Over the past decade, cities around the country have established clergy response teams, comprised of pastors, priests and other religious leaders from all religious denominations, to provide aid, counseling and assistance to victims of crime and lately of natural disasters. Now a report suggests that these clergy response teams may be used to help put down civil unrest and enforce martial law.
Clergy response teams are nothing new. Though little information is available on the Internet, these teams have existed in various cities around the country since at least the 1990s. Their original purpose was to provide counseling for victims of violent crime and other traumatic events. One of the first such teams in Pacoima, Calif., is credited (PDF) with helping to reduce illegal gang activity in that area.
In Greeley, Colo., in 2002, the clergy response team helped officials deal with hate crimes against Muslim and Sikh residents and reduce community tensions. The program was set to expand to Grand Junction and Glenwood Springs by 2003, according to a 2002 U.S. Department of Justice report (PDF).
Some other clergy response teams are known to operate in Rochester, N.Y., (PDF) and Washington, D.C. (PDF) These were funded through Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services Value Based Initiative grants to “respond to the scene of traumatic incidents and provide services to victims, witnesses, and their families.”
In Washington, the East of the River Clergy Police Community Partnership “sponsors teams of clergy and other faith-based individuals that reach out to the families, next of kin and other secondary victims of violent crimes and homicide,” according to a statement on its Web site. “Its purpose is to provide aid, counseling and assistance to victims, witnesses and their families and to intervene in the occurrence of retaliation.”
After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Christ in Action, a non-profit group of clergy from around the country, assisted in disaster relief by providing meals and home reconstruction for victims displaced by the hurricane. According to the White House’s report on Hurricane Katrina, “Dr. Denny Nissley, the Director of Christ in Action, is organizing a Coalition of Faith-Based First Responders from around the Nation to be prepared for the next major disaster. This Coalition will perform disaster relief training for volunteers and will maintain a current roster of thousands of volunteers who can be quickly called upon to provide support during the next major disaster.”
Now comes a TV news report from Louisiana of what some other of those faith-based first responders were doing during Katrina: helping the government take away victims’ guns.
Could martial law ever become a reality in America? Some fear any nuclear, biological or chemical attack on U.S. soil might trigger just that. KSLA News 12 has discovered that the clergy would help the government with potentially their biggest problem: Us. . . .
If martial law were enacted here at home, like depicted in the movie “The Siege”, easing public fears and quelling dissent would be critical. And that’s exactly what the ‘Clergy Response Team’ helped accomplish in the wake of Katrina.
Dr. Durell Tuberville serves as chaplain for the Shreveport Fire Department and the Caddo Sheriff’s Office. Tuberville said of the clergy team’s mission, “the primary thing that we say to anybody is, ‘let’s cooperate and get this thing over with and then we’ll settle the differences once the crisis is over.’” — KSLA-TV
Watch the full report from KSLA-TV:
And when they aren’t taking them outright, they’re buying them. That clergy response team in Rochester completed a gun buyback program August 4, taking 102 guns from citizens and giving them $50 gift cards for Wegmans Food Markets in exchange.
At one point, the officers ran out of cards and Police Chief David Moore had to rush to a store to get more, said the Rev. Deloris Simpson, a member of the Clergy Response Team.
“Thank God for Wegmans,” said Simpson. “They’ve given people the incentive to say ‘enough is enough.’ One lady turned in four guns and she didn’t even want a certificate. She just wanted them out of her house.”
The police collected 29 long guns, 69 handguns and four air guns. Officer Deidre Taccone said the department was just as pleased to get the air guns because they’re also commonly used in crimes. — Rochester Democrat & Chronicle
Aside from taking away people’s guns so they can’t defend themselves from the looting and crime which invariably follows such a disaster, then providing those same victims with “counseling,” the clergy response teams will also have an important role to play if martial law is ever declared. And one of the scenarios where that might happen is a bird flu pandemic.
In Bellefontaine, Ohio, last year, Logan County Emergency Management Agency officials held training sessions with local clergy advising them how to use selected Bible passages to provide counseling during crisis situations. Some of the training focused specifically on the bird flu pandemic, according to documents (PDF) obtained by a pastor who attended the training and forwarded to Alex Jones’ prisonplanet.com Web site. “Pastor Revere” told Jones (MP3) that “we get the picture that we’re going to be standing at the end of some farmer’s lane while he’s standing there with his double barrel, saying we have to confiscate your cows, your chickens, your firearms.”
