcoming Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ Conference:
The 2009 conference will be held on July 24 and 25 at Oklahoma Christian University in Edmond.
Scheduled speakers include Peter LaBarbera from Americans for Truth, Dr. John Morris from the Institute for Creation Research (ICR), LTG (Ret.) Jerry Boykin, one of the original members of the U.S. Army's Delta Force, and Faith2Action President Janet (Folger) Porter.
Boykin, you may recall, made news a few years back when he declared that we were at war with Islam and that our “spiritual enemy ... will only be defeated if we come against them in the name of Jesus” but that we would eventually win because our God is real while they worshiped an idol. Since leaving the military, he’s hooked-up with fringe Religious Right figures like Rick Scarborough and now, apparently, Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ.
In fact, ROC seems to have some pretty significant ties to a variety of second and third-tier right-wing leaders. According to its website, its 2008 conference featured the likes of David Barton, Bill Federer, and Mat Staver. The organization also participated in the “One Day Crusade” events put on by Scarborough and Gordon Klingenschmitt before the election last year and was deeply involved in rallying support for Oklahoma legislator Sally Kern, the self-proclaimed “warrior for Judeo-Christian values” who declared that the “homosexual agenda” was “the biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam.”
It seems that while we were busy not paying any attention this organization, they were busy building relationships with a variety of more high-profile right-wing leaders and organizations to whom we do pay attention. And since they seem to be treating ROC as a legitimate ally, I guess we’re going to have to start trying to pay a bit more attention to what they are up to.
Last week, we pointed to an article regarding Oklahoma Rep. Sally Kern's appearance at a John Birch Society conference during which he proclaimed that she had discovered the gay agenda in a book called “After the Ball" and calling for a spiritual awakening in America, saying that "only then does our nation have a chance of overcoming the scourge of AIDS, HIV and the devastating destruction that the homosexual lifestyle is bringing on your children and our grandchildren."
Now, via Pam's House Blend, we see that, in response to Kern's statements, Scott Jones, pastor of the Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ in Oklahoma City, penned an op-ed explaining that what gays really want is equal treatment, nothing more:
There are more than 1,100 civil rights heterosexuals enjoy that are denied to those of us who are LGBT. Most of those rights heterosexuals don’t even realize they have and would not be aware of until they were denied access to them — rights like visiting your loved ones in the hospital or inheriting the home that you and your spouse share when one of you dies. LGBT couples have to spend about $10,000 in legal fees to create the various legal arrangements to get around some of these inequalities, but others can’t be gotten around.
Jones was invited by Rep. Al McAffrey, who is also gay, to deliver a prayer before Wednesday’s House session and that is when things got interesting as conservatives in the House tried to prevent Jones' prayer from being recorded in the House record:
The Rev. Scott Jones thanked his legislator, Rep. Al McAffrey, who asked him to pray to open Wednesday’s House session and acknowledged several in the gallery – "dear friends, my wonderful parents, and my loving partner and fiance, Michael.”
When McAffrey, D-Oklahoma City, asked in the session’s closing minutes that Jones’ prayer be made part of the House journal, the chamber’s official record, Rep. John Wright objected and called for a vote.
With 16 members having already left, the House voted 64-20 to include Jones’ prayer in the House journal.
Among those voting no was Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City, who a year ago called homosexuality the biggest threat facing the United States.
"I’m sure that because most of Scott’s congregation are gay people and Scott is gay himself, I’m sure that’s the reason why there were negative votes on it,” McCaffrey said.
Other than Jones introducing his male partner, McCaffrey said he couldn’t’ see how anyone could have a problem with his prayer.
"I don’t know what was controversial over that.”
Contacted later, Wright, R-Broken Arrow, said the practice of including a minister’s prayer in the House journal usually is reserved for Thursdays, the last workday for legislators.
"It has not been the practice to put every day’s prayer in the House journal,” he said.
He conceded he didn’t concur with comments made by Jones, who except for his opening comments, gave a generic prayer to a "holy and everliving God” and paraphrased the prophet Isaiah.
"I don’t know if it’s important to create an inflammatory issue out of something because that is not my intent,” he said.
Wright said his motion was "not meant to be derogatory nor divisive nor in any way trying to cause diminishment of someone’s sense of self-worth.”
"My actions were motivated by the faith, so now if you want to take it and cause the public to be inflamed about it, well, that’s at your feet,” Wright said.
McAffrey, the Legislature’s only openly gay member, said he’s never heard a legislator object to a prayer being made part of the House journal during his three years there.
The crowd in the banquet hall at the Character Conference Center, housed in an old Holiday Inn in downtown Oklahoma City, sat packed, rapt with attention as Oklahoma state Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City, told them she’d found it: the gay agenda.
Kern said the agenda is in a book called “After the Ball,” by Marshall Kirk and Hunter Madsen, a book named after a musical adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s “Lady Windermere’s Fan.” She recounted the bullet points of a secret public relations campaign to have gays accepted by the general public — step by step — with the final goal being not just acceptance of gays by heterosexuals, but eventual triumph of homosexuality as a superior lifestyle.
Among the items in the agenda, Kern said, was getting the public to view homosexuality as a matter of taste, like a preference for strawberry or vanilla ice cream. She quoted the text: “The masses should not be shocked and repelled by premature exposure to homosexual behavior itself.”
“You know,” Kern said. “I’ve done a lot of reading on this. I wish I could describe to you their behavior. I will not because I would be redder than this suit. It’s their behavior that we oppose.
“This theme of equality and freedom is the approach that the homosexuals are using today — totally perverting the true intention of what our Constitution meant. … The homosexuals get it — it’s a struggle between our religious freedoms and their right to do what they want to do.”
Around the banquet hall, Kern’s speech met with applause and calls of “Amen!” from a crowd stoked in a crucible of conspiracy and intrigue. For the whole day, the “Clouds Over America” conference, run and organized by the John Birch Society, held lecture after lecture Jan. 23 and 24 dedicated to explaining their various conspiracy-laden tenets. Here’s one — that a godless secret society, the Illuminati, has been battling against the founding of the United States of America and decent citizens to live in peaceful, worshipful freedom.
Kern called for a new “Great Awakening,” referring to a period of religious revivals from the 18th century considered precursor to the American Revolution.
“The solution is another Great Awakening, folks,” Kern said. “We need a spiritual revival, and that will only come if God’s people, especially you pastors, will stand in your pulpits and vocally preach the word of God and thus declare the Lord this sin, and preach it in love, only then does our nation have a chance of overcoming the scourge of AIDS, HIV and the devastating destruction that the homosexual lifestyle is bringing on your children and our grandchildren.”
Be sure to read the whole thing, because it just gets crazier from there, with speakers explaining that America is not really at war with Islamic fundamentalists, but rather a vast Communist conspiracy that includes the Council on Foreign Relations, the World Trade Organization, the Federal Reserve, the United Nations, and every US Secretary of State.
