Name of ‘Jesus’ forbidden by NC House Speaker in prayer before legislative sessions

Published on: 20th July, 2010 |

By Verne Strickland

Blasphemy has intruded at the highest levels of government in the State of North Carolina.

Speaker Joe Hackney of the North Carolina State House has banned the word “Jesus” as illegal speech during public prayers offered by volunteer pastors before legislative meetings.

Here is the story as reported by Fox News Radio:

“I got fired,’ said Ron Baity, pastor of Berean Baptist Church in Winston-Salem. He had been invited to lead prayer for an entire week but his tenure was cut short when he refused to remove the name Jesus from his invocation.

Baity’s troubles began during the week of May 31. He said a House clerk asked to see his prayer. The invocation including prayers for our military, state lawmakers and a petition to God asking him to bless North Carolina.

“When I handed it to the lady, I watched her eyes and they immediately went right to the bottom of the page and the word Jesus,” he told FOX News Radio. “She said ‘We would prefer that you not use the name Jesus. We have some people here that can be offended.”

When Baity protested, she brought the matter to the attention of House Speaker Joe Hackney.

“I told her I was highly offended when she asked me not to pray in the name of Jesus because that does constitute my faith,” Baity said. “My faith requires that I pray in His name. The Bible is very clear.”

When the clerk returned, Baity said he was told that he would be allowed to deliver the day’s prayer – but after that – his services would no longer be needed.

Source of Fox News Radio story: http://prayinjesusname.org/blog_post/show/64

************************************************************************************************************

An incensed writer for The American Pundit responded: Stephan Tawney, Sat, Jul 10, 2010, 11:03 am

So he was fired for following his faith as a pastor. Why? Because some unnamed people might be offended by the word “Jesus” being uttered by a pastor as he delivers a prayer at the North Carolina capital. Apparently he should have prayed to Gaia to avoid offending anyone (except Christians, of course, who evidently don’t count when it comes to offense).

How long before using the word “God” gets you into trouble? We’re rapidly approaching the point where the only accepted politically correct church is that of government. You pray at the alter of government, worship its leaders, and honor the earmarks. That will be accepted, but no more of this silly “Jesus” thing.

http://amerpundit.com/2010/07/10/pastor-banned-from-nc-capital-for-saying-jesus/

****************************************************************************************************

RED STATE filed this statement on Hackney’s blasphemy against Jesus Christ, noting that North Carolina’s leaders have banned “five-letter word” – Jesus.

If the government believes it can regulate who we pray to, who will make the cut? Other five letter figureheads? Satan? Allah? Obama?

This country was founded on Christian Principles&, whether the Left likes it or not. While they may try to blot out bit by bit those foundational beliefs through legislation and obfuscation, Americans remember and WILL FIGHT BACK to restore them.

The only way to rescue America from the yowling jaws of Marxist hell is on our knees. The instructions are right there. For starters:

Matthews 5:44 – But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

Colossians 3:17 – And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 – Pray without ceasing.

No matter what the government says.

http://www.redstate.com/obis_sister/2010/07/10/five-letter-word-unwelcome-in-the-nc-house-of-representatives/

HACKNEY BIO

Joe Hackney (born September 23, 1945, in Chatham County, NC) is a Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state’s fifty-fourth House district, including constituents in Chatham, Orange, and Moore counties. A farmer and attorney from Chapel Hill, Hackney is currently (2009-2010 session) serving in his fifteenth term in the state House of Representatives and is the Speaker of the House.

AND HERE’S HOW TO REACH MR. HACKNEY

Representative Joe Hackney, Democrat

District: 54

Counties Represented: Chatham, Moore, Orange

Office: 2304 Legislative Building

Phone: 919-733-3451

Email: Joeh@ncleg.net

Legislative Mailing Address:

NC House of Representatives

16 W. Jones Street, Room 2304

Raleigh, NC 27601-1096

Home Address: 410 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd., Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Phone: 919-929-0323

Website: http://www.joehackney.com/

NoPortSouthPort: News & Observer Speaks Out

Published on: 17th May, 2010 |

Raleigh News & Observer

Published Sunday May 16, 2010

“North Carolina appears ready to submerge into another money sink: the proposed North Carolina International Terminal.” News & Observer, Raleigh, NC

The Real Answer to Local Property Crime

Published on: 2nd March, 2010 |

As property crime in the Port City soars out of control (up 19 percent this year alone), Wilmington Police Chief Ralph Evangelous railed to the City Council on Monday about thefts and burglaries.  The Chief said, “We are arresting and re-arresting these people over and over.  The rest of the system is failing us.”

The “rest of the system” to which the Chief refers is the county jail, the courts and the state’s prison and probation systems that turn out criminals as almost as quickly as they are arrested.

Chief Evangelous correctly pointed out that when arrested, property crime suspects typically receive low-bonds, allowing them to re-offend while awaiting trial.  Additionally many cases are “plea bargained,” meaning that numerous offenses result in only one conviction.

The result is what concerns Chief Evangelous the most:  officers may arrest the same person 30 to 40 times.  This means that these repeat-offenders, who are only a small percent of society, commit the bulk of the crime and, thereby, lower the quality of life of all of us.

To make matters worse, numerous prison closings and staff reductions in the N.C. Department of Correction are planned in the future.  The limited prison space, thanks to the General Assembly’s long-time refusal to fund prisons, means that prosecutors are forced to cut deals with criminals.  Weak sentencing laws (thanks again to the General Assembly) also tie judges’ hands, limiting their ability to incarcerate offenders.

