Reader Ozmar notes that Judge Barbara Walther (a member of First United Methodist Church of San Angelo) now appears on First United’s Prayer Concerns page. In case the page is later altered as Walther’s once glowing Wikipedia entry was, here’s a link to a permanent Flash copy. I have a feeling that with the atrocities she has inflicted on FLDS families, Walther will need those prayers and I applaud First United for offering them.
Ozmar — whom I now interpret as a member of the congregation — proposed prayers for the FLDS, as well. If I understand him correctly, it is a very welcome suggestion. I hope, however, that the good citizens — I know there are some — of San Angelo will do more than pray. Judge Walther needs another job.
Speaking of atrocities, First United’s web logo (above) raises uncomfortable questions. Anthropologists may have fun with this one. Where else have we seen burning crosses? I wonder how many protestant churches in Texas use such a logo?
Is there any connection between Judge Walther’s persecution of the FLDS and this ADL story on a resurgent Texas Ku Klux Klan? Here’s an ADL excerpt:
Texas has been a strong scene of Empire Knights activity. In early August 2006, members of the Empire Knights of Texas, based in San Angelo, held a heavily publicized anti-immigration rally in the northwest Texas city of Amarillo. It was only one of several recent Empire Knights events in Texas. In June 2006, over 20 Empire Knights held an anti-immigration rally in the west Texas city of Midland . . .
Hmm. The Empire Knights of Texas based in San Angelo. Burning crosses. First United Methodist touts its colorful post-Civil War history that began — according to the Church’s website — with its founding by the “Reverend A.J. Potter, known as the ‘fighting parson’ because he preached at times with a pistol on his hip and a Winchester in his pulpit . . . .” It’s quite a picture. I’m not suggesting that most members of the congregation are in the KKK. Maybe none of them are. But something wicked is going on in San Angelo and I’m not talking about polygamy.
The FLDS arrived in the San Angelo area in 2004. In early August 2006, the Empire Knights held their big rally. Nah, there couldn’t be any connection. And surely neither Judge Walther nor her prominent San Angelo radiologist husband could be members of the Empire. But that burning cross has me wondering. . .
Quoting myself from April 17:
Texas State troopers had been planning to raid the FLDS in El Dorado for a long time. Just how long isn’t revealed, but the local sheriff, David Doran — who coincidentally carries a brass-tabbed Bible in his official, county-owned SUV — says he had an “informant” inside the YFZ Ranch for four “frustrating” years during which he “never received any outcry, a complaint [about the FLDS and] there was no evidence of illegal activity nor an offense in plain view.”
Surely, brass-tabbed-Bible-totin’ Sheriff Doran isn’t a Klan member. Surely. And surely none of the Texas Rangers or CPS thugs who invaded the FLDS ranch in April is a member. Surely. But, geez, when I Googled “San Angelo” + “Ku Klux Klan” I got “about 21,000 hits.” Can this all really be just a coincidence? And which “cult” did you say makes its home in West Texas?
By the way, can I just say that Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly have been an embarassment on this story, fanning religious hatred and siding with big government. I used to think of Hannity as at least a nice guy. That view is rapidly changing. And where are Rush Limbaugh, Hugh Hewitt and . . . Oprah?* You can’t possibly be members of the Empire. Are you really going to let this story slide by without comment?
Kudos, by the way, to Michael Savage and Mike Gallagher who both get it.
* * * * *
*CNN’s Nancy Grace and the entire Fox so-called-news blonde harem — who also fanned the flames — have such low intellectual horsepower they’re collectively worth only a footnote. Fox “news,” indeed. What a joke of a network.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I think it’s probably appropriate for the judge to appear on the United Methodist prayer concerns page. I noticed when I went there that “Eldorado situation” is also listed (although not the FLDS specifically) so it’s fairly balanced in that regard. Clearly, all involved in this controversy could use a little divine guidance, (including the FLDS, BTW) and deserve to be blessed according to their willingness to receive it and diligence in following it.
Oh, I’m not saying prayer’s a bad thing. Burning crosses and Ku Klux Klan a.k.a. Empire Knights is a completely different matter. And Walther should have been praying (silently) for guidance before signing a search warrant that one of her obviously more competent colleagues had already dismissed as baloney.
