There is a debate happening with regard to a law suit recently filed in Dallas, Texas by Mikey and Bonnie Weinstein. Mikey is the founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) and the threats of violence to Mikey and his family are as a direct result of the work he does at this foundation. But make no mistake, this law suit is NOT on behalf of his foundation, but out of serious concern for the safety and freedom to live without threat for he and his family.

Opinions abound as this brings up the debate about freedom of speech, and many will weigh in on this legal battle that in part intends to define a line that is being crossed in America with increasing frequency. That line includes hiding behind religious immunity to use prayer as a call to violence.

A recent article by Ed Brayton, a friend of the Weinsteins and MRFF supporter, suggests that the Weinsteins law suit is an emotional reaction and “frivolous” is simply missing the mark. Brayton cites that previous legal actions have met with demise, therefore this one will too and leave Mikey’s integrity and credibility compromised. I argue otherwise!

I will say now, and very clearly, that to in any way suggest that the Weinsteins have filed this suit due to an unfounded hysteria or over-reaction is patently false! He, and many of us who research and write on the dangers of religious extremism take the practice of imprecatory prayers very seriously! Let me provide some examples of the widespread use of imprecatory prayer.

The Army of God domestic terror network (and particularly Neal Horsley, well known to have Army of God associations) used imprecatory prayers as a method of calling out “hits” against abortion providers.

This is a particularly disturbing note, as Neal Horsley is also directly responsible for a previous Army of God hitlist–specifically,
the Nuremburg Files (which posted names and other personally identifying information of clinic workers–with names crossed out as people were assassinated).

The site was eventually shut down due to a class-action lawsuit by doctors and clinic personnel who had been targeted. Horsley has also reportedly posted an apologia regarding Army of God domestic terrorist Scott Roeder (in Covenant News in August 2009). ~ Alex Bird

This goes to the issue of simple freedom of speech. Brayton states that, “There has to be a clear nexus between spoken threat and an imminent action of violence.” The fact that it took a lawsuit to shut Horsely’s practices down establishes the need for legal action when behavior and ideologies transcend rhetoric and surface as violence.

“On occasion, “exorcisms” and even  imprecatory prayers–prayers designed for the explicit purpose of cursing someone to suffer until conversion or death–are done using the names or belongings of targets (an example noted at talk2action.com).  ”‘Annointing’ as territorial marks”, covered in an article I wrote 6 Jan 2006 and describes the general theory; I have personally witnessed this type of ”praying over” someone numerous times. This has, in Joel’s Army circles, included claims that their imprecatory prayers led to the death of Mother Theresa. ~ Alex Bird

Sound ludicrous? Absolutely! Whenever extreme devout believers of ANY faith, belief or ideology raise the bar of attack against opponents to a call for violence or harm – no matter how outrageous and unbelievable – we must have mechanisms in place to protect the victims. When someone is stalked, for example…laws have changed to protect the victim, but only after many have fallen to the violence of their stalkers.

I participated in this very example on a personal level while in college after repeated appeals were made on behalf of a college roommate of mine who was finally gunned down in the cafeteria on our campus during Spring Break. Because of my law enforcement history, she appealed to my help in attempts to secure protection for her from what were veiled threats by her stalker. These attempts failed in lieu of the emphasis for protection of the perpetrators rights to freedom of speech and movement, taking precedence over her freedoms.

The Elisa Tissot murder became such a major influence, that the Washington State Senate

had passed a bill within ten months, Senate Bill 3549 (passed on February 4, 1985) and Engrossed

Substitute Senate Bill 3012 (passed on January 24, 1985), where it requires that all domestic violence

to be recognized and law enforcement is required to protect the victims of domestic violence.

“The Elisa Tissot murder (pages 27-31) became such a major influence, that the Washington State Senatehad passed a bill within ten months, Senate Bill 3549 (passed on February 4, 1985) and Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 3012 (passed on January 24, 1985), where it requires that all domestic violence to be recognized and law enforcement is required to protect the victims of domestic violence.” ~ Evergreen State College

So do the Weinsteins and the rest of us sit back and take this lying down? Absolutely NOT!

