“I hear all the time the expression ‘the good old days.’ Well, the good old days, we forget they have been good for some, but they weren’t good for everybody. It drives me crazy when the captains of the religious right are always calling people back … for blacks to be back in the back of the bus, for women to be back in the kitchen, for gays to be in the closet, and for immigrants to be on their side of the border.”

So says Rev. Luis León, Rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church, situated not far from the White House.  León’s remarks were part of his Easter message March 31, with the First Family in attendance.  His church and his ministry endorse homosexuality, homosexual marriage, and practicing homosexuals in ‘ministry.’  Obviously, the ‘good’ pastor denies Scripture is inerrant, Christ’s clear assurance. Thus León, completely contradicts the Lord he claims to serve, which is, quite frankly, insane.

“It drives me crazy . . . “

Yes, one would have to be crazy to point the finger of accusation at fellow pastors and other Christian believers, accusing them of ridiculous things, on Easter Sunday no less.  León did not name the “captains of the religious right” who drive him crazy.  In the present day, such captains might include Tony Perkins, Mat Staver, Gary Bauer, Sarah Palin, Cal Thomas, Jay Sekulow, Billy Graham, or James Dobson, all good people holding to traditional values for legitimate reasons, none of which have anything to do with discrimination or persecution.

Not one of these good people has ever suggested blacks return to the back of the bus.  Blacks have not been forced to the back of the bus for more than 50 years.  Just as a reminder, it was the Christian Right in the 19^th century that freed the slaves, helped slaves escape the South, died for justice in the Civil War, and ministered to the suffering of all colors during and after the war. Without the religious right, the civil rights movement would not have gained altitude.  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Christian Republican, just for the record. Without Republican votes, the Civil Rights Act would never have passed.

No one has called women back to the kitchen.  Women, like Sarah Palin and millions of others, can freely choose home life, or a professional life, or both; and this has been true in growing measure since Christ liberated women, most especially in America.

Not one of these respectable Americans has insisted homosexuals stay in the closet.  Christians of all political affiliations have been the most loving toward homosexuals, demonstrating that love by providing far and away the most support when the AIDS epidemic struck.  Homosexuals enjoy the greatest freedom and prosperity here in America thanks to the traditions of tolerance and acceptance cultivated by centuries of Judeo-Christian tradition.

And no one from the religious right has ever denied anyone the right to immigrate.  Indeed, Christians have been the most supportive of new citizens.  Christians from the right and the left have shown the most grace in discussions about the vexing problems associated with illegal immigration.

It is beyond disturbing listening to León’s condemning remarks and hate-filled raving, especially in view of the fact he is in this country thanks to the benevolence of Americans and our Christian traditions.

At age 12, León came to America from Cuba as part of the CIA’s Operation Pedro Pan.  The American government and the church helped 14,000 children get out of Cuba before Castro could steal them from their parents to indoctrinate them as communists.   León owes his life to the religious right, for no other force on earth has been as effective in confronting communist thugs and murderers.  Still, showing his gratitude, the only thing León left out of his Easter ‘sermon’ was “G**damn America: it’s in the Bible!”

Ordinarily, Easter Sunday is revered in Christian tradition, honored as our most holy day, the day we celebrate the Resurrection and the day we celebrate the new life graciously given by a loving God willing to die in our place to set us free from sin and death.  The fact that sin is causing millions of homosexual deaths is apparently lost on León and his smiling messiah, Barack Obama.  They promote a lifestyle that is killing people and separating them from God, yet they call it love.

Until last Sunday, Easter was a day presidents attended services at St. John’s to hear about grace, mercy, and righteousness, about the virtue necessary for the sustenance of the Republic, and about the love of God that encourages the rest of us to love.  They gathered to hear about the blessings of liberty and freedom brought by the Spirit as well as the commandments to love and forgive and encourage and reconcile.

They did not gather in the ‘good old days’ to hear a so-called pastor demonize others, engage in satanic condemnation, slander good people with lies, promote ill-will and divisiveness, or witness an ego-tripping abomination in the pulpit.

Easter is about God reconciling all things to Himself.  León works against reconciliation.  He scatters the flock.  What a shepherd!  In the ‘good old days,’ such a man would never have graduated seminary.  In the present day, he is celebrated and honored by a president.

Allan Erickson enjoyed an 11-year career in radio, television and print journalism as a reporter, talk show host, and operations manager. He then turned to sales and marketing for a decade. Ten years ago he started his own training and recruitment company in the Pacific Northwest. Allan & wife Jodi have four children and live in California. He is also the author of “The Cross & the Constitution in the Age of Incoherence,” Tate Publishing, 2012.

Photo credit: terrellaftermath