Just watching the anti-Semitic terrorist attacks at Brown university (I went to Pembroke, now part of Brown)and the horrific massacre at Bondi Beach (my daughter and family live just north of Sydney) and knowing that France is next, among other Judeo-Christian societies, terrifies me! When is the Left going to break out of its naive, uniformed bubble??? CJC
The timing and the recent spread of agents of rabid antisemitic terrorisim --everywhere now -- proves policies like Biden's open borders were sheer and culpable folly.
Antisemitism is unfortunately present across the political spectrum; it doesn't reside solely on the Left. It would make things easier if it did. I know young America Firsters who literally hate Jews. They couch it in terms of Israel's ugly attack on innocents in Gaza. But it doesn't take long for these guys to show their true colors. "Gaza" is just the ruse. They hate Jews. Frankly, I don't get it. Why - and how - does hating Jews make them feel better about themselves?
Calla, the attacks at Brown and Bondi Beach are horrific. I think the underlying causes are different than the court case Andy writes about. After looking into Calvary Church (I put a link to it in my comment) where the mother is taking the child, I have to say it's not just about an atheist v Christian. I am not an atheist, but I understand the father's objections and worries.
You’re relying on claims that originate from the Gateway Pundit—a site with a long record of publishing distorted, misleading, and outright false information. It has been sued repeatedly for defamation, and those lawsuits helped push it into bankruptcy. That alone should be a signal to approach anything they publish with caution.
Before accepting their narrative, it’s worth looking at the actual filings and court documents. Reading the complaint and the judge’s order provides a far more accurate picture than second-hand commentary designed to provoke outrage.
Instead of letting sensationalized stories fuel anger and the belief that “everyone is out to get you,” it might be more productive to examine the facts directly. The issues in this case are far more nuanced than the caricature presented by the Pundit, and reacting to misinformation only leads to posts like this one—strong in emotion but weak in accuracy.
Gateway Pundit is a rich and welcome media resource. Refreshing to hear the fuller dimensions and counter-perspectives to the tiresome monotone we get from MSM. (Orangeman Bad)
Best way for a reader to find their own conclusions is to continue to draw from a wide variety of media resources. Gateway Pundit is accessible, often provocative and the first place one may hear stories MSM wants to keep buried.
No reason to be so fearful of this particular website, DB. Keep reading it and keep score - see if it in fact fits your 100% negative profiling. Awarding Racheal Maddow and Jon Stewart Walter Cronkite prizes in journalism is far more troubling.
Thank you, David, for the link. Almost all the news outlets, whether left or right, spend 99% of their energy in what they call their “war rooms” deciding how to pitch their version of a story to the public.
Doom and gloom sells. Unfortunately, many people are not skeptical enough to question what they are fed. The funny irony to all of this is that colleges teach the concept of primary and secondary sources. The people who fall for this equate secondary sources with primary sources :(
Three things in the original post got me thinking this was not accurate as portrayed: One, it came from the pundit. Two, it was not picked up by other outlets that purported to offer higher-quality journalism. Three, it just didn't make sense.
The court documents . . . well, there ya go, a primary source!
My husband worked for Newsweek for 25 years. I was a freelance fiction, arts journalism and humor writer. People here really don't know how to read the news they're given — on either side. Incidentally, this Substack by Ryan Lizza about his ex Olivia Nuzzi and her sexting scandal with RFK Jr is what everyone should read. And then they will understand how completely batshit these reporters they're trusting are. https://www.telos.news/p/part-5-loyalty-test
I read the order. Did you? Gateway Pundit had it right. The court gave the atheist father all measures of control as to her ability to follow her Christian faith via her association with Calvary Chapel. The beef? Neither the father, the judge, or the "expert" like what the texts in the bible have to say.
Wrong Andy Caldwell, without the preceding Motions from both Parents you cannot tell the intent but the Court Order is Clear on some Main Issues here >>>> "Mr.
Bradeen's amended motion to enforce raises the new allegation that
Ms. Bickford failed to share in the costs of uninsured medical expenses, childcare
expenses, and other expenses." It is all about the Money ALWAYS.
Review this portion IN THE COURT ORDER>>>,[From Pastor] ".... I guess a custody
battle. There's been 50/50 with dear Ava. Eleven-year-old Ava who's
been with the church family." Forget about the Entire Religious Part of this it is a Custody Battle pure and simple. I am not going to even address the religious part of the Court Order because it should not be in there other than the Custody Battle that is now being communicated to a group. That is the Church of all places.
Andy, I doubt you read the order. If I were to quiz you, face-to-face, on what the order is about, you would not pass.
The court order concerns the child's well-being. The father was given greater control over the child's well-being. Oh, wait... sorry, you did not read that. You just fell for the same BS that the pundit constantly spews.
The mother is trying to take the child off of medications that the child has had and needs. As Howard pointed out, the mother also wants more money. The mother is using that pastor at that Cavalry Church as her guide for raising the child.
Now, the irony of this situation is that if the mother were to raise the child as a Wiccan, you would be for the courts intervening. If the mother were to raise the child as a devil worshipper, you would be for the courts intervening. Fortunately for society, the courts are not looking at the religious aspect at all.
You want to run around and scream that people are taking your religion away. No, people are rejecting your faith, not taking it away, because they see what it is and has become.
Mr. David Bergerson, very good, you saw thru it all. What is perplexing is the
Court did not need to even go into the Church and site case law on Religion just
determine WHO had the best interest of the Child. I hate that phrase, but in this case the Mother filed and the Father responded. It just unfortunate the Court even addressed the Church because it was clear WHO wanted to "Change the Circumstances" that is 50/50 Child Custody and the increase in Child Support that would have resulted. She used to the Church for the wrong purposes. Should have invited the Father to Service and ASKED HIS OPINION after Service.
Yes I get that, but appearing IN PERSON to one of these EVENTS is different
that viewing on ZOOM. And if the Mother was really interested in the Father possibly feeling OK with Church well let him come and personally meet the people AFTER Service. If it is a great place for the Child then bring the Father. It is a Community experience let the Father come.
You will get no argument from me about the difference between 2D (SMS/Social Media) and 3D communications (in person). I am a strong proponent of 3d conversations over 2d. In a weird irony, this was a topic of discussion with my wife earlier today. The youth tend to be lonelier than our generation and our parents' generation, and we feel that is because of 2D communication instead of 3D.
Regarding the in-person visit, I think you are missing the point in the filing where the pastor pursued the father and tried to split the family. If I were the father, there would be no need for me to go there. I know all I need to know. I will let the people who make the decision decide. Thus, he did that with the court system.