One of those passages, Pastor Revere said, was Romans 13.
For those who are ignorant of Romans 13, let me address the issue bluntly: According to Romans 13, every citizen is only bound to obey his or her governing official to the degree that the governing official does not violate the duty of the citizen to obey the “higher powers” which, for Americans, are God and the U.S. Constitution. In other words, no Christian can be ordered to disobey God, and no American citizen can be ordered to disobey the U.S. Constitution. Properly understood, Romans 13 teaches that each and every governing official (including the President of the United States and all those under him) must submit to the U.S. Constitution.
Article VI, Paragraph 3 of the U.S. Constitution states, “The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution.”
So, what does the Constitution say regarding the disarmament of American citizens? The Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution could not be clearer: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
Did you get that? “[T]he right of the people to keep and bear Arms, SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED.” [Emphasis added]
Therefore, any attempt to disarm the American people must be viewed as an act of tyranny and must be resisted.
The right to keep and bear arms is rooted deep in American history. I remind readers that it was the attempted gun confiscation of the colonists’ arms, which had been cached at Concord, Massachusetts, that directly precipitated the beginning of America’s fight for independence. — Chuck Baldwin Live
I would personally like to remind my Christian readers of 1 Samuel 8, in which God grants Israel their first of many earthly kings, not because men should have earthly kings to rule over them, but as punishment for rejecting Him. Just something to think about. Those who are right with God need no earthly king.
And since there are elections coming up, guess who is all for this? These Sam Brownback supporters. Yet another reason to vote for Ron Paul.
In any event, during the next natural disaster, terrorist attack, or pandemic, expect to see these clergy response teams out and about, providing counseling to people who need it, and possibly trying to take guns away from those who don’t.
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Shyfrog
Aug 23, 2007
Wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross…
Jeff Hoyt
Aug 24, 2007
Michael,
My greatest thanks for your comments. I was immensely encouraged by your words. Indeed, those who are right with God have no need of a king, and it was the corollary to this principal that John Adams had in mind when he said that the American form of government “…was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” A society can only be successful when its citizens rule themselves with integrity and self-discipline. When it fails to do so, it requires its leaders to become tyrants, a state of affairs that sin and pride find quite attractive.
Then you get garden spots like Iraq. What a remarkable society, where the general population won’t pick up guns and shoot the troublemakers. But I guess I shouldn’t make too much of it; we’re not doing that here, either.
It is discouraging to see clergy members whgo sould know better involved with disarming the population. This kind of thinking is exactly what tyranny loves. Given the choice between an ignorant populace and a disarmed populace, any competent despot will choose ignorance, because they can be talked out of their guns along with everything else, as long as the cable is turned on.
Help
Aug 24, 2007
Any one who can help make our society better should no matter what!! It is in serious trouble now!! We can’t allow it anymore!! Life is still priceless. Shyfrog has shown people that there are people in need of help such as himself. More dead people in graves are no good to us. You must face up to what you do. It’s all on each person!! Good luck to all!! May the best members of society weed out the bad ones with education,support, justice and good moral character!!! The less crime and terrorism we have the better it is for all people. Justice is still a privelage!!!
Ryan
Aug 26, 2007
This is one reason not to support organized religion. Be careful about donating to churches.
Maybe so
Aug 27, 2007
Maybe so but, if anyone can do anything to change our messed up society for the better than more power to them!!! Some organized religions are more like organized crime families. I agree. From what we have been told Muslims back eachother regardless if they are wrong. Maybe we should call them the Muslim maffia because, that is dead wrong!!!
Actor Headshots
Aug 29, 2007
They suspended the posse comatatus act? why are we letting this government consistantly eroad our rights? how long will this stuff go on without any fight? is there no one with any guts left? have american men & women decided that there is nothing to preserve for our children and grandchildren? clergy are to help huh? are they going to help the citizens or the government?
todd
LA Head Shot Photo
Sep 01, 2007
Govt. and Clergy working together to suppress freedom? Sure it boils down to the more you allow Govt.(and church officials) to do for you, the more you allow them to do to you. We need Ron Paul to be president BUT, We need Every but kissing Demapublician voted out of office!!! for this to happen, the libratairians must run people in every office of the land. A President standing alone is most certainly a lame duck president from day one!!!
Tyler M
Sep 16, 2007
They removed the video from YouTube. O.o
chunt
Sep 18, 2007
You always wondered what “compassionate conservative” meant? This is what it means. We’ll step on your throats, but your community leaders will hold your hand while we do it, comfortingly smiling.
