Today's Tiedrich rant: a pastor was arrested for saving homeless people from freezing. what the fuck have we become

[FakeNoose]

Link: https://www.jefftiedrich.com/p/a-pastor-was-arrested-for-saving

here’s a heartwarming story from our nation’s heartland.
Quote:

Chris Avell, pastor of Dad’s Place in Bryan, Ohio, was arraigned in court last Thursday because he kept his church open 24/7 to provide warmth to the unhoused.

I’m sorry, a pastor was arraigned for doing what? you read that right.

this past week, as much of the country suffered sub-zero temperatures, Chris Avell, a pastor in Ohio, looked at the weather report, looked at all the unhoused people in his neighborhood, and rightfully concluded that a lot of them were going to freeze to death unless somebody did something.

Pastor Avell decided that he was going to be that somebody, and opened the doors of his church to anyone who needed shelter — and his neighbors were all no, absolutely fucking not. they went to the police and said arrest this guy and the police were all arrest him? for what?

so some fuckface lawyer with too much time on their hands pored through every law on the books, and lo and behold, came up with this:
Quote:

Ohio law prohibits residential use in first-floor buildings in a business district. Since the church is zoned as a Central Business, the building is restricted from allowing people to eat or sleep on the property.

- more at link -

This is a great rant by Jeff Tiedrich and it's definitely worth a click to read the rest of it. I know we're not all Christians here on DU, and some of us aren't worshippers of any kind.

But we all understand that a pastor's calling is to follow the teachings of Jesus and to show charity for all people, even those who can't afford food or housing. Pastor Chris Avell of Bryan, Ohio is to be commended for going above and beyond, but instead he wound up arrested and charged with a misdemeanor.

WTF? Oh that's right, the old charitable Jesus has been replaced by MAGA Jesus. He's similar to this one you might remember from a few years ago...

Screenshot:


Tiedrich excoriates those lawyers who create public nuisance laws to prevent charity towards freezing homeless folks. Tiedrich's rant today is awesome!

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Sanctuary is an ancient religious foundational principle

Ohio Moroons never heard of it?

[FakeNoose]

2. Maybe they have ... but it's not happening in their neighborhoods

[jimfields33]

3. Is the lawyer a Christian? Republican?

[FakeNoose]

5. The lawyer isn't named in Tiedrich's article, nor in the source he's cited

I'm not sure the lawyer's name is known, because Tiedrich's real point is that it's happening in a lot of places, not just Bryan, Ohio. If you've ever heard the term NIMBY - Not In My Back Yard - it certainly applies here.

It seems that some Americans might be fine with the idea of homeless shelters somewhere else, but not in their own neighborhoods.

[JoseBalow]

4. GOP Jesus

[Old Crank]

6. Does this mean that he can be arrested every Sunday or church service?

I mean they have a sacrament where food and drink is given during the service.

[soldierant]

7. Unless things have changed dramatically,

most Protestant denominations don't hold that service weekly. My recollection from a Lutheran childhool is mayble once a month, and the Sundays in between, a watered down liturgy with no communion.

Now, Catholics - they do it daily.

[aggiesal]

8. Maybe the Pastor can throw Freedom of Religion back at them ...

Last edited Fri Jan 19, 2024, 07:30 PM - Edit history (1)

I'm sorry your honor, I'm not a business.
And I'm practicing my religion, which the conservatives keep arguing for, when they want prayers in churches & public functions.
Oh wait, saving peoples lives from freezing to death was not on their agenda?
It's always something

[Blue Owl]

9. This story made my blood boil when I read it

If this is the world we live in… something deeply wrong has happened….