C-2 - PEOPLE FILES
- Donald Carson - Joe Carter - Fred L Casmir - Captain Cassidy - Tom Catena - Debbie Causey - Jim Caviezel - Bryan Chapell - Bo Chancey - Raymond Chang - John Chaplin - Morris Chapman - HB Charles -
==donald carson======
Tuscaloosa church employee fired after allegedly stealing $300,000
An employee no longer works at St. Francis of Assisi University Parish Church in Tuscaloosa after allegedly stealing $300,000 from the church. Donald Carson, who is the communications director at the Birmingham Catholic Diocese, says the theft happened in early October. He is hoping insurance will help cover the loss.
“Financially we will work through this and our insurance will be involved in this,” Carson said. “Insurance will recover these funds and we are optimistic about that but we don’t know what amount will be recovered.”
(CBS 42; 10/23.23) READ MORE>>>>>
An employee no longer works at St. Francis of Assisi University Parish Church in Tuscaloosa after allegedly stealing $300,000 from the church. Donald Carson, who is the communications director at the Birmingham Catholic Diocese, says the theft happened in early October. He is hoping insurance will help cover the loss.
“Financially we will work through this and our insurance will be involved in this,” Carson said. “Insurance will recover these funds and we are optimistic about that but we don’t know what amount will be recovered.”
(CBS 42; 10/23.23) READ MORE>>>>>
Jan 25, 2023: Catholic News Agency: Alabama governor adds another layer of protection to religious freedom
Donald Carson, communications director for the Diocese of Birmingham, applauded the governor’s action.
“Catholics in the Diocese of Birmingham, which covers central and northern Alabama, are blessed to live and work in this state with such strong affirmation of religious freedom,” Carson told CNA.
Donald Carson, communications director for the Diocese of Birmingham, applauded the governor’s action.
“Catholics in the Diocese of Birmingham, which covers central and northern Alabama, are blessed to live and work in this state with such strong affirmation of religious freedom,” Carson told CNA.
==joe carter======
Joe Carter is a senior writer for The Gospel Coalition, author of The Life and Faith Field Guide for Parents, the editor of the NIV Lifehacks Bible, and coauthor of How to Argue Like Jesus: Learning Persuasion from History’s Greatest Communicator. He also serves as an associate pastor at McLean Bible Church in Arlington, Virginia.
Joe Carter
"The denial of cheap grace in our words and the acceptance of cheap grace in our actions is one of the most fundamental aspects of American Christianity.
Like other disgraced leaders, Zacharias knew, “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good” (Prov. 15:3), These Great Men know God is watching, but they also know he is gracious and merciful. They trust Jesus as a benevolent Machiavellian: since the ends justifies the means, as long as they do good, God will overlook their sins.
Cheap grace is why we allow such leaders to not only get away with their sin but to also justify it. We cite their accomplishments and say, “But if their sins were acknowledged, would this good thing have happened?” We know they did wrong, but we look at what they achieved for God’s purposes.
Perhaps we find it easier to justify such behavior when we are not the ones being abused, molested, or raped.
For pastors and other ministry leaders, the lesson of Zacharias is not that “men like that” are prone to horrific crimes and moral failures. The lesson is that if we want to become Great Men who do great and mighty works for the kingdom, we are just as vulnerable to such sin as any celebrity."
--Joe Carter; Gospel Coalition; Report: Ravi Zacharias Engaged in Sexual Abuse 2.12.21
Like other disgraced leaders, Zacharias knew, “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good” (Prov. 15:3), These Great Men know God is watching, but they also know he is gracious and merciful. They trust Jesus as a benevolent Machiavellian: since the ends justifies the means, as long as they do good, God will overlook their sins.
Cheap grace is why we allow such leaders to not only get away with their sin but to also justify it. We cite their accomplishments and say, “But if their sins were acknowledged, would this good thing have happened?” We know they did wrong, but we look at what they achieved for God’s purposes.
Perhaps we find it easier to justify such behavior when we are not the ones being abused, molested, or raped.
For pastors and other ministry leaders, the lesson of Zacharias is not that “men like that” are prone to horrific crimes and moral failures. The lesson is that if we want to become Great Men who do great and mighty works for the kingdom, we are just as vulnerable to such sin as any celebrity."
--Joe Carter; Gospel Coalition; Report: Ravi Zacharias Engaged in Sexual Abuse 2.12.21
==Fred L Casmir=====
Brandon Olson
Dr. Fred L. Casmir grew up in a working class neighborhood during an extraordinary time of propaganda and dictatorships. Hitler came to power when Dr. Casmir turned five years old. He remembered witnessing Nazi marches, the barricades on the cobblestone roads, and policemen with rifles. Chaos and turmoil seeped into his life as a young boy, which compelled him to grow up fast. But his faith in the Lord guided him through these tough times.