The cross is an ancient and universally recognized symbol of Christianity. The image of the flame is from the New Testament, a symbol of the Holy Spirit. For example, John the Baptist spoke of Jesus, who would follow him:
“… he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.”– Matt. 3:11.
Also, Christ’s disciples received the Holy Spirit on the day of pentacost as recorded in Acts of the Apostles:
“And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”–Act 2:3-4:
Unfortunately, the Klan stole and perverted this legitimate Christian icon of a flame and a cross and transformed it into a symbol of bigotry and hate.
But you’re absolutely right that Judge Walther should have been praying for guidance before signing the search warrant that other judges had eschewed. And it’s also very interesting that the media have been utterly silent about the fact that law enforcement apparently went judge shopping until they found one who would sign their warrant.
All good points. I don’t deny the original symbolism. But the stars ‘n’ bars also symbolize good things for some people.
For a Church with (as far as I can tell from the website pictures) no black or hispanic members, formed — apparently during the heyday of the KKK — by a preacher who packed a pistol and rifle at the pulpit, located in a town known for its current ties to the KKK with a Sheriff who packs a Bible in his SUV, you’d think they’d have better sense than to post a web logo with a flickering flame at the base of a cross.
It’s more than provocative given the cultural context and the hostility the community has displayed toward the FLDS since they day they arrived:
Daily overflights by a local public school official.
Rumblings about too much water use, political takeovers and schools that FLDS never had any intention of using.
A State legislator who openly admits passing legislation to drive them out of the State.
CPS officials who say “These women are going to have to choose between their religion and their kids.”
A Sheriff who pretends to be a friend during regular insider visits but who is “frustrated” over going four years without any evidence of a crime.
Against such a backdrop, the flaming cross in the logo of the Church attended by vindictive judge in the case is icing on the cake.
I hate to interject something so mundane, and perhaps you didn’t mean to imply that nancy grace is part of fox, but she is on Headline News the same station that Glenn Beck is on. But you are right about the blonde bimboes whoops harems on fox.
I’m trying to find the link to the petition against walther and will sign it when I can.
Thanks for all your reporting/commenting about the situation in texas.
“A State legislator who openly admits passing legislation to drive them out of the State.”
CPS officials who say “These women are going to have to choose between their religion and their kids.”
I found this interesting, an excerpt from the Texas State Constitution (emphasis mine).
The Texas Constitution
Article 1 – Bill of Rights
Section 6 – Freedom of Worship
… No human authority ought, in any case whatever, to control or interfere with the rights of conscience in matters of religion, and no preference shall ever be given by law to any religious society or mode of worship. But it shall be THE DUTY OF THE LEGISLATURE to pass such laws as may be necessary to PROTECT EQUALLY EVERY RELIGOUS DENOMINATION in the peaceable enjoyment of its own mode of public worship.
http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/txconst/sections/cn000100-000600.html
By specifically targeting this sect, what the Governor, the AG, DFPS, CPS, Texas law enforcement, the State Legislature, et al. have done is violate their own state constitution. The U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Texas Constitution, none of these documents mean a thing to them. It’s just amazing.
Excellent catch. Had not read the Texas Constitution yet. This deserves a full post.
“Had not read the Texas Constitution yet.”
I had to laugh when I read that, because you and I have an excuse for not having read it yet. If the judge or the legislature or the governor or AG have ever read it yet, they haven’t taken it to heart.
Guys and gals and worldwide reading audience,
I’ve provided strong evidence that an online poster known as
TexasBluesMan AND/OR TxBluesMan
is definitely a Confederate sympathizer and likely a KKK sympathizer.
And I provide strong evidence as well that this person IS Sheriff David Doran.
Yes, THE Sheriff David Doran.
If you wish to consider my evidence, go to the very famous voted top 100 Criminal Law blogs in the world GRITS FOR BREAKFAST and this article has over 200+ comments and I come in with my evidence at around post # 60 thereabouts and you will be
FLABBERGASTED
at what I’ve found there! Your website here was of some assistance as well! That’s why I’m eaving this comment here! Here’s the link, remember, find my first post in the comments section starting around comment # 60 thereabouts (I’m the johnlester poster):
http://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2008/06/yfz-kids-headed-home.html
Hate crime. Let’s be truthful about this.
Terrorism. Let’s be honest.