Quick Note: The Christian Taliban Strikes During a New Orleans Unitarian Church Service

The First Unitarian Universalist Church of New Orleans

This is one of the most shameful examples of the far-right's brand of what they call Christianity:

Last Sunday, Flip Benham's ultra-conservative, anti-abortion organization Operation Save America interrupted a church service at the First Unitarian Universalist Church in New Orleans.

Because an article by Brian Tashman on the Right Wing Watch website about the demonstration referred to its location as the Unitarian Universalist "church", (small case and quotes are Mr. Tashman's), I initially mistook his article for one praising Mr. Benham's group.   However, the Right Wing Watch website identifies itself as a site "dedicated to monitoring and exposing the activities of the right-wing movement...We do not endorse the views of groups that we report on."

Better editing may be in order. (Or an explanation of why Mr. Tashman does not see the Unitarians as a true Church.)

The people interrupting the private church service described it as an effort to "present the truth of the Gospel in this synagogue of Satan."  Their argument seems to be that the Unitarian congregation is pro-choice and supports the building of a new Planned Parenthood clinic in their neighborhood.

Reverend Deanna Vandiver said the Operation Save America group entered their sanctuary just as the congregation was observing a moment of silence for one of their members who had died the previous week. "Into that sacred silence, a voice began to speak, and it began to speak about 'abominations.'  The protesters were shouting that the church was not a true faith.  Literally in our most tender and vulnerable space, religious terrorism began.  No one should invade the sanctuary of another's faith to terrorize people as they worship. I think we were an easy target, because we're literally just a few blocks down the road from where they're building this clinic.  But we are not interested in being terrorized.  Freedom of speech does not trump freedom of religion."

Rev. Vandiver invited the protesters to stay if they could join or observe the worship service respectfully. The congregation then began to sing to drown out the protesters and church leaders escorted the most vocal of Mr. Benham's mob outside.

Deanna Waller, who led the Benham demonstration saw it a bit differently, bragging, though she herself had been ushered out, that "other saints stayed and dialogued until the conclusion of the service.  It created no small stir. (Those who were moved by our message) ran to the Christians and asked them many questions...Seeds of truth were sown.  May the Lord water them in Jesus' name."

By Ms. Waller calling her fellow demonstrators "Christians" in a way that makes it clear they do not use the same identifier for the Unitarian worshipers smacks of an arrogance that would seem at odds with the humbleness and message of tolerance and universal love of the Bible's Jesus.  The actions of the members of Operation Save America are not unlike the self-righteous, divisive and hate-filled actions seen in the Taliban who seem to credit that faith can be legislated through fear and intimidation. 

All Mr. Benham's group needs are a few suicide vests and any reasonable person would be hard-pressed to tell then apart.