Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Contentious ideological struggle within a mid-town Manhattan Unitarian/Universalist Church: Must not speak up for Israel
We now have more information regarding Church critic Robert Reiss’s suspension from the Community Church of New York, the former liberal but now increasingly Maoist and anti-Israel Unitarian/Universalist Church.
The meeting on the 15th resulted in a quorum of Board of Trustee members who, flouted both the letter and the spirit of the bylaws of the Church by voting to suspend Reiss for 6 months, barring him from setting foot on Church property – including attending Sunday Services – under threat of police arrest or ejection at the hands of Church Security personnel.
On Sunday, June 22nd, during Church coffee hour at noon, 3 Board of Trustee members, including the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board, beckoned Reiss to accompany them into the intimate “Chapel of Peace.” It was here, Reiss was told of the rogue vote against his membership and was told to comply of this banishment forthwith. Immediately thereafter, Reiss returned to the coffee hour space where he announced to the Churchgoers present before him:
“Dear Church Friends, I’ve been told just now of my banishment, which is against the bylaws of this Church — simply because of my Israel advocacy. I’ve been a loyal member here since I was 7 years old and do more volunteer work here than almost anyone else — yet I’m to be banished from your company for half a year without any due process.”
While he was addressing the church, the cabal of trustees whispered to Reiss that “we’ve called the police who’ll arrest you if you don’t leave.” An arrangement with the local police precinct was made earlier in the week by Church administration. This was apparently necessary, as the Church’s own security personnel would not be willing to comply. “Robert Reiss tells the truth…” they said, complaining that “Rev. Southworth [the presiding minister] acts like he is the king.”
Rather than a confrontation escalating, Reiss took his leave.
Over many years Southworth never censures or chastises anyone’s articulated anti-Semitic and anti-Israel statements; yet he only sought to silence, harass or intimidate the articulation of pro-Israel sentiments.
SOURCE
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9 comments:
Sounds like that church is engaging in political activity and needs it's tax exempt status revoked. That should get their attention.
I'd prefer the govt NOT get into determining the valid/invalid presumptions of any religion. Some slopes are just too slippery.
Instead, consider that the American experience has been that new churches often spring up to replace the old, politicized ones when the old ones have decayed too far, as in this case.
The dissenter in q might wish to start a church of his own and attempt to attract parishioners based on moral arguments.
He is better off getting out of that House of Delusion.
I would remind Anon 7:02 that the power to tax is the power to destroy - and the power to destroy a Church flies in the face of the First Amendment...
6:06:
The Church collects money from gullible people with promises that they can't ever deliver. Time to tax these con artists out of existence.
Religion and politics are too closely linked, so the tax authorities should be more vigilant examining the actual activitiies of any church or "religious" organization if they are claiming tax exemptions under non-political and purely charitable activity.
Given the relationship between religion and politics Islam should not get any tax relief and the only charity work undertaken is in support of jihad.
The Church State collects money from gullible people with promises that they can't ever deliver. Time to tax these con artists out of existence.
fify
UU churches are very liberal. I am surprised that they haven't come out against Israel before now. What they don't realize is that under Islam, they would among the first killed.
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