Hitler wanted to restore Germany’s identity after their loss in World War I. Casmir vividly remembers, “In the beginning, the Nazi Party tried to maintain a Democratic image, but they were only a one party system.” With new art forms such as dance, drugs, and jazz circulating across the world during the Roaring 1920s, it became a perfect time for Hitler to employ his propaganda for his vision of total law and order in Europe.
Hitler’s Nazi Party continued their propaganda campaign to gain political popularity. Manipulation employed by the Nazi Party spread throughout Germany. They dressed well, and provided food and income for the poor, which enabled them to build false relations with the German people. Dr. Casmir notes, “Adults saw their lives change for the better. When there is insecurity, where a country does not have a direction, it’s dangerous. Under that guise, freedom is an abstract concept.” Dr. Casmir became looped into this abstract concept of freedom against his will. By the time he turned ten, it became mandatory for all children to join the Hitler Youth under the false Democratic Nazi Party.
Dr. Casmir eventually became a leader in the Hitler Youth . He rose in the ranks quickly and led three hundred boys. They had strict rules to not listen to BBC radio, or risk being branded a traitor, and then executed. During his time, he saw people burned to death and he survived two air raids by the time he turned fifteen years old. Threats on his life loomed everywhere. However, God’s Spirit indicated another path for him. So he “did something that was very odd. Not Nazi-like. [He] became confirmed in the Lutheran Church.”
Dr. Casmir was drafted at age 16. Berlin was the capital of Nazi Germany and was the target of heavy bombing raids by the Allies. As a result of the bombings, he “was twice buried under buildings.” He fought the Russian forces in a Luftwaffe founding unit, “during the last bloody months of the war in 1945.”
Soon, under God’s direction he escaped Germany before the Russians could capture him.
“Had I been arrested as a Hitler Youth leader in Berlin, [after fighting] the Russians East of Berlin, [I would have been sent to the] deadly Russian work camps.” But, “that was another one of God’s interventions…Through a series of miraculous interventions by God I escaped the final Russian encirclements, ending up in Northern Germany where I surrendered to British forces.”
Dr. Casmir managed to flee and surrender into the British zone of occupation. He later ended up at his uncle’s home in Frankfurt, in the American zone. After WWII ended, he continued to live with extended family in Western Germany, separated from his parents in Communist East Germany.
Dr. Casmir then met an old Catholic high school friend who introduced him to a Bible study with members of the Church of Christ. He remembers, “[we] both attended Bible classes in their home. He stopped, I kept on and was baptized. After that I was invited to go to the US, and studied to prepare for the ministry.”
--Brandon Olson; Pepperdine Beacon; Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Communication Fred Casmir Describes the Important Role of Faith in His Escape From Nazi Germany 12.3.22
Hitler wanted to restore Germany’s identity after their loss in World War I. Casmir vividly remembers, “In the beginning, the Nazi Party tried to maintain a Democratic image, but they were only a one party system.” With new art forms such as dance, drugs, and jazz circulating across the world during the Roaring 1920s, it became a perfect time for Hitler to employ his propaganda for his vision of total law and order in Europe.
Hitler’s Nazi Party continued their propaganda campaign to gain political popularity. Manipulation employed by the Nazi Party spread throughout Germany. They dressed well, and provided food and income for the poor, which enabled them to build false relations with the German people. Dr. Casmir notes, “Adults saw their lives change for the better. When there is insecurity, where a country does not have a direction, it’s dangerous. Under that guise, freedom is an abstract concept.” Dr. Casmir became looped into this abstract concept of freedom against his will. By the time he turned ten, it became mandatory for all children to join the Hitler Youth under the false Democratic Nazi Party.
Dr. Casmir eventually became a leader in the Hitler Youth . He rose in the ranks quickly and led three hundred boys. They had strict rules to not listen to BBC radio, or risk being branded a traitor, and then executed. During his time, he saw people burned to death and he survived two air raids by the time he turned fifteen years old. Threats on his life loomed everywhere. However, God’s Spirit indicated another path for him. So he “did something that was very odd. Not Nazi-like. [He] became confirmed in the Lutheran Church.”
Dr. Casmir was drafted at age 16. Berlin was the capital of Nazi Germany and was the target of heavy bombing raids by the Allies. As a result of the bombings, he “was twice buried under buildings.” He fought the Russian forces in a Luftwaffe founding unit, “during the last bloody months of the war in 1945.”
Soon, under God’s direction he escaped Germany before the Russians could capture him.