Raimond
Oct 04, 2007
I’m apparently a very rare Seventh-day Adventist. I believe in the right to own firearms. I also carry a well-seasoned Shagbark Hickory club. It ain’t gonna be found by a metal detector.
Allison
Oct 13, 2007
?Biblical Government – united States of America style
When Paul the Apostle wrote to the church at Rome Caesar was the dictator in power over the
Roman Empire. In the united States of America the first three words of the empowering
document, The Constitution, are “We The People”. Therefore, applying and fitting the words of
Paul from his day into our nation today Romans 13 should read:
Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto We The People under God. For there is no power
but of God: the powers that be, We The People, are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth We The People, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that
resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For We The People are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid
of We The People? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 For We The People are the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil,
be afraid; for We The People beareth not the sword in vain: for We The People are the minister of
God, a revenger to [execute] wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5 Wherefore [ye] must needs be subject to We The People, not only for wrath, but also for
conscience sake.
6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for We The People are God’s ministers, attending
continually upon this very thing.
7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute [is due]; custom to whom custom;
fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the
law.
A basic fact needs to be pointed out and understood here. Dues and Tribute (Income Tax) are to
be paid for the specific and general benefit of We The People. In the United States today,
unfortunately, the dues and tribute we pay in “Income Taxes” never go to pay the expenses of the
general welfare of We The People. That money goes, instead, into the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) over which Congress has no control. The real dues and tribute We The People pay is
extracted through inflation. When Congress writes checks for more than is in the Treasury more
Federal Reserve Notes (FRN’s) must be put into circulation diluting the value of that which is
already in circulation. Then it takes more FRN’s to buy less. Remember, Paul says render to all
their dues… We do not owe anything to the IMF. Congress has no control over the IMF. We are
not here to make elected public officials (servants) wealthy at our expense. We must be strong
and vigilant holding them accountable at every level.
“To him who knows to do right and does not do it, to him it is sin.” James 4:17
A Believer
Oct 13, 2007
In confirmation to remarks by #7, LA Head Shot Photo —-Quote from “Feed My Sheep” by George H. Warnock — Chapter 3: Link to Feed My Sheep”
?”And though it may seem to be a matter of insignificance right now to many Christians, let us realize that the time may be close at hand when ecclesiastical and earthly governments will once again walk together hand in hand (as the mystery of iniquity hastens on to full fruition); and God’s people are going to have to stand up in the power of the Spirit of God against the combined might of the Man of Sin and the god of this present world, as he sits in the very Temple of God in the earth.”
Reveled
Nov 09, 2007
I am a very consider Seventh-day Adventist because in the book of Daniel with the feet of iron and clay it represented religion and the government mixing and we all no that no good can go of that. I guess we’ll just have to watch and pray.
Undermine liberty?!?
Dec 26, 2007
Um, sorry guys, but I just don’t see what’s so bad about this. Am I supposed to be up in arms (pun intended) over these Clergy Response Teams offering to buy back my gun? Why is this a bad thing? How did you manage to leap to the UTTERLY RIDICULOUS conclusion that CLRs are there to insidiously promote MARTIAL LAW? Are you kidding? Are you that paranoid of your own government? Better get thee to a polling booth next year, then.
Michael Hampton
Dec 26, 2007
You’re supposed to distrust government. You’re supposed to ascribe the worst possible motives to any proposal that government comes up with. That’s called being a good citizen.
Ryan
Dec 26, 2007
Oh, you better believe I will be going to the polls. I will be voting for Ron Paul for president because he is the candidate that seems to care about freedom and not about 9/11 fear mongering.
Fatboy
Feb 23, 2008
Funny (NOT) the same Government that wants us to lay down our weapons, follow Bible scriptures and obey authority yet our Governments denies the same God we are to obey so once again in there infinite wisdom contradiction and double standards.
Ron Paul 2008
MyOwn
Dec 12, 2010
If a zealot comes to enforce the law, I will send them to their loving God.
MyOwn
Dec 12, 2010
@ Undermine liberty?!?
Paid blogger or enlisted person?? Only a ill informed person or a paid nazi would say the things you just said. You make it seem stupid to not trust them, you say it’s good that bible thumpers will take your guns and enforce the law…. What country are you from? lol wow A lot of people trusted Hitler when he said the people in the work camps were being held and deported… They thought nothing of it, until the end of the war and the discovery of the body pits. Tust them if you like, not wise but it’s your right.