Calvary Chapel's crime in this story? Preaching the bible as the inerrant word of God that it is. The judge completely blew off the mother and daughters right to freedom of religion. I did not write about the medical issue, albeit, I suppose you would agree that a parent that did not want the covid and hpv shots is grounds for taking a parent's authority away? The covid shot was dangerous and the hpv shot is useless for a 12 year old not engaged in sexual activity.
Now we are using 'crimes', not morals. Ok. So when the bible does not back up your want-to-believe narrative, you go to the law. Very interesting.
Did the church commit a crime? Honestly, I would tend to say no, but just as there are senior abuse laws, there may be laws in Maine regarding the corruption of youth. But I am not sure.
I knew this was coming . . . typical relgious perspective. Ignore the whole picture and focus on the tiny point. So you were ok with the mother, whose child had pneumonia not taking medications for that because 'god would heal the child?'
And you are entirely clueless about how the HPV shots work. Your ignorance is shining brighter than a lighthouse light. Seriously, take some time, man, read, learn, then spew. This back-and-forth banter, where you have your answer that is hunting a question, is making you look completely ignorant of the topics at hand.
Let me do the Christian thing here. Let me work on educating you.
The appropriate ages for girls to get the HPV shot, which is two doses, are between 9 and 14. HPV is not technically a sexually transmitted disease. It can be transmitted by touch, and not only the evil penis. The shot will last the girl's lifetime, and thus, when she is sexually active, hopefully not with her father, you know, like Lot's daughters. It is not like a condom, where you can 'take it' before the evil sexual act.
But back to crime.
I guess Jim Jones didn't commit a crime when he was in San Fran?
The Maine Supreme Court has just heard the case. They will rule. So that I get your responses ready . . . If they rule against the mother, you will say that they are anti-Christian, and if they rule for the mother, you will say that they are adhering to the law. Did I get those correct? Want to word them now so that you have them ready?
Calvary Chapel is a heretical church that lacks apostolic succession and the "word of God" is Christ, the Eternal Logos (or word). The Scriptures are divinely inspired and yet protestant traditions distort the scriptures in such horrible ways they invent false doctrines of "rapture" and dispensational theology which seeks to separate the Church from Israel when the Church is the New Israel, the Mystical Body of Christ. The Scriptures do not mention a word about scaring children with thoughts of damnation, indeed Christ explicitly says this concerning scandal (which is what this incident with Calvary Chapel has caused); " But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea." Matthew 18:6
Just so that Andy might want to learn something from this post and PROOF that he did not READ the court order.
Just go to page 17 of 18 of the court order. Just read the paragraph starting with 'Accordingly, the court . . .'
And somehow, Andy is cool with the top of page 11 of 18, where the pastor gets in the middle of the parents and preaches to the child that her father is the enemy and her father is persecuting her.
Good job, Andy. Why not just be truthful and admit that either one: you fell for the pundit BS, two: didn't read the court order, three: are just trying for some form of clickbait. Or, perhaps it was all three.
I did read it. What you haven't read is the bible, either that, or you don't believe what it teaches. You have no respect for mainstream Christianity, hence you agree with the judge and the atheistic father. You have no respect therefore for the constitution.
Your tears of crying about this like mana for all of us who think religion is a cult.
But, hey, let me point out how much you are a @#$%^#$%^ hypocrite and a liar. Yes. A liar. But you can prove me wrong in calling me a liar by stating that all of these quotes from the bible are what you believe in and adhere to.
"You shall not wear a garment of different sorts, such as wool and linen mixed together." And the punishment for that is what? DEATH.
You are probably screaming that God is pro-life.
" From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some boys came out of the town and jeered at him. “Get out of here, baldy!” they said. “Get out of here, baldy!” 24 He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys."
And what did God do to Lot's wife?
And speaking of Lot. Are you cool with incest?
Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave. 31 One day the older daughter said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is no man around here to give us children—as is the custom all over the earth. 32 Let’s get our father to drink wine and then sleep with him and preserve our family line through our father.”
That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and slept with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.
The next day the older daughter said to the younger, “Last night I slept with my father. Let’s get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and sleep with him so we can preserve our family line through our father.” 35 So they got their father to drink wine that night also, and the younger daughter went in and slept with him. Again he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.
So both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father. 37 The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab[a]; he is the father of the Moabites of today. 38 The younger daughter also had a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi[b]; he is the father of the Ammonites[c] of today.
I stand by my comment in a previous response. It is funny that I am quoting myself, "Those values were litigated in courts and in the broader culture. They lost, and they deserved to."
So please, get off your high horse about the bible. And incoming . . . the movement of the goalposts from you when you proclaim that the bible is not real, those were just stories to teach values.
Wow . . . I just saw how LAZILY these outsiders really are. Go to Google. Type this: jennifer w. nofsinger party affiliation The quote that these IDIOT religious zealots used was from Google's AI and it was WRONG. Google's AI tied the two Nofsinger's together as one person. WOW. Talk about being LAZY!
How gullible are the people who read the pundit? They believe it to be true when it is just utter garbage trying to stoke fear by lying.
Hello Mr. David Bergerson, thanks for providing the extensive Court Order for this
Family Law Case that allegedly centers on a Parents right to choose their children's
religion or education. However carefully reading the, actually well written Court Order,
there are serious problems with it that is beyond this narrative. However, the Key portion of that Order is here "To remedy her concerns, Ms. Bickford asks for allocated decision
making with respect to religious upbringing as well as **changes to child support** and
communication expectations between the parties." Most if not all Family Law Case in the US are always about Money that is **Spousal and Child Support** and typically the Mother filing "Change of Circumstances Motions" to obtain more money. It appears that is what is going on here however without Mothers Motion it is hard to know exactly. The fact the Father has equality in many decision areas is very unusual so Mother wanted to Change that. I would suggest to all here to actually go into the Santa Barbara Courts and hear cases before the family law Judges or in any Court Room in California and I think you all would be shocked. It is not about medical decisions, religion it is ALWAYS ABOUT THE MONEY. That Court Order also denied Mother's play for More Money and very unusual.
Sorry, but it’s hard to get worked up about a court order, a sticky divorce custody battle or Protestant teachings of the Calvary Church, while worshipers of faith are being cut down in Australia and Brown University.
Those of the Jewish faith are being murdered for simply attending Hanukkah services. Those of all faiths should denounce this disgusting act.
Granted, a full investigation into such a horrible act still needs to be completed, but it is reasonable to assume the motives of those involved.
While some may argue about the orthodoxy of fundamentalist Christian teachings and its interpretation of the Bible, where is the discussion about the Quran and its teachings of submission, domination and in this case, mass murder of Jews?
