Remember this blogger? The one who decided to question his pastor from the anonymity of the blogosphere? Well, suddenly, the police department of the town got involved (a member went to the SBC church) and the identity was revealed. For no reason. That’s right, no threats of violence – nothing, but questions the pastor. Well, the blogger has filed a lawsuit against the church because they dismissed him – they banned him from church premises. The SBC church has answered the lawsuit, to which the blogger has responded:
This lawsuit has nothing to do with my “disagreements with the Church“. Nothing at all. Perhaps they didn’t read the lawsuit. It has to do with fraud, misrepresentation, and abuse of process…and it has to do with defamation, a pastor using his position and power to tell a malicious, purposeful lie to the newspaper about my mental health to justify his church’s actions. THAT is what this lawsuit is about.
I support this blogger, for various reasons. Although I do not understand why he would insist on getting back into the congregation, I hope he wins. Personally, we do not need thought police in the cyberspace.
For more, check out the Brick-Layer himself.
Update – See comment section below.
July 26th, 2009 12:52 am
Thanks for your support. I do want to clarify, our lawsuit is not about gaining access to the church, or someday returning to FBC Jax. We have found a new church home and are very happy. However, we are standing up for what we think are wrongs committed by our local sheriff’s office, state attorney’s office, and the leadership of FBC Jax in what was done to find my identity. We want to send a clear message to these three parties, and to others that might do the same, that opening up investigations into blogs under false pretences is wrong and unacceptable and just plain un-American.
July 26th, 2009 8:13 am
This has been interesting to follow. I could see a couple of natural progressions for the church. Banning from church property is not among them. Don’t know that I could continue to go there IF I was aware it was going on. That’s hard in larger churches.
July 26th, 2009 9:13 am
Ain’t that humbling?! Tom Rich, our fair-weathered and beleaguered blogger actually came out of the dark in Jacksonville and replied… on your post, which mentioned an original… that he didn’t touch.
Man, my Twin Tomato clown (Yes, that is a fish… but I relish the giggle in you thinking I called you a clown), I need to stick to my day job and forget this blogging thing.
Off I go to Mickey D’s. Peace.
July 26th, 2009 1:04 am
Thanks, Tom. I’ve been following your story for a while now – as you can see – and I find that the acts committed against you were unreasonable, unChristian. It is a shame when pastors take it upon themselves to commit such acts, and then to involve others in them.
July 26th, 2009 11:06 am
Bitsy, it’s difficult in smaller churches as well (I speak from experience here). I feel for the blogger, however, as I am sure that he has lost friends over this. Then to have his mental health questioned in public, among other things, is reprehensible for the church leadership. Frankly, if there was nothing to hide, then perhaps FBC would have not been so adamant about shutting the blogger out/down.
July 26th, 2009 11:08 am
The next time I pick a screen name, I am going to make sure it cannot be twisted.
Forget the blogging thing? Day job? You mean blogging is not your first priority?