To suggest that because this is a very touchy battle, and one that has lost on previous appeals in other forms, is in and of itself not grounds for inaction. There is a clear and present need to establish a benchmark when it comes to 3rd party appeals for violence, whether in the name of Jesus, Allah, Xenu or the madman rantings of pseudo-celebrities like Glenn Beck and Bill O’Reilly.

Giving free license to bullies subjugates us all to their control. Even the courts can recognize when mental instability enters as a factor in the dissemination of hatred and a call to action.

Joel’s Army groups that have been documented as having links to not only imprecatory prayer but outright support in some cases
for genocide and other risks to national security: these include Campus Crusade for Christ and Full Gospel Businessmen’s
Fellowship International (the latter linked to Gen. Efrain Rios Montt, who has an international warrant out for his arrest on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity for actions during the 1980s in Guatemala resulting in the death of over 200,000 Mayan
nationals; of note, he did use imprecatory prayers to solicit hits against entire organisations by the Guatemalan armed forces) and was a recognized evangelical by American religious organizations.

Apparently Ammerman started out in neopentecostal ”cell church” and “house church” movements, which are strongly connected
with the New Apostolic Reformationists (NAR) and in particular domestic terrorist organisations within the NAR (including the Army of God domestic terror network we discussed above; there are reports that the Army of God operative Scott Roeder was a participant in a cell-church group, ran one out of his house, and was known to be in a cell with Army of God operatives David Leach and Shelley “Shaggy West” Shannon–the latter of which was imprisoned for the initial attempt to assassinate Dr. George Tiller; Leach conducted prison visits under claims of being lay ministry)

ANOTHER red flag–includes linkage to (among others): John Hagee Ministries (not only documented to use imprecatory prayers but is affirmatively NAR, documentably more coercive than Scientology, and has explicitly made anti-Semitic statements)

The machinations that Ammerman purports contribute to the reality of a flex of his freedom of speech muscle. It goes to the root of those that follow him and his conspiracy theories and what type of person he is encouraging through these “prayers”.

Reprint by a “Christian Patriot” militia group of an article from the militia rag “Patriot Report” published December 1996.

Essentially claims that the Russians, Chinese and Germans are conducting a stealth invasion of the US along with the Mexicans…it would seem that Ammerman was a regular on “Christian Patriot” radio programs on shortwave radio (probably WWCR or WRNO–both had a lot of “patriot” programming on at the time–or via pirate radio stations) and was promoting the idea that there were supposedly 3,000,000 foreign troops in North America and 80,000 in the US alone, all part of a planned UN occupying force)

There is also information that Ammerman has spoken to “Christian Patriot” and secessionist groups in Hawaii and elsewhere, and claims to have had prophetic foreknowledge of the 11 September terror attacks, and sells a videotape to “Christian Patriot” militia circles insinuating that the Armed Forces are about to take over the US and establish martial law. ~ Alex Bird

Although there are mountains of information that can be written about the defendants [Ammerman & Klingenschmitt] in the Weinstein lawsuit, this is not a book. Brayton does acknowledge that, “They are both  frauds and utterly repulsive people and they need to be exposed for what they are.” I agree. But I stop short of agreeing with his suggestion that the Weinsteins are using this lawsuit “to score political points”. This is not self-serving, in fact it is an action that is meant to have a positive outcome for us all.

Differ in opinion all you want. Even call me juvenile names if that is how you manage your anger and opposition to my views...but do not threaten personal harm. There is a reason why you cannot yell “fire” in a crowded theatre, or “bomb” in an airport. Simply because there has not been case law established on the use of imprecatory prayer, does not mean that it is destined for failure. Carry on Mr. and Mrs. Weinstein! I honor your efforts and thank you on behalf of the rest of us who will be better protected because of your valiant efforts.

Words have power! And when they are used to incite harm they must be

challenged to protect the freedom of others.