YOU are the problem. Look at what you wrote, "Those of all faiths should denounce this disgusting act." NO. That is so @#$%^ wrong at so many different levels. Why do you have to be of a faith to denounce murder? I do not believe in ANY god. I do not feel ANYONE should be murdered. I denounce it. Is that wrong?
Now, for $__t and giggles. How ya feeling about people on boats in Venezuela?
No, I am not looking for a fight. The world is NOT out to get you. You are not that special, just one of about 8 billion.
When you decide to exclude groups from the human race, YOU are the problem.
Murder is murder. Justifying murder because someone is of a different faith or even has faith does not negate that it is still murder. You imply that because someone does not have faith, they condone murder. That is nonsense and completely stupid.
Islam is a theological system that is in error chiefly because it rejects Christ as the Messiah, and offers a false prophet - Muhammad when the last of the prophets was John the Baptist. It is a false religion, what more is there to be said?
"Perhaps, this Christmas, we could use this season to remind ourselves of our common blessings, faith, and heritage?"
Heritage and faith are not exactly shared. There's a sharp civilizational divide for centuries in the West occurring after the reformation especially, the Latin Catholic kingdoms and entities and the Anglo-Germanic Protestants polities, and even then allegiances were often pragmatic in the centuries that follow.
But speaking of Christmas, I think it's time I submit an article on it's True Meaning, history, and its religious traditions; because Christmas is not about civic-secular unity, it's about the Incarnation.
Please read the gospel of John. It is available online. The basic truth of Christmas? Jesus died to pay the price for our sins. Those who believe in him as Lord and Savior will have the benefit of his sacrifice which is eternal life. This basic message was preached in all Christian churches since the time of Christ's death and resurrection. It is obviously lost on most of these commentors.
Unfortunately, the Bickford case is another one of the thousands of custody cases in the US where the legal system ends up making everything worse. The father in this case says the child was having panic attacks because she was being taught that her sister and father were going to hell because they were non-believers and because of demon images to which she was being exposed. Who knows what the truth is. What I do know is when attorneys and judges get involved in family custody cases, almost everyone ends up suffering, particularly the children.
Andy, fascinating subject. I wish you would have posted links to everything mentioned in it. Before commenting I research what these posts on SB Current are referencing. So I've been reading up on Calvary Chapel on my own — if I have the one you're writing about it's this https://www.ccgreaterportland.org/what-we-believe. Here's my take on this: it seems to be a dispensational sect of Christianity. And if I'm incorrect, please guide me to a better understanding. Now, I'm not a Christian, but I am also not an Atheist. If I was divorced and my ex was taking my child to this church, I would protest it. I've known adults in Christian sects like this, and I do not think their mental health has benefited from it. I think it would be far harder for a child to process. That said, I would do everything I could to avoid subjecting my child to a court battle. I really feel for the child in this story, who is being used by her parents in their battle with each other. This child is living through two apocalypses — her parents' divorce and the sermons she's hearing at Calvary Church. Whatever happened to parents? Just gve peace a chance for the sake of your children.
Please read the gospel of John. It is available online. The basic truth of Christmas? Jesus died to pay the price for our sins. Those who believe in him as Lord and Savior will have the benefit of his sacrifice which is eternal life. This basic message was preached in all Christian churches since the time of Christ's death and resurrection. It is obviously lost on most of these commentors.
We attend Calvary Chapel in SB. Not sure about the exact teachings of the one in Maine, but Calvary Chapel’s hallmark is verse by verse teaching of the Bible. Christians believe this book to be the word of God. An atheist dad is going to hate the truth of the Bible, whether his wife exposes his daughter to it or not.
Calvary Chapel does not teach authentic Christian doctrine Paul, it presupposes modern assumptions about the Christian faith to declare dispensationalism, a novel heresy to be true and that competing faith traditions are false because they emphasize doctrinal differences. The Word of God, the Logos is Christ - not the Bible. God the Father gave us his Son, it was Christ who then gave us a Church, the Catholic (and catholicos) Church which preserved the scriptures and wrote them down, compiled them, and defended them.
Let's look at their statement of faith to show why your statement that they "[their] hallmark is verse by verse teaching of the bible "We believe worship of God should be spiritual. Therefore, we remain flexible and yielded to the leading of the Holy Spirit to direct our worship." "We believe worship of God should be intelligent. Therefore, our services are designed with great emphasis upon the teaching of the Word of God that He might instruct us how He should be worshiped."
This is in error as worship has already existed since the time of the Apostles and it is chiefly centered on the Eucharist, the consecration of the Body and Blood of Christ under the auspices of bread and wine. The Catholic Church celebrates the Eucharist, the truthful not merely symbolic, *representation* of Christ's sacrifice on the cross for all eternity. Tradition informs worship, not flexibility and a vague invocation of the "Holy Spirit" which anyone can claim guides them.
"We believe in the inerrancy of Scripture, that the Bible, Old and New Testaments, in the original autographs, is the inspired, infallible Word of God, a complete and final written revelation of God." The True Word of God is as I said before, Christ - the Second person of the Holy Trinity. ""In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" - that word is revealed to be Christ. The "original autographs" also do not exist anymore - only copies and manuscripts of the canonical biblical texts, which was preserved in the Septuagint concerning all 51 of the Old Testament books, including the 7bDeuterocanon protestants like Calvary Chapel rejects. The Septuagint was the Jewish canon the Apostles and first Christians used the one that Christ himself referenced. The Bible was compiled by the Catholic Church and was not given to us by God directly but through prophets and apostolic heritage through the Church.
"We believe Jesus Christ is the head of the Body, His church, and that church government should be simplistic rather than a complex bureaucracy. We desire to be led by the Holy Spirit in all the functions and directions of the ministry of the church." This is an obvious error as Calvary Chapel presupposes a "simple government" in the Church that has never existed, and moreover it doesn't inherit. Where is the Apostolic succesion from the 12 Apostles to the pastor in Santa Barbara for his authority? Was he consecrated and appointed through the laying on of hands or did he simply become a pastor by his own will? "The early Christian church hierarchy evolved from simple leadership into a structured system, primarily featuring Apostles, Bishops (Overseers/Elders/Pastors), and Deacons, with the bishop overseeing a local church, assisted by presbyters (priests) and deacons (assistants)" that's far from "simple government" as there is a clear hierarchy.
