From a local ABC affiliate in Western Tennessee comes this story of a pastor attacking his own son:
(The video can be a bit flaky. Try the original site if it doesn’t work for you.)
A gay Gibson County couple said they were assaulted when they tried to attend church services at the Grace Fellowship Church in Fruitland last Wednesday.
“I went over to take the keys out of the ignition and all the sudden I hear someone say ‘sick’em,’” said Gibson County resident, Jerry Pittman Jr.
Pittman said the attacked was prompted by the pastor of the church, Jerry Pittman, his father.
“My uncle and two other deacons came over to the car per my dad’s request. My uncle smash me in the door as the other deacon knocked my boyfriend back so he couldn’t help me, punching him in his face and his chest. The other deacon came and hit me through my car window in my back,” said Pittman. He said bystanders did not offer assistance. He said the deacon yelled derogatory homosexual slurs, even after officers arrived. He said the officers never intervened to stop the deacons from yelling the slurs.
There’s a lot we don’t know about this, but it’s hard to imagine a scenario where a pastor and several deacons can rightly attack the pastor’s son without warning.
(via Joe. My. God.)
Violence and hatred.
I wish they could realize that they are just evil people.
As horrifying as this is, I have to admit to confusion as to why the couple would be worshiping at this church. Surely the father has made his bigotry known before this incident; a sudden attack with no prior indication seems unlikely. Not that this at all justifies the situation, or mitigates the family tragedy playing out once again for no reason than hate and superstition.
Being accepted by the only social context they know of?
By their family?
Maybe I’m antisocial or something, but if my parents expressed this degree bigotry against an aspect of who I am, any effort at communication or reconciliation I’d extend towards them certainly wouldn’t involve attending their church. And if a couple is openly gay, I can’t imagine how this would be the only way they know how to fit in, or their only chance for socialization; were that the case, it’s likely they’d still be closeted.
While I would feel the same as you, these things are very important to some people, and a crucial part of their sense of identity.
Frankly the reason is irrelevant. The fact is that they did it, and it was sick and wrong.
I kinda made that clear in my first comment. :P Still doesn’t prevent one from wondering. :P
I hope it was just a political tactic intended to highlight the hypocrisy of the church, because I think that any gay person who buys into fundamentalist Christian mythology and wants to participate in it has a few psychological issues to work through. It’s difficult to wrap my head around the idea of siding with a god and a church that hate you.
It likely has a lot to do with him being brought up as a member of that particular church, and a lot less to do with informed choice. It’d probably have been better for him to leave a long time ago, but factors such as family ties or indoctrination may’ve prevented him from doing so.
Err… did that presenter seriously blame the violence on the pastor and his wife’s divorce??
That is so bullshit. You don’t beat the crap out of your son because you’re splitting up with your wife.
“You don’t beat the crap out of your son because you’re splitting up with your wife.”
I’m not so sure about that. I’ve seen guys get pretty nasty toward their kids when they felt the kid was “taking the wife’s side.” The pastor might even blame the son and his gayness for his divorce. Not that any of that matters. Assault is assault.
Indeed. It just sounded like the presenter was trying to make excuses for the guy.
Yeah, but that happens a lot though, doesn’t it? How often do we hear excuses being made by and for the religious when they do something awful? If it’s not articles of faith being used to justify behaviour it’ll be “oh, they were under stress/duress/pressure because of such-and-such thing going on in their life at the time” … either that or “they were provoked by someone who heinously chose to exist in this deeply pious person’s presence”
True. And even if that was the reason the pastor was so pissed, why did the other two deacons get involved? You would think it had absolutely nothing to do with them. But then, we’ve all seen how some theists love to be involved in things that have nothing to do with them. Like gays having sex.
They were obviously possessed by demons – or by a single demon who could multi-task (multi-bedevil?) – so it clearly wasn’t their fault.
I have not yet watched the video,as I am wondering if the whole thing is crap, A gay Gibson County couple said they were assaulted when they tried to attend church services at the Grace Fellowship Church in Fruitland last Wednesday, Fruitland? If it’s not a joke it is still kind of funny, no offense ment to Ursa and others, but still Fruitland???
No offense taken. I think it’s kind of funny too.
Fruitland is on the other side of Humbolt from Three Way, Tennessee. Make of that what you will.
This must be the Christian compassion and morality that people keep telling me about.
Also, inb4 no tru krischun.
‘no tru krischun’
There is only One true CHRISTian.
And he would wholeheartedly approve of a father hating his own son. Great role model, this CHRISTian.
No, Gawd only tortured and killed his own son because he loved him.
Just like this pastor, I’m sure.
Um, John C ‘christ’ was a practicing Jew..I’d go as far as to say the first xtian was that vile,homophobic,misoginist, Paul.
I see you’re still attempting to see this ‘Christ’ in your own dim light WarbV3 (don’t worry, my own light is dim as well). As I’ve shared before (too many times I know) He offers us a Light by which we may see clearly, even in the Light of truth (Ps 36:9).
All the best.
The Bible is our only source of information about Jesus or Paul. If you are making claims that run counter to it, you’re making stuff up to suit yourself.
Every time he goes on about an internal reality he’s just crying for help.
Nope just trying to see reality as posited by your book,,,of course I fail as there is no reality in the book to see…though I do take offense at the dim light comment I am at least 160 watts…lol sorry couldn’t resist a bad joke.
WarbV3?
VIII is the Roman numeral for 8.
LOL Michael.
would that make his name, technically “War Bait”?
No, titles ie ‘Pastor’ mean absolutely nothing. The only thing that really matters (as scripture declares) is a whole new creation/creature with a renewed/transformed nature.
So why should we trust a Demiurge like Jehovah, who screwed up his first shot at creation so badly, to do it better this time around? Either he is the universe’s biggest Screwup, or he is playing nasty games with his sentient creation.
As for the Light….Given the anger management issues examplified by much of the message of Jesus “You Will Burn for All Eternity” christ?