“Had I been arrested as a Hitler Youth leader in Berlin, [after fighting] the Russians East of Berlin, [I would have been sent to the] deadly Russian work camps.” But, “that was another one of God’s interventions…Through a series of miraculous interventions by God I escaped the final Russian encirclements, ending up in Northern Germany where I surrendered to British forces.”
Dr. Casmir managed to flee and surrender into the British zone of occupation. He later ended up at his uncle’s home in Frankfurt, in the American zone. After WWII ended, he continued to live with extended family in Western Germany, separated from his parents in Communist East Germany.
Dr. Casmir then met an old Catholic high school friend who introduced him to a Bible study with members of the Church of Christ. He remembers, “[we] both attended Bible classes in their home. He stopped, I kept on and was baptized. After that I was invited to go to the US, and studied to prepare for the ministry.”
--Brandon Olson; Pepperdine Beacon; Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Communication Fred Casmir Describes the Important Role of Faith in His Escape From Nazi Germany 12.3.22
==captain cassidy (Cassidy McGillicuddy)=====
Captan Cassidy
White evangelicals don’t want any reminders that they no longer represent the cultural standard of America, nor are even its Designated Adults. What they want is quiet, effortless mastery and recognized superiority, not having to share and play nicely with the other children on the playground.
Even if it destroys their witness, to use the Christianese, they can’t let go of their tribalism. Jesus’ direct orders be damned! Bible blahblah is all well and good, but this is real life we’re talking about. Like everyone else, white evangelicals know that when real life starts happening, they have to step into the real world to deal with it. -Captain Cassidy; Only Sky 10/31/23
Even if it destroys their witness, to use the Christianese, they can’t let go of their tribalism. Jesus’ direct orders be damned! Bible blahblah is all well and good, but this is real life we’re talking about. Like everyone else, white evangelicals know that when real life starts happening, they have to step into the real world to deal with it. -Captain Cassidy; Only Sky 10/31/23
==tom catena======
March 10, 2023: Religion News: ‘Spiritual exemplars’ change the media narrative about religion
Here are a few of those we profiled:
Tom Catena is the only doctor for a population of nearly a million people in the Nuba Mountains, in Sudan. He is an evangelical Catholic whose first stop every morning at 6:30 a.m. is Mass before he heads to rounds and surgery.
Here are a few of those we profiled:
Tom Catena is the only doctor for a population of nearly a million people in the Nuba Mountains, in Sudan. He is an evangelical Catholic whose first stop every morning at 6:30 a.m. is Mass before he heads to rounds and surgery.
==debbie caUSEY======
Jan 31, 2023: Christian Post: Andy Stanley to host conference for Christian parents of LGBT-identified kids
With a stated goal of helping “parents demonstrate the unconditional love of Jesus,” the Unconditional Conference includes a scheduled lineup featuring Stanley, Embracing the Journey co-founders Greg and Lynn McDonald, former megachurch pastor John Ortberg, North Point Ministries’ Debbie Causey, and LGBT advocate Justin Lee.
With a stated goal of helping “parents demonstrate the unconditional love of Jesus,” the Unconditional Conference includes a scheduled lineup featuring Stanley, Embracing the Journey co-founders Greg and Lynn McDonald, former megachurch pastor John Ortberg, North Point Ministries’ Debbie Causey, and LGBT advocate Justin Lee.
==jim caviezel======
June 2, 2023: Media Matters: Fox’s Jeanine Pirro appears on Christian nationalist program FlashPoint to warn of “takedown of religion” in America
In addition to the Christian nationalist figures such as Wallnau and Kunneman appearing at FlashPoint Live’s June 8-9 event in Ohio along with Pirro, the lineup includes actor Jim Caviezel, who recently openly embraced the QAnon conspiracy.
In addition to the Christian nationalist figures such as Wallnau and Kunneman appearing at FlashPoint Live’s June 8-9 event in Ohio along with Pirro, the lineup includes actor Jim Caviezel, who recently openly embraced the QAnon conspiracy.
==kim w chafee======
==bo chancey=====
Dec 1, 2021: Union Leader: Manchester Christian Church to change its name, reach out to rural areas
Manchester Christian Church, the non-denominational church whose internet services flourished during last year’s COVID-19 shutdown, is changing its name and targeting rural New England for expansion, its pastor said.
The name change — to One Church — will be official on Jan. 1, said Senior Pastor Bo Chancey.
Manchester Christian Church, the non-denominational church whose internet services flourished during last year’s COVID-19 shutdown, is changing its name and targeting rural New England for expansion, its pastor said.
The name change — to One Church — will be official on Jan. 1, said Senior Pastor Bo Chancey.