"Calvary Chapel of Santa Barbara has been formed as a fellowship of believers in the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Our supreme desire is to know Christ and be conformed to His image by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are not a denominational church, nor are we opposed to denominations as such, only their over-emphasis of the doctrinal differences that have led to the division of the Body of Christ." Calvary Chapel is a denomination, it's a low Church protestant one with ill defined doctrines or even entirely lacking in theology in some respects. The "over emphasis of the doctrinal differences" is also damning as it emphasizes mere unity over truth, the Apostles as far back as the Council of Jerusalem clearly thought doctrine was important and condemned the Judaizing heresy which demanded gentiles participate in Jewish rituals as necessary for salvation. The Church has always fought error since it's inception precisely because wolves would come to devour her children by leading them into error. The Cathars believed in one of the most damning errors of the Medieval error, asserting that the only good was spiritual and the material was inherently of satan and rejected the sacrament in addition to; "Jesus: Believed Jesus was an angel with a phantom body, not truly incarnated, as flesh was evil.
Rejection of Materialism: Condemned marriage, procreation, and meat-eating because they perpetuated the cycle of souls trapped in evil bodies."
"We believe that the nation of Israel has a special place in God’s plan and that all the promises of the God of Israel will be fulfilled." The Church is the New Israel and is the body of all believers. Salvation came from the Jews through Christ, the Jewish Messiah, but Israel as both an ethnic group or political entity in the Holy Land does not save, only grace does. Truly, where is your "biblical church" at because all I see are errors...
I read the order. Did you? Gateway Pundit had it right. The court gave the atheist father all measures of control as to her ability to follow her Christian faith via her association with Calvary Chapel. The beef? Neither the father, the judge, or the "expert" like what the texts in the bible have to say.
Mr Caldwell, my goodness. I read the court document and I see exactly the issue, the woman brought her child to a horrid protestbt pastor who focused on strict scriptural literalism, apocalyptic images and condemnation, and fear. Don't defend this.
This is a low Church protestant issue especially because they focus on rapture theology [a heresy and is not even authentic Christian theology nor did it exist until the 1800's], the obsession with hell and the emotionally terrifying rhetoric is not only not conducive to piety but also explicitly ignores God's mercy and redemptive power.
If this girl has instead been brought to the Mission of Santa Barbara as an example, the Franciscans there would never rant about the sort of nonsense this Calvary chapel did in any way. The issue is the state doesn't hate religion [not that I loke America...] but that when a child is clearly suffering from deteriorating mental health to the point of panic attacks then the state can act, whether you like it or not.
These sorts of protestant churches must be condemned in the strictest terms because they only destroy the credibility of faith institutions.
"In May 2021, Ms. Bickford started attending Calvary Chapel Church in Portland, She did not seek Mr. Bradeen's input regarding Ava's attendance at church, which Mr Bradeen learned about through Ava's involvement in a church event. Mr. Bradeen wanted to know more about the church and its teachings and asked Ms. Bickford for additional information. Ms. Bickford's replied by providing the name of the church she and Ava were attending, without any further context.,
Mr. Bradeen conducted research to educate himself about the teachings of the church. Because the sermons posted on Facebook, he was able to watch are approximately 50-60 hours of services. What he observed concerned him. The church, as described by its pastor, teaches the Bible "verse by verse, chapter by chapter."
2
In practice, this means that the sermons that Ava hears contain messages about warfare, fallen angels, and eternal suffering. As the church studies the Old Testament, focus is placed on the physical conflict depicted in those chapters. There are images of warfare displayed on the screens in the sanctuary. The pastor also, as he testified, "preaches a vivid description of hell," including messages about the "wailing and gnashing of teeth," "burning and torment," and "perpetual pain and regret." The church teaches that people can only be saved by meeting god on god's terms.
Through the church, Ava has also been taught that there will be a second coming of Christ, which will involve seven years of hell on earth under the reign of the "beast" called the anti-Christ. These messages are reinforced through Calvary Chapel's curriculum for children, which includes workbooks with images, including images of "fallen angels,"' or demons.
Mr. Bradeen has observed Ava's expressions of fear and anxiety associated with the teachings of Calvary Chapel. Ava asks Mr. Bradeen a lot of questions, such as who in the family will be in heaven and who will be in hell, and why Mr. Bradeen and Harper will not be in heaven with her. Ava has had panic attacks in Mr. Bradeen's presence when talking about this subject. Ava also leaves notes around Mr. Bradeen's house for him to find because she believes that the rapture will be coming soon, and she is concerned that he will be left behind."
Why did you even make this article to begin with? This just looks like sloppy culture war polemics.
Again, Andy Caldwell read carefully the Court Order. It is a Custody Battle over 50/50 share and Mother wanted to Change That Custody which means more Child Support payments to her. It is that simple. Now THE CHURCH is involved in the Custody Battle, and it should not be. The Church and Religion is a RED HERRING in all of this. The silly Court should have never gone there on the Church or Religion Issue so it will probably go to the US Supreme Court.
It has zero chance of hitting the Supreme Court. I have a better chance of winning all the lotteries back-to-back, with Elizabeth Hurley, Elle MacPherson, Sydney Sweeney, and the Rockettes all knocking on my door looking for booty calls.
Now, after I have a heart attack and die because that happened . . .
For Christians, sharing the Christmas and Easter holidays with an ever more secular and post Christian society has been an odd trip. Frosty the snowman, Rudolph the reindeer, the Saint Nicolas of Coca Cola commercials, the Grinch, the Easter bunny etc etc all are Madison Avenue creations, at the very least. They have nothing to do with the
creator of the universe coming to live among the humans He created, die a sacrificial death, come back from the grave 3 days later, and promise to return at the end of time. If the atheists and religious skeptics want to ignore these holidays, it would be more consistent with their theology, or lack thereof. Of course, they do so at the peril of their souls, but as a typist in my first office said “ why mess up a wonderful holiday with all that religious stuff?”
Just watching the anti-Semitic terrorist attacks at Brown university (I went to Pembroke, now part of Brown)and the horrific massacre at Bondi Beach (my daughter and family live just north of Sydney) and knowing that France is next, among other Judeo-Christian societies, terrifies me! When is the Left going to break out of its naive, uniformed bubble??? CJC
The timing and the recent spread of agents of rabid antisemitic terrorisim --everywhere now -- proves policies like Biden's open borders were sheer and culpable folly.
Antisemitism is unfortunately present across the political spectrum; it doesn't reside solely on the Left. It would make things easier if it did. I know young America Firsters who literally hate Jews. They couch it in terms of Israel's ugly attack on innocents in Gaza. But it doesn't take long for these guys to show their true colors. "Gaza" is just the ruse. They hate Jews. Frankly, I don't get it. Why - and how - does hating Jews make them feel better about themselves?
Calla, the attacks at Brown and Bondi Beach are horrific. I think the underlying causes are different than the court case Andy writes about. After looking into Calvary Church (I put a link to it in my comment) where the mother is taking the child, I have to say it's not just about an atheist v Christian. I am not an atheist, but I understand the father's objections and worries.
This article illustrates a larger problem.
