Christianists

The Birmingham Herald reports: After initially denying reports of an affair, Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill on Wednesday afternoon told AL.com that he had “an inappropriate relationship” with a 44-year-old woman and will not make an anticipated run for the U.S. Senate. In an interview with AL.com on Wednesday morning, Merrill denied having had an affair and accused Cesaire …

The Louisville Courier-Journal reports: On a window outside Aries Tax Service in Radcliff, Kentucky, signs promote how customers can e-file returns for $55 as long as they provide 10 things to Ken Randall, the registered tax return preparer at the Hardin County business. But the last thing Randall lists on his “I Need” placard is something he doesn’t want: “Homosexual …

Politico reports: It’s a stately home for the pastor of a humble church. In 2015, Phil Rizzo — who leads City Baptist Church in Hudson County — and his wife, Jennifer, paid $1.55 million for a five bedroom, seven bath home on six secluded acres in New Vernon, Morris County, about 45 minutes away from the church. In 2017, the …

Kyle Mantyla reports at Right Wing Watch: Bakker kicked things up a notch on Tuesday’s program, which featured right-wing conspiracy theorist Steve Quayle warning about aliens, demons, trans-dimensional beings, and “diseases that are designed to initiate cannibalism in human beings” and turn them into literal zombies. The conspiracy theories promoted by Quayle were so pervasive and convoluted that it was …

Via email from hate group leader Tony Perkins: “Image is always important for a governor,” Asa Hutchinson (R-Ark.) admitted at the end of his Monday press conference on the SAFE Act. And unfortunately I think it was ultimately image — not protecting children. “I looked at this bill,” he explained, and thought, “‘Where do I want my voice to be?'” …

Albany’s ABC News affiliate reports: Albany County Legislator George Langdon, who represents the 37th legislative district, has announced his resignation. Langdon’s resignation followed a Friday night rally calling on Langdon to resign. He’d previously apologized for comments that offended many locals. “Apology not accepted!” chanted protestors at Friday’s demonstration. Langdon was caught on video last week making homophobic comments during …

“We have a moral code of conduct at our office. I fire people if they have extramarital affairs. The hilarious thing is I put that on Twitter and people go, ‘Won’t you get sued for that?’ “Uh, no, you’re allowed to discriminate against infidelity. I’ve got a right to tell my employees whatever I want to tell them. They freaking …

The New York Times reports: The deeply held spiritual convictions or counterfactual arguments may vary. But across white evangelical America, reasons not to get vaccinated have spread as quickly as the virus that public health officials are hoping to overcome through herd immunity. The opposition is rooted in a mix of religious faith and a longstanding wariness of mainstream science, …

Religion News Service reports: The company owned by Christian financial guru and radio host Dave Ramsey is no longer one of the best places to work in America, according to Inc. magazine. The national business publication dropped Franklin, Tennessee-based Ramsey Solutions from its 2020 “Best Workplaces” list after the company was sued by a former employee, Caitlin O’Conner, for discrimination. …

The BBC reports: A council breached human rights when it banned adverts for an evangelical Christian event, a court has ruled. Blackpool Borough Council and Blackpool Transport Services removed bus adverts in 2018 for an event in the resort featuring preacher Franklin Graham. Judge Claire Evans said the move disregarded “the right to freedom of expression”. Despite protests and an …

Peter Montgomery reports at Right Wing Watch: In the past two weeks, Liberty Counsel’s Matt Staver devoted two episodes of his new TV show to promoting outright conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 virus and the vaccine. Staver’s “Freedom Alive!” show ran a two-part interview with Lee Merritt, an orthopedic surgeon and spokesperson for America’s Frontline Doctors, a group that made …

Politico reports: “Congratulations on an exciting 14-9 win over NCAA team from Walsh University in North Canton, OH!” Falwell wrote on Instagram on March 13, beneath photos of a Liberty lacrosse game and himself in the stands with daughter and wife, Becki. “Didn’t realize LaCrosse was so much fun to watch.” The posting struck some in the Liberty community as …

Via email from hate group leader Tony Perkins: The State Department launched its 45th human rights report Tuesday — but after Secretary Antony Blinken’s latest comments, no one is quite sure what “rights” we’re actually talking about. Under Biden, the administration has been pretty clear that they aren’t interested in the Constitution’s definitions or even moral law. They want to …

The Associated Press reports: The Montana House has endorsed a bill that would allow people to challenge government regulations that interfere with their religious beliefs. The approval came Wednesday after lawmakers rejected an amendment that would have made it clear the law couldn’t be used to justify discrimination. Under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the government would have to prove …

First, a reminder from yesterday: Rev. Patrick Mahoney will be seeking injunction relief to conduct his Good Friday Service and prayer vigil at the Capitol. Rev. Mahoney was told last week by the US Capitol Police the Good Friday Service would not be allowed because it was in a “restricted area.” Both Vice-President Kamala Harris and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, acting …

“Did God lend a hand in freeing the Ever Given? After a week of blocking trade, on Monday a higher than normal tide brought on by an old-fashioned Super Moon helped to free the massive container ship. I read that this ship is 20x heavier than the Eiffel Tower! Now the backup of 300 cargo ships can resume passing through …

The Associated Press reports: Alabama’s decades-old ban on yoga in public schools could stay in place a little longer following push-back from conservative groups. The Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday did not advance the bill after a public hearing in which representatives from two conservative groups objected, saying they were worried it could lead to the promotion of Hinduism …

“I will tell you, behind the scenes, he is who still carries power in this nation. It outta be answered this week alone by the fact that our stimulus checks, the stimulus checks of $1400 for every person in America, they’re signed by Donald J. Trump, not Joe Biden.” – Self-proclaimed prophet Johnny Enlow, speaking on an evangelical podcast. Self-proclaimed …

Via press release from Christian Newswire: Rev. Patrick Mahoney will be seeking injunction relief to conduct his Good Friday Service and prayer vigil at the Capitol. Rev. Mahoney was told last week by the US Capitol Police the Good Friday Service would not be allowed because it was in a “restricted area.” Both Vice-President Kamala Harris and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, …

“This is what I’ve heard from the Lord. Homosexuality is a cover up for an evangelist. People that are in that lifestyle are really called [to be] evangelists by the Lord, and this is a spirit that attacks that to stop it. “So, instead of just praying a lot of things right here, what I’m led to do is to …