==raymond chang======
Pastor Raymond Chang is the president of the Asian American Christian Collaborative, a pastor, and writer. He regularly preaches God’s Word and speaks throughout the country on issues pertaining to Christianity and culture, race and faith. He has lived throughout the world (Korea, Guatemala, Panama, Spain, China), traveled to nearly 50 countries, and currently lives in Chicagoland, serving as the Executive Director for the TENx10 Collaboration. Raymond has served as the campus minister at Wheaton College, worked in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors, and served in the Peace Corps in Panama. He is currently pursuing his PhD. He is married to Jessica Chang, who serves as the chief advancement and partnerships officer of the Field School.
October 22, 2024: Chang on Twitter: I don’t think any serious Christian on the left is trying to present Harris as God’s candidate. Those who support her on the left are trying to say she is not the “you name the adjective” that people are making her out to be. They say she isn’t a perfect candidate but is certainly better than the alternative. Trump for them is a nonstarter because of various reasons (racism, sexism, sexual assault, breaking the law, alienating allies, celebrating dictators, economic policies that serve the wealthy, immoral character, constantly lying, not pro life, etc.).
However, there are a lot of serious Christians on the right that are positioning Trump to be God’s candidate. You hear it in the ways people talk about him as being chosen by God like King Cyrus, or being protected by God from assassination to be the next president. It’s terrifying to hear Christians talk about Trump as some sort of savior, which is reserved for Jesus alone.
However, there are a lot of serious Christians on the right that are positioning Trump to be God’s candidate. You hear it in the ways people talk about him as being chosen by God like King Cyrus, or being protected by God from assassination to be the next president. It’s terrifying to hear Christians talk about Trump as some sort of savior, which is reserved for Jesus alone.
==bryan chapell======
2010: Preaching: The 25 Most Influential Pastors of the Past 25 Years
A quarter-century has brought great changes to the preaching landscape, and today’s list of contributing editors includes names that would have been unknown to most pastors 25 years ago: Rick Warren, Bryan Chapell, James MacDonald, Robert Smith, Dave Stone, James Emery White and Ed Young Jr. (though his pastor dad would have been a good candidate for the original list—and is now among our senior consulting editors).
A quarter-century has brought great changes to the preaching landscape, and today’s list of contributing editors includes names that would have been unknown to most pastors 25 years ago: Rick Warren, Bryan Chapell, James MacDonald, Robert Smith, Dave Stone, James Emery White and Ed Young Jr. (though his pastor dad would have been a good candidate for the original list—and is now among our senior consulting editors).
==john chaplin======
July 13, 2023: NPR: Republican presidential candidates vie for the influential evangelical Christian vote
But not every clergy member who showed up supports the six-week abortion ban when many don't even know they're pregnant. John Chaplin (ph) is a local pastor with the United Church of Christ. He calls the legislation disturbing. JOHN CHAPLIN: It's as if the legislators are taking their own personal religious views and trying to transfer it onto the general public when the general public, 61% of Iowans, favor safe abortion.
But not every clergy member who showed up supports the six-week abortion ban when many don't even know they're pregnant. John Chaplin (ph) is a local pastor with the United Church of Christ. He calls the legislation disturbing. JOHN CHAPLIN: It's as if the legislators are taking their own personal religious views and trying to transfer it onto the general public when the general public, 61% of Iowans, favor safe abortion.
==morris chapman======
April 18, 2023: Baptist Press: SBC leaders, former presidents react to death of Charles Stanley
“Charles Stanley was a godly man and I loved him for his godliness and kindness. He was an anointed preacher whose love for the unsaved was unparalleled. He sought to reach the world for Christ and prayed often for a spiritual awakening to come to America. To join him in his prayer room next to his study at the First Baptist Church, Atlanta, and hear him pray and praise the Lord was a deeply spiritual experience. He will be missed, but we can all rejoice that he has gone home to be with Jesus about whom he preached ‘the Crucified and risen Christ.’ May our thoughts about him lead us to renew our faith until we, too, go to be with Jesus.”--Morris Chapman, former SBC president
“Charles Stanley was a godly man and I loved him for his godliness and kindness. He was an anointed preacher whose love for the unsaved was unparalleled. He sought to reach the world for Christ and prayed often for a spiritual awakening to come to America. To join him in his prayer room next to his study at the First Baptist Church, Atlanta, and hear him pray and praise the Lord was a deeply spiritual experience. He will be missed, but we can all rejoice that he has gone home to be with Jesus about whom he preached ‘the Crucified and risen Christ.’ May our thoughts about him lead us to renew our faith until we, too, go to be with Jesus.”--Morris Chapman, former SBC president