You’re relying on claims that originate from the Gateway Pundit—a site with a long record of publishing distorted, misleading, and outright false information. It has been sued repeatedly for defamation, and those lawsuits helped push it into bankruptcy. That alone should be a signal to approach anything they publish with caution.
Before accepting their narrative, it’s worth looking at the actual filings and court documents. Reading the complaint and the judge’s order provides a far more accurate picture than second-hand commentary designed to provoke outrage.
Instead of letting sensationalized stories fuel anger and the belief that “everyone is out to get you,” it might be more productive to examine the facts directly. The issues in this case are far more nuanced than the caricature presented by the Pundit, and reacting to misinformation only leads to posts like this one—strong in emotion but weak in accuracy.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/gf22elybdzox32l1wupse/112525Order-DC-CustodyIssues.pdf?rlkey=djs5pkdj5t2i7vfju79ouo24k&e=1&st=wwbiwro3&dl=0
Just read the source.
Gateway Pundit is a rich and welcome media resource. Refreshing to hear the fuller dimensions and counter-perspectives to the tiresome monotone we get from MSM. (Orangeman Bad)
Best way for a reader to find their own conclusions is to continue to draw from a wide variety of media resources. Gateway Pundit is accessible, often provocative and the first place one may hear stories MSM wants to keep buried.
No reason to be so fearful of this particular website, DB. Keep reading it and keep score - see if it in fact fits your 100% negative profiling. Awarding Racheal Maddow and Jon Stewart Walter Cronkite prizes in journalism is far more troubling.
Thank you, David, for the link. Almost all the news outlets, whether left or right, spend 99% of their energy in what they call their “war rooms” deciding how to pitch their version of a story to the public.
No problem.
Doom and gloom sells. Unfortunately, many people are not skeptical enough to question what they are fed. The funny irony to all of this is that colleges teach the concept of primary and secondary sources. The people who fall for this equate secondary sources with primary sources :(
Three things in the original post got me thinking this was not accurate as portrayed: One, it came from the pundit. Two, it was not picked up by other outlets that purported to offer higher-quality journalism. Three, it just didn't make sense.
The court documents . . . well, there ya go, a primary source!
My husband worked for Newsweek for 25 years. I was a freelance fiction, arts journalism and humor writer. People here really don't know how to read the news they're given — on either side. Incidentally, this Substack by Ryan Lizza about his ex Olivia Nuzzi and her sexting scandal with RFK Jr is what everyone should read. And then they will understand how completely batshit these reporters they're trusting are. https://www.telos.news/p/part-5-loyalty-test
Pol - ‘ completely batshit’ - glad to finally get a scientific analysis !
Lol, Mr. Brown. You always make my day!
I read the order. Did you? Gateway Pundit had it right. The court gave the atheist father all measures of control as to her ability to follow her Christian faith via her association with Calvary Chapel. The beef? Neither the father, the judge, or the "expert" like what the texts in the bible have to say.
Wrong Andy Caldwell, without the preceding Motions from both Parents you cannot tell the intent but the Court Order is Clear on some Main Issues here >>>> "Mr.
Bradeen's amended motion to enforce raises the new allegation that
Ms. Bickford failed to share in the costs of uninsured medical expenses, childcare
expenses, and other expenses." It is all about the Money ALWAYS.
Review this portion IN THE COURT ORDER>>>,[From Pastor] ".... I guess a custody
battle. There's been 50/50 with dear Ava. Eleven-year-old Ava who's
been with the church family." Forget about the Entire Religious Part of this it is a Custody Battle pure and simple. I am not going to even address the religious part of the Court Order because it should not be in there other than the Custody Battle that is now being communicated to a group. That is the Church of all places.
Agree, Walter.
Andy, I doubt you read the order. If I were to quiz you, face-to-face, on what the order is about, you would not pass.
The court order concerns the child's well-being. The father was given greater control over the child's well-being. Oh, wait... sorry, you did not read that. You just fell for the same BS that the pundit constantly spews.
The mother is trying to take the child off of medications that the child has had and needs. As Howard pointed out, the mother also wants more money. The mother is using that pastor at that Cavalry Church as her guide for raising the child.
Now, the irony of this situation is that if the mother were to raise the child as a Wiccan, you would be for the courts intervening. If the mother were to raise the child as a devil worshipper, you would be for the courts intervening. Fortunately for society, the courts are not looking at the religious aspect at all.
You want to run around and scream that people are taking your religion away. No, people are rejecting your faith, not taking it away, because they see what it is and has become.
Mr. David Bergerson, very good, you saw thru it all. What is perplexing is the
Court did not need to even go into the Church and site case law on Religion just
determine WHO had the best interest of the Child. I hate that phrase, but in this case the Mother filed and the Father responded. It just unfortunate the Court even addressed the Church because it was clear WHO wanted to "Change the Circumstances" that is 50/50 Child Custody and the increase in Child Support that would have resulted. She used to the Church for the wrong purposes. Should have invited the Father to Service and ASKED HIS OPINION after Service.
Honestly, I do not think he needed to be invited to the service. As the filings stated, the service was recorded, and he watched them online.
https://www.youtube.com/@calvarychapelgreaterportland
Yes I get that, but appearing IN PERSON to one of these EVENTS is different
that viewing on ZOOM. And if the Mother was really interested in the Father possibly feeling OK with Church well let him come and personally meet the people AFTER Service. If it is a great place for the Child then bring the Father. It is a Community experience let the Father come.
You will get no argument from me about the difference between 2D (SMS/Social Media) and 3D communications (in person). I am a strong proponent of 3d conversations over 2d. In a weird irony, this was a topic of discussion with my wife earlier today. The youth tend to be lonelier than our generation and our parents' generation, and we feel that is because of 2D communication instead of 3D.
Regarding the in-person visit, I think you are missing the point in the filing where the pastor pursued the father and tried to split the family. If I were the father, there would be no need for me to go there. I know all I need to know. I will let the people who make the decision decide. Thus, he did that with the court system.
Calvary Chapel's crime in this story? Preaching the bible as the inerrant word of God that it is. The judge completely blew off the mother and daughters right to freedom of religion. I did not write about the medical issue, albeit, I suppose you would agree that a parent that did not want the covid and hpv shots is grounds for taking a parent's authority away? The covid shot was dangerous and the hpv shot is useless for a 12 year old not engaged in sexual activity.
Gonna keep digging deeper here are ya!
Now we are using 'crimes', not morals. Ok. So when the bible does not back up your want-to-believe narrative, you go to the law. Very interesting.
Did the church commit a crime? Honestly, I would tend to say no, but just as there are senior abuse laws, there may be laws in Maine regarding the corruption of youth. But I am not sure.
