Political Power in the Pulpit
B4C is honored to present this guest post written by Jeffery Curtis Foli, the former mayor of Chillicothe, Missouri.
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How far should religious leaders be able to go before they cross the line and breach the legal separation between Church and State, and who will hold them accountable? Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Gordon B. Hinckley, Oral Roberts, and some Catholic leaders are just a few who have challenged these issues.
I hope it is not the case, but if my story is any indication, Mormon religious leaders will take Mitt Romney aside as needed and help him remember just where his ultimate loyalties lie. I, as well as Mitt Romney, have made sacred agreements to support the interests of God’s future kingdom, as we see it within the Mormon perspective. But are individual religious interests and National interest always necessarily the same? In the case of a President Mitt Romney, is what is good for the Mormon people, equally good for all the citizens of the USA, and will the leaders press him?
I don’t know if Mitt ever had this issue before him in the past while serving as Governor of Massachusetts, but this possibility was twice made clear to me while I was serving as Mayor/CEO of the City of Chillicothe, Missouri. During one incident, I was taken into church offices and verbally threatened, by President and Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley via Stake President, and attorney, Detlif Lehnardt in a private meeting, with excommunication if I did not rescind my recently proposed legislation. I believe Federal Law (Tax Code Title 26 section 501) states that a Church cannot engage in such activity.
In another incident, Mormon leaders confronted me and told me to support the Mormon party line on a specific issue instead of what I knew was legal, honest, and in the best interest of those in my City. Since my oath of office was to represent the citizens of my City, and not the interests of the Mormon Church, I pressed each issue as far as I could in an appropriate way. I believe we can serve in both capacities in an open, honest, and honorable way, if the leaders will just keep their noses out of places they don’t belong.
Charges and complaints have recently been filed with the Sheriff of Livingston County Missouri, the ACLU, and the IRS. At each and every turn, these charges have been stonewalled, with no one wanting to challenge the accountability. The Mormon Church is enormously popular as well as powerful.
Just to reiterate, I ask, will Mitt Romney be his own man if elected, or would he be controlled by Religious Leaders? The multi-million man re-migration of Mormons to Missouri could be triggered in a small way just by the election of Romney. These issues are not at all isolated to the Mormons, I am sure.
Jeffery Curtis Foli
Former Mayor
City of Chillicothe, Missouri
1999-2003
November 30, 2007 at 7:02 am
Wow. Powerful stuff. Great post!
November 30, 2007 at 7:39 am
It’s actually pretty frightening to think that the Mormon church, or any church, would put pressure on an elected official like this. Did this really happen?
November 30, 2007 at 2:30 pm
Agreed, Jodi. That’s why I requested Mayor Foli to write this piece and let me post it. I think it’s an important story.
November 30, 2007 at 4:07 pm
Well if you wanted to open the door to this Psycheout, then do it all the way. There are no details about this incident. What was the legislation? What did Mayor Foli do? Did he stand by his principals on this issue? Did he try and appeal this to the area authority or First Presidency as anyone in power can claim they are doing something in somebody’s name?
Have you seen the the youtube of Mitt Romney’s interview with Jan Mickelson? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-G9hydflwEQ. How can there be Pro-Choice leaders of the church if the church is ex-communicating members that vote for positions that counter the church?
As mayor, you are beholden to the voters that put you in place, not the church. Even with the covenants that you made that is for you personally, not politically. If it was for you politically, then why hasn’t the church ex-communicated Majority Leader Senator Reid? Surely he has influenced more legislation that is counter the church’s positions than you have in Chillicothe. Why don’t we see mass ex-communications of the LDS Democrats in Utah? Give me a break.
November 30, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Great questions, Nathan. I will forward them to Mr. Foli. I appreciate your feedback.
November 30, 2007 at 5:32 pm
I have known Jeff personally for what seems like an eternity but in reality has been roughly six years.
I have not always agreed with Jeff’s politics. Heck, when I first met Jeff it was during a serious issue involving the Chief of Police conduct. I was pretty ticked off with Jeff at first, but admittedly, he was the only elected official who was willing to try and sort the mess out, and when he finely listened to the tape recording evidence, Jeff was quick to call for a formal investigation against the Chief of Police.
A very risky move, indeed, for a small town elected official but nonetheless rooted in Jeff’s character, and Jeff certainly paid the price from the other City officials, for genuinely caring and trying to have the tape recording heard in order to bring the truth out into the light.
I viewed Jeff being the Mayor of Chillicothe, as bringing harmonious chaos to the City Counsel. It was a rarity that the City Counsel meetings were not tense, filled with one sarcastic pot shot after another from one politician or another every time Jeff did something they did not like, which was pretty common. But I came to learn that Jeff’s’ ability to be controversial in confronting issues everyone else wanted to keep silent, was actually what kept the City Counsel from going off the deep end into unadulterated corruption. And while Jeff may be a lot of things, one thing I can say without a doubt is that I never saw Jeff lacking in the ability to separate his “