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Afternoon Links: Cards Against a Border Wall, More Pastoral Insanity, and Creepy Christianity

By Jim Swift

Creepy Christianity and Roy Moore. Yesterday, we looked at some of the concerning behavior and statements of religious figures in Alabama concerning Roy Moore. There are, if you’ll forgive, moore things to report. And they’re not good.

Here’s David Gonnella, the pastor of Magnolia Springs Baptist Church in Theodore, Alabama:

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“I don’t desert my friends just on mere accusations, I require evidence,” said Pastor Gonnella. Gonnella says he doesn’t believe the accusers and he thinks this is a coordinated smear campaign. He also questions the timing of the alleged victim’s accusations. “Well perhaps satanically motivated, but Politically carried out,” said Gonnella.”Why was everyone, all these people silent for so many decades I want to all come for at the same time now.” As more Republicans in Congress call for Moore to “step aside,” Gonnella says this leaves a sour taste in his mouth about the GOP. “It’s funny how the Republican Party is. What a bunch of sissies! The Democrats rally around their candidate even when they’re guilty, Republicans want to throw them under the bus on a minor accusation without knowing whether they’re guilty or not,” he said.

Well then. This brings us to David French’s excellent National Review essay yesterday about what he calls “creepy Christianity.” French put his finger on what, as a Catholic, I have long had trouble understanding about some aspects of independent evangelical or lesser-known Christian sects.

Christians — especially the most politically engaged Christians — have been so often mocked and attacked by a secular culture that despises not just the Church’s excesses but also the central messages of the Bible that we are reflexively defensive. When scandalous accusations come, we don’t want “our side” to look bad. We want Hollywood to be the home of the predators, and ours the home of the righteous. But there is no “our side.” There is only Christ’s side, and He taught us clearly that there will be good and evil within the Church. The ancient enemy attacks God’s people from without and from within. The good seed and the bad seed grow up together. There is no perfect community.

Which isn’t to say the Catholics are without blame. (I think we all know the shameful record of this church when it comes to sexual predators.) The mainline churches don’t seem to have pastors or preachers on record as saying silly things to defend Roy Moore. I suspect that’s partly because they’re better organized to prevent such advocacy, a good thing.

As they say, read the whole thing. And while you’re at it, read Will Saletan on the mountain of evidence against Roy Moore if you want to understand the mental gymnastics of a Moore defender. And his chief defender, his lawyer? What a trip, this guy.

How has President Trump changed Washington?

The Economist sent over their podcast team to report on how “the swamp” has changed. Editor at large Bill Kristol makes an appearance. Tune in!

You may have heard, but Cleveland sports are in the news again. My beloved Browns are flirting again with a perfect season. I know what you’re thinking: “Jim, don’t you know that the Browns are…” Yes. I do. Shhh. Don’t jinx it. If the Browns get their perfect season, there will be a parade organized by fans. They’re raising money to get the permits, and if the Browns blow it? The money will go to a Cleveland food bank. It’s like my Browns Bye week: Can’t lose.

Can a bunch of comedian card game makers stop the border wall? Over at reason, Christian Britschgi argues “probably not.” How do they plan to stop the wall?

On Tuesday, the game maker announced that it had purchased a plot of land on the U.S.-Mexico border and retained a law firm specializing in eminent domain. The aim: to make it “as time-consuming and expensive as possible” to build a border wall.

Alas, fighting the federal government on eminent domain with any success will probably cost far more than the holiday sales stunt will gross. Their video with an aged millennial wearing an “AVOCADOS” shirt though, was quite funny.



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