I knew this was coming . . . typical relgious perspective. Ignore the whole picture and focus on the tiny point. So you were ok with the mother, whose child had pneumonia not taking medications for that because 'god would heal the child?'
And you are entirely clueless about how the HPV shots work. Your ignorance is shining brighter than a lighthouse light. Seriously, take some time, man, read, learn, then spew. This back-and-forth banter, where you have your answer that is hunting a question, is making you look completely ignorant of the topics at hand.
Let me do the Christian thing here. Let me work on educating you.
The appropriate ages for girls to get the HPV shot, which is two doses, are between 9 and 14. HPV is not technically a sexually transmitted disease. It can be transmitted by touch, and not only the evil penis. The shot will last the girl's lifetime, and thus, when she is sexually active, hopefully not with her father, you know, like Lot's daughters. It is not like a condom, where you can 'take it' before the evil sexual act.
But back to crime.
I guess Jim Jones didn't commit a crime when he was in San Fran?
The Maine Supreme Court has just heard the case. They will rule. So that I get your responses ready . . . If they rule against the mother, you will say that they are anti-Christian, and if they rule for the mother, you will say that they are adhering to the law. Did I get those correct? Want to word them now so that you have them ready?
Calvary Chapel is a heretical church that lacks apostolic succession and the "word of God" is Christ, the Eternal Logos (or word). The Scriptures are divinely inspired and yet protestant traditions distort the scriptures in such horrible ways they invent false doctrines of "rapture" and dispensational theology which seeks to separate the Church from Israel when the Church is the New Israel, the Mystical Body of Christ. The Scriptures do not mention a word about scaring children with thoughts of damnation, indeed Christ explicitly says this concerning scandal (which is what this incident with Calvary Chapel has caused); " But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea." Matthew 18:6
Just so that Andy might want to learn something from this post and PROOF that he did not READ the court order.
Just go to page 17 of 18 of the court order. Just read the paragraph starting with 'Accordingly, the court . . .'
And somehow, Andy is cool with the top of page 11 of 18, where the pastor gets in the middle of the parents and preaches to the child that her father is the enemy and her father is persecuting her.
Good job, Andy. Why not just be truthful and admit that either one: you fell for the pundit BS, two: didn't read the court order, three: are just trying for some form of clickbait. Or, perhaps it was all three.
I did read it. What you haven't read is the bible, either that, or you don't believe what it teaches. You have no respect for mainstream Christianity, hence you agree with the judge and the atheistic father. You have no respect therefore for the constitution.
In reply to Andy Caldwell and in defense of David Bergerson
I am one of those Christians, but not that one like that Pastor that is
cited in the Court Order. Also I have been around to many Hypocritical
So-Called-Christians and Pastors. May want to read the Bible in it's
Original Greek for beginnings and actually know what the Bible says
then actual apply it because I have seen little application in this country.
Wait!
That is mainstream Christianity. HOLY SCARY CRAP.
Your tears of crying about this like mana for all of us who think religion is a cult.
But, hey, let me point out how much you are a @#$%^#$%^ hypocrite and a liar. Yes. A liar. But you can prove me wrong in calling me a liar by stating that all of these quotes from the bible are what you believe in and adhere to.
"You shall not wear a garment of different sorts, such as wool and linen mixed together." And the punishment for that is what? DEATH.
You are probably screaming that God is pro-life.
" From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some boys came out of the town and jeered at him. “Get out of here, baldy!” they said. “Get out of here, baldy!” 24 He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys."
And what did God do to Lot's wife?
And speaking of Lot. Are you cool with incest?
Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave. 31 One day the older daughter said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is no man around here to give us children—as is the custom all over the earth. 32 Let’s get our father to drink wine and then sleep with him and preserve our family line through our father.”
That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and slept with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.
The next day the older daughter said to the younger, “Last night I slept with my father. Let’s get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and sleep with him so we can preserve our family line through our father.” 35 So they got their father to drink wine that night also, and the younger daughter went in and slept with him. Again he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.
So both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father. 37 The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab[a]; he is the father of the Moabites of today. 38 The younger daughter also had a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi[b]; he is the father of the Ammonites[c] of today.
I stand by my comment in a previous response. It is funny that I am quoting myself, "Those values were litigated in courts and in the broader culture. They lost, and they deserved to."
So please, get off your high horse about the bible. And incoming . . . the movement of the goalposts from you when you proclaim that the bible is not real, those were just stories to teach values.
@Andy
Just to point out some more . . .
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/11/anti-christian-judge-prevents-mother-taking-daughter-church/
That is the basis of your story.
Of course, it got all the clichés in:
Anti Christian
Leftist
ACLU
California
So let's see what is accurate.
Anti-Christian - nope, the order does not say that.
Leftist - unknown
ACLU - OH WAIT . . . the @#$%^ morons just searched for the judge by last name. There was another person with the same last name who was President of the ACLU in Maine. NOT THIS JUDGE. https://www.bermansimmons.com/our-attorneys/jodi-l-nofsinger-retired-/ That is the ACLU person. The judge graduated lawschool in 2003. https://trellis.law/judge/jennifer.w.nofsinger
California - and this you will find FUNNY. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janja_Lalich https://www.lalichcenter.org/
Wow . . . I just saw how LAZILY these outsiders really are. Go to Google. Type this: jennifer w. nofsinger party affiliation The quote that these IDIOT religious zealots used was from Google's AI and it was WRONG. Google's AI tied the two Nofsinger's together as one person. WOW. Talk about being LAZY!
How gullible are the people who read the pundit? They believe it to be true when it is just utter garbage trying to stoke fear by lying.
Hello Mr. David Bergerson, thanks for providing the extensive Court Order for this
Family Law Case that allegedly centers on a Parents right to choose their children's
religion or education. However carefully reading the, actually well written Court Order,
there are serious problems with it that is beyond this narrative. However, the Key portion of that Order is here "To remedy her concerns, Ms. Bickford asks for allocated decision
making with respect to religious upbringing as well as **changes to child support** and
communication expectations between the parties." Most if not all Family Law Case in the US are always about Money that is **Spousal and Child Support** and typically the Mother filing "Change of Circumstances Motions" to obtain more money. It appears that is what is going on here however without Mothers Motion it is hard to know exactly. The fact the Father has equality in many decision areas is very unusual so Mother wanted to Change that. I would suggest to all here to actually go into the Santa Barbara Courts and hear cases before the family law Judges or in any Court Room in California and I think you all would be shocked. It is not about medical decisions, religion it is ALWAYS ABOUT THE MONEY. That Court Order also denied Mother's play for More Money and very unusual.
Howard Walther, Member of a Military Family
Sorry, but it’s hard to get worked up about a court order, a sticky divorce custody battle or Protestant teachings of the Calvary Church, while worshipers of faith are being cut down in Australia and Brown University.