So (besides cutting prison space!), what is the General Assembly doing to address a problem that they helped to create?  Get this — Liberals are trying to pass House Bill 1360.  What does it do?  It limits the types of felonies that can lead someone to be given a lengthy sentence as a habitual felon.  (Criminals qualify for habitual felon status after being convicted of a felony on three different occasions.)

In the case of property criminals the proposed law would mean suspects with multiple convictions for felony breaking and entering or breaking into a motor vehicle would NOT be considered habitual felons.  The result?  These criminals would receive lesser sentences.  Who’s the “crime fighter” sponsoring this bill:  Representative Phil Haire, a Democrat.  What is the justification Haire gives for his “Haire-brained” legislation?  Although he can offer no statistics, Haire claims that locking people up for nonviolent offenses isn’t stopping crime.  He misses the obvious – if they are locked up, they are not committing crimes.  Haire also falls back on other arguments from the liberal handbook:  it’s too expensive to lock-up the criminals and incarceration risks turning property offenders into more dangerous criminals.

Chief Evangelous is not buying these liberal excuses.  I don’t think you are and neither am I.  We know the answer to crime and it’s a simple one.  It’s one that I preached when I was Legal Counsel at the State Crime Commission.  We need swift and sure punishment for ALL criminals and a prison cell for everyone who deserves it – property criminals included! As your Senator, I will make no excuses and will hold any and all criminals responsible for their actions.  North Carolina and New Hanover County will be places were criminals walk in fear, not law-abiding citizens.

Don’t stop here! I purposefully made this article short and concise because I don’t want you just to accept my “spin.” Educate yourself by exploring further and by asking and answering your own questions.  See the article that started my inquiry:  “Wilmington police chief says repeat offenders committing bulk of crimes,” http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20100301/ARTICLES/3014007/1015/NEWS0101?Title=Wilmington-police-chief-says-repeat-offenders-committing-bulk-of-crimes

Want to sound off and be heard?  Contact Chief Evangelous at the Wilmington Police Department at 910-343-3600 and Representative Phil Haire at 828-586-1771. Let us know at Carolina Talk Network what you find out!  Email me at Thom@CarolinaTalkNetwork.com.

Habitual Felons to Serve Less Time

Published on: 5th January, 2010 |

Great news for habitual felons — you will serve less time in NC prisons thanks to a new law that recently went into effect.  It’s all part of the Democrat plan to not provide more prison space.

For months before the law was passed, newspapers around the state ran articles explaining how expensive it was to lock up habitual criminals.  Liberal criminal justice professors and Democrat politicians said we could save money by releasing hardened criminals early from prison.  Good news — the pro-habitual criminal lobby has  succeeded!

It does cost money to lock away career criminals.  However, it is much more expensive and harmful to let them loose on the public.

How can the same politicians who find money to spend on their favorite pork barrel projects, not fund the necessary prison space to keep dangerous, repeat criminals locked away?  The answer is simple — crime victims are random and have no constituency.  They have no lobbyists.  For the most part, victims of crime are just ordinary people who are raped, robbed and murdered by criminals who have many times committed numerous previous offenses.

Since passage of NC’s habitual offender laws, crime rates have gone down dramatically.  Why ruin a good thing?  The answer is simple — instead of keeping you and your family save, liberals want the money to spend on other things.

Don’t stop here! I purposefully made this article short and concise because I don’t want you just to accept my “spin.” Educate yourself by exploring further and by asking and answering your own questions.  See the articles that started my inquiry:

Legislature Slashes Sentences for Murderers and Rapists, http://www.nccivitas.org/media/publication-archive/policy-brief/legislature-slashes-sentences-murderers-and-rapists

NC Habitual Felon Law Prison Costs: $1.5 Billion, http://thecrimereport.org/2009/06/07/nc-habitual-felon-law-prison-costs-15-billion/ Where is any calculation of all the money saved from the crimes NOT committed by serious, habitual offenders?

Common Sense Foundation Foundation regarding mandatory minimum sentencing, http://www.common-sense.org/?fnoc=/common_sense_says/03_april Read the first sentence.  Is it at all possible that the rise in prison population has resulted in the reduced crime rate?  Duh!!!

Dell’s Job Incentive Fiasco

Published on: 8th December, 2009 |

“We made it very clear to them — and they already understood it, quite frankly — that every red cent of incentive money had to come back to the people of North Carolina.” — Governor Perdue upon learning that Dell Computer was closing its Forsyth County plant after only a few years.  The company received millions in State tax credits.

Well Governor, it looks as if just saying it does not make it so.  Dell is balking at paying back the incentive money.  This issue is a political, as well as a financial problem, especially for the politicians who supported major incentives for Dell.

Why?  These politicians assured the public that taxpayer money would be protected in the event that the new plant did not live up to expectations.  It never did.  Dell never created all the jobs it promised and, because of changes in the computer market, the company is closing the plant.  Nine hundred North Carolinians are losing their jobs.

Why is Dell refusing to pay?  The law written by the politicians is confusing and appears to refer only to eligibility requirements during the current year of a tax credit.  The law says nothing about Dell having to retroactively forfeit tax credits that it legitimately qualified for in past years.

The end result is a long, protracted and expensive legal battle, all thanks to politicians long on promises and short on legal and common sense!  Boy, isn’t it interesting how people are willing to spend YOUR money.

Don’t stop here! I purposefully made this article short and concise because I don’t want you just to accept my “spin.” Educate yourself by exploring further and by asking and answering your own questions.  See the article that started my inquiry:   Dell balks at tax credits, http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2009/dec/05/dell-balks-at-tax-credits/news-ncpolitics/

Next Page »