<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10pt"><font style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 16pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">Man sues publishers over Bible verses he claims are objectional</font><br>
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Jim Kouri
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<a href="http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/kouri"><b>Jim Kouri</b></a><br>
July 31, 2008<br><br>
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In a legal action guaranteed to shock most Americans, a gay man is
suing a major publisher of Bibles claiming certain verses caused him
"emotional distress." He's suing for $70 million.<br><br>
Bradley LaShawn Fowler, a 39-year old self-avowed homosexual from
Canton, Michigan, seeks $60 million from Zondervan, a major publisher
of religious books, and an additional $10 million from Thomas Nelson
Publishing in his lawsuits filed in the federal court for the Eastern
District of Michigan.<br><br>
While observers believe Fowler is being backed by an anti-Christian or
pro-gay group, according to The Grand Rapids Press (in Michigan), the
plaintiff Fowler is representing himself in the legal proceedings.<br><br>
"I believe this self-representation business is a sham. I suspect some
big-money organization or a wealthy benefactor is providing the
finances for this obscene abuse of the legal system and the US
Constitution's 'separation of church and state' tradition. Are
Christians really going to allow some gay activist and a black-robed
lawyer decide how the Bible is written?" asks political strategist Mike
Baker.<br><br>
Fowler claims that King James Bibles published by Zondervan disparages
homosexuals as sinners. He said he filed his lawsuits against Bible
publishers because they are instrumental in having his family turn
against him. Fowler is also claiming the Bible verses cause him
physical discomfort and that he suffers mental distress as a result of
those scriptures.<br><br>
"The intent of the publisher was to design a religious, sacred document
to reflect an individual opinion or a group's conclusion to cause me or
anyone who is a homosexual to endure verbal abuse, discrimination,
episodes of hate, and physical violence ... including murder," Fowler
wrote in his self-styled legal brief.<br><br>
"This whole lawsuit is making a mockery of the Holy Bible and a blatant
attempt by the homosexual community to away the rights of
Bible-believing Christians in the United States. Past cases against
Christians and their beliefs has shown that court actions infringing on
their beliefs and practices is even easier than taking away candy from
a baby," Baker warns.<br><br>
"My fear is that Christians — bishops, pastors, and church-goers — will
silently accept the decision of a black-robed lawyer who may or may not
have his own religious agenda. Too often religious leaders have failed
to motivate their churches to take action when their rights are being
violated by oppressive anti-religious forces inside and outside our
government," said Baker.<br><br>
In a recently released statement, a Zondervan spokesperson wrote:
"Zondervan doesn't translate the Bible or own the copyright for any of
the translations. Instead [our] company relies on the scholarly
judgment of credible translation committees."<br><br>
Meanwhile, U.S. District Judge Julian Abele Cook Jr., who will hear
Fowler's case against Thomas Nelson, said that he "has some very
genuine concerns about the nature and efficacy of [the plaintiff's]
claims." Christian observers such as Jane Martin believe such
statements only encourage these types of lawsuits.<br><br>
"This case just may go a lot further than it deserves, thanks to a liberal judge who believes his word is sacrosanct," she said.<br><br>
While the denizens of America's newsrooms appear to be ignoring this
latest religious controversy, the gay press is keeping their eyes on
the case and spinning the story to benefit their worldview.<br><br>
While Fowler claims he alone is involved in the Zondervan and Thomas
Nelson Publishing lawsuits, some conservatives believe he is being
secretly backed by a group or individual with "deep pockets" and an
interest in attacking Christianity.<br><br>
"This guy Fowler isn't telling us the full story. I'd bet the farm
someone with millions of dollars to spare is backing him financially in
a move to actually alter what Christians believe is 'the word of God,'"
claims Mike Baker.<br><br>
Zondervan is a subsidiary of the publishing giant HarperCollins and
specializes in evangelical books and audiotapes. Its books and products
are sold in over 60 countries and it's a member of The Evangelical
Christian Publishers Association.<br><br>
"We're an international Christian communications company with a heart
for helping people find and follow Jesus Christ by inspiring them with
relevant biblical and spiritual resources. We do this through our
best-selling, award-winning, and life-changing products," according to
their mission statement.<br><br>
The other target of Fowler's lawsuit is Thomas Nelson, Inc., located in
Nashville, TN. Nelson is one of the oldest publishing houses in the US,
being established in 1798. As with Zondervan, the company specializes
in Bibles, Christian non-fiction and fiction books, audiotapes and
other religious products.<br><br>
The judge hearing the Fowler lawsuit, Julian Abele Cook, was appointed
to the federal bench during the Carter Administration in 1978.
According to a source in Washington, DC, Cook is "to the left" on most
issues including so-called discrimination cases. In fact, besides being
a federal judge, Cook has served as a chairman or vice-chairman of
several civil liberties organizations and panels and he has close ties
to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).<br><br>
"If people believe this lawsuit will disappear, they are sadly
mistaken. Judge Cook is considered an activist judge who has a personal
agenda when it comes to so-called discrimination cases. And the
homosexual plaintiff against Zondervan and Thomas Nelson is claiming
the Bible discriminates against gays and lesbians. This case is not
going away any time soon," warns Baker.<br><br>
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<font style="font-family: arial,helvetica; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">Jim
Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National
Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City
housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by
reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as
director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of
security for several major organizations. He's also served on the
National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers
throughout the country.<br><br>Jim writes for many police and crime
magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer,
Campus Law Enforcement Journal, and others. He's appeared as on-air
commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including
Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His
book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com,
and can be ordered at local bookstores.<br><br>Jim holds a bachelor of
science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration
and he's a board certified protection professional.</font><br><br>
<font style="font-size: 8pt;" face="verdana" size="1">© Copyright 2008 by Jim Kouri</font><br>
<font style="font-size: 8pt;" face="verdana" size="1"><a href="http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/kouri/080731">http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/kouri/080731</a></font><div> </div><div><div><div><font color="#0000bf"><em><font face="comic sans ms"><div><em><font color="#0000bf" face="Comic Sans MS">Like a deer that longs for running waters so my soul longs for you, O God.</font></em></div></font></em></font></div><div><font color="#0000bf"><em><font face="comic sans ms">Ps 42:1</font></em></font></div><div><em><font color="#0000bf" face="Comic Sans MS" size="1"></font></em> </div><div><em><font color="#0000bf" face="Comic Sans MS" size="1"></font></em> </div></div></div><div><br></div></div><br>
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