Those of the Jewish faith are being murdered for simply attending Hanukkah services. Those of all faiths should denounce this disgusting act.
Granted, a full investigation into such a horrible act still needs to be completed, but it is reasonable to assume the motives of those involved.
While some may argue about the orthodoxy of fundamentalist Christian teachings and its interpretation of the Bible, where is the discussion about the Quran and its teachings of submission, domination and in this case, mass murder of Jews?
LT
YOU are the problem. Look at what you wrote, "Those of all faiths should denounce this disgusting act." NO. That is so @#$%^ wrong at so many different levels. Why do you have to be of a faith to denounce murder? I do not believe in ANY god. I do not feel ANYONE should be murdered. I denounce it. Is that wrong?
Now, for $__t and giggles. How ya feeling about people on boats in Venezuela?
Bergerson, you’re obviously looking for a fight, and emotional status is beyond the purview of this discussion. I will pray for you regardless.
No, I am not looking for a fight. The world is NOT out to get you. You are not that special, just one of about 8 billion.
When you decide to exclude groups from the human race, YOU are the problem.
Murder is murder. Justifying murder because someone is of a different faith or even has faith does not negate that it is still murder. You imply that because someone does not have faith, they condone murder. That is nonsense and completely stupid.
Islam is a theological system that is in error chiefly because it rejects Christ as the Messiah, and offers a false prophet - Muhammad when the last of the prophets was John the Baptist. It is a false religion, what more is there to be said?
Seriously, maybe you should consider a psych consult before the end of the year and the deductible is met.
Perhaps you spend your money on education. It is surely lacking.
To your song lyrics, we can only hope. Merry Christmas to all.
Thanks for the reminder, Andy. It sometimes seems a lost cause.
"Perhaps, this Christmas, we could use this season to remind ourselves of our common blessings, faith, and heritage?"
Heritage and faith are not exactly shared. There's a sharp civilizational divide for centuries in the West occurring after the reformation especially, the Latin Catholic kingdoms and entities and the Anglo-Germanic Protestants polities, and even then allegiances were often pragmatic in the centuries that follow.
But speaking of Christmas, I think it's time I submit an article on it's True Meaning, history, and its religious traditions; because Christmas is not about civic-secular unity, it's about the Incarnation.
Pls do. Here are the writer’s guidelines and where to submit. Thanks! https://www.sbcurrent.com/about
Please read the gospel of John. It is available online. The basic truth of Christmas? Jesus died to pay the price for our sins. Those who believe in him as Lord and Savior will have the benefit of his sacrifice which is eternal life. This basic message was preached in all Christian churches since the time of Christ's death and resurrection. It is obviously lost on most of these commentors.
Unfortunately, the Bickford case is another one of the thousands of custody cases in the US where the legal system ends up making everything worse. The father in this case says the child was having panic attacks because she was being taught that her sister and father were going to hell because they were non-believers and because of demon images to which she was being exposed. Who knows what the truth is. What I do know is when attorneys and judges get involved in family custody cases, almost everyone ends up suffering, particularly the children.
Andy, fascinating subject. I wish you would have posted links to everything mentioned in it. Before commenting I research what these posts on SB Current are referencing. So I've been reading up on Calvary Chapel on my own — if I have the one you're writing about it's this https://www.ccgreaterportland.org/what-we-believe. Here's my take on this: it seems to be a dispensational sect of Christianity. And if I'm incorrect, please guide me to a better understanding. Now, I'm not a Christian, but I am also not an Atheist. If I was divorced and my ex was taking my child to this church, I would protest it. I've known adults in Christian sects like this, and I do not think their mental health has benefited from it. I think it would be far harder for a child to process. That said, I would do everything I could to avoid subjecting my child to a court battle. I really feel for the child in this story, who is being used by her parents in their battle with each other. This child is living through two apocalypses — her parents' divorce and the sermons she's hearing at Calvary Church. Whatever happened to parents? Just gve peace a chance for the sake of your children.
Please read the gospel of John. It is available online. The basic truth of Christmas? Jesus died to pay the price for our sins. Those who believe in him as Lord and Savior will have the benefit of his sacrifice which is eternal life. This basic message was preached in all Christian churches since the time of Christ's death and resurrection. It is obviously lost on most of these commentors.
We attend Calvary Chapel in SB. Not sure about the exact teachings of the one in Maine, but Calvary Chapel’s hallmark is verse by verse teaching of the Bible. Christians believe this book to be the word of God. An atheist dad is going to hate the truth of the Bible, whether his wife exposes his daughter to it or not.
Calvary Chapel does not teach authentic Christian doctrine Paul, it presupposes modern assumptions about the Christian faith to declare dispensationalism, a novel heresy to be true and that competing faith traditions are false because they emphasize doctrinal differences. The Word of God, the Logos is Christ - not the Bible. God the Father gave us his Son, it was Christ who then gave us a Church, the Catholic (and catholicos) Church which preserved the scriptures and wrote them down, compiled them, and defended them.
Let's look at their statement of faith to show why your statement that they "[their] hallmark is verse by verse teaching of the bible "We believe worship of God should be spiritual. Therefore, we remain flexible and yielded to the leading of the Holy Spirit to direct our worship." "We believe worship of God should be intelligent. Therefore, our services are designed with great emphasis upon the teaching of the Word of God that He might instruct us how He should be worshiped."
This is in error as worship has already existed since the time of the Apostles and it is chiefly centered on the Eucharist, the consecration of the Body and Blood of Christ under the auspices of bread and wine. The Catholic Church celebrates the Eucharist, the truthful not merely symbolic, *representation* of Christ's sacrifice on the cross for all eternity. Tradition informs worship, not flexibility and a vague invocation of the "Holy Spirit" which anyone can claim guides them.
"We believe in the inerrancy of Scripture, that the Bible, Old and New Testaments, in the original autographs, is the inspired, infallible Word of God, a complete and final written revelation of God." The True Word of God is as I said before, Christ - the Second person of the Holy Trinity. ""In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" - that word is revealed to be Christ. The "original autographs" also do not exist anymore - only copies and manuscripts of the canonical biblical texts, which was preserved in the Septuagint concerning all 51 of the Old Testament books, including the 7bDeuterocanon protestants like Calvary Chapel rejects. The Septuagint was the Jewish canon the Apostles and first Christians used the one that Christ himself referenced. The Bible was compiled by the Catholic Church and was not given to us by God directly but through prophets and apostolic heritage through the Church.
"We believe Jesus Christ is the head of the Body, His church, and that church government should be simplistic rather than a complex bureaucracy. We desire to be led by the Holy Spirit in all the functions and directions of the ministry of the church." This is an obvious error as Calvary Chapel presupposes a "simple government" in the Church that has never existed, and moreover it doesn't inherit. Where is the Apostolic succesion from the 12 Apostles to the pastor in Santa Barbara for his authority? Was he consecrated and appointed through the laying on of hands or did he simply become a pastor by his own will? "The early Christian church hierarchy evolved from simple leadership into a structured system, primarily featuring Apostles, Bishops (Overseers/Elders/Pastors), and Deacons, with the bishop overseeing a local church, assisted by presbyters (priests) and deacons (assistants)" that's far from "simple government" as there is a clear hierarchy.
"Calvary Chapel of Santa Barbara has been formed as a fellowship of believers in the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Our supreme desire is to know Christ and be conformed to His image by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are not a denominational church, nor are we opposed to denominations as such, only their over-emphasis of the doctrinal differences that have led to the division of the Body of Christ." Calvary Chapel is a denomination, it's a low Church protestant one with ill defined doctrines or even entirely lacking in theology in some respects. The "over emphasis of the doctrinal differences" is also damning as it emphasizes mere unity over truth, the Apostles as far back as the Council of Jerusalem clearly thought doctrine was important and condemned the Judaizing heresy which demanded gentiles participate in Jewish rituals as necessary for salvation. The Church has always fought error since it's inception precisely because wolves would come to devour her children by leading them into error. The Cathars believed in one of the most damning errors of the Medieval error, asserting that the only good was spiritual and the material was inherently of satan and rejected the sacrament in addition to; "Jesus: Believed Jesus was an angel with a phantom body, not truly incarnated, as flesh was evil.
Rejection of Materialism: Condemned marriage, procreation, and meat-eating because they perpetuated the cycle of souls trapped in evil bodies."
"We believe that the nation of Israel has a special place in God’s plan and that all the promises of the God of Israel will be fulfilled." The Church is the New Israel and is the body of all believers. Salvation came from the Jews through Christ, the Jewish Messiah, but Israel as both an ethnic group or political entity in the Holy Land does not save, only grace does. Truly, where is your "biblical church" at because all I see are errors...
Thank you, Andy for your response.
I read the order. Did you? Gateway Pundit had it right. The court gave the atheist father all measures of control as to her ability to follow her Christian faith via her association with Calvary Chapel. The beef? Neither the father, the judge, or the "expert" like what the texts in the bible have to say.
Mr Caldwell, my goodness. I read the court document and I see exactly the issue, the woman brought her child to a horrid protestbt pastor who focused on strict scriptural literalism, apocalyptic images and condemnation, and fear. Don't defend this.
This is a low Church protestant issue especially because they focus on rapture theology [a heresy and is not even authentic Christian theology nor did it exist until the 1800's], the obsession with hell and the emotionally terrifying rhetoric is not only not conducive to piety but also explicitly ignores God's mercy and redemptive power.
If this girl has instead been brought to the Mission of Santa Barbara as an example, the Franciscans there would never rant about the sort of nonsense this Calvary chapel did in any way. The issue is the state doesn't hate religion [not that I loke America...] but that when a child is clearly suffering from deteriorating mental health to the point of panic attacks then the state can act, whether you like it or not.
These sorts of protestant churches must be condemned in the strictest terms because they only destroy the credibility of faith institutions.
"In May 2021, Ms. Bickford started attending Calvary Chapel Church in Portland, She did not seek Mr. Bradeen's input regarding Ava's attendance at church, which Mr Bradeen learned about through Ava's involvement in a church event. Mr. Bradeen wanted to know more about the church and its teachings and asked Ms. Bickford for additional information. Ms. Bickford's replied by providing the name of the church she and Ava were attending, without any further context.,
Mr. Bradeen conducted research to educate himself about the teachings of the church. Because the sermons posted on Facebook, he was able to watch are approximately 50-60 hours of services. What he observed concerned him. The church, as described by its pastor, teaches the Bible "verse by verse, chapter by chapter."
2
In practice, this means that the sermons that Ava hears contain messages about warfare, fallen angels, and eternal suffering. As the church studies the Old Testament, focus is placed on the physical conflict depicted in those chapters. There are images of warfare displayed on the screens in the sanctuary. The pastor also, as he testified, "preaches a vivid description of hell," including messages about the "wailing and gnashing of teeth," "burning and torment," and "perpetual pain and regret." The church teaches that people can only be saved by meeting god on god's terms.
Through the church, Ava has also been taught that there will be a second coming of Christ, which will involve seven years of hell on earth under the reign of the "beast" called the anti-Christ. These messages are reinforced through Calvary Chapel's curriculum for children, which includes workbooks with images, including images of "fallen angels,"' or demons.
Mr. Bradeen has observed Ava's expressions of fear and anxiety associated with the teachings of Calvary Chapel. Ava asks Mr. Bradeen a lot of questions, such as who in the family will be in heaven and who will be in hell, and why Mr. Bradeen and Harper will not be in heaven with her. Ava has had panic attacks in Mr. Bradeen's presence when talking about this subject. Ava also leaves notes around Mr. Bradeen's house for him to find because she believes that the rapture will be coming soon, and she is concerned that he will be left behind."
Why did you even make this article to begin with? This just looks like sloppy culture war polemics.
Ok, this must be the time to play the lottery.
We agree on a topic!
Again, Andy Caldwell read carefully the Court Order. It is a Custody Battle over 50/50 share and Mother wanted to Change That Custody which means more Child Support payments to her. It is that simple. Now THE CHURCH is involved in the Custody Battle, and it should not be. The Church and Religion is a RED HERRING in all of this. The silly Court should have never gone there on the Church or Religion Issue so it will probably go to the US Supreme Court.
It has zero chance of hitting the Supreme Court. I have a better chance of winning all the lotteries back-to-back, with Elizabeth Hurley, Elle MacPherson, Sydney Sweeney, and the Rockettes all knocking on my door looking for booty calls.
Now, after I have a heart attack and die because that happened . . .
:)
For Christians, sharing the Christmas and Easter holidays with an ever more secular and post Christian society has been an odd trip. Frosty the snowman, Rudolph the reindeer, the Saint Nicolas of Coca Cola commercials, the Grinch, the Easter bunny etc etc all are Madison Avenue creations, at the very least. They have nothing to do with the
creator of the universe coming to live among the humans He created, die a sacrificial death, come back from the grave 3 days later, and promise to return at the end of time. If the atheists and religious skeptics want to ignore these holidays, it would be more consistent with their theology, or lack thereof. Of course, they do so at the peril of their souls, but as a typist in my first office said “ why mess up a wonderful holiday with all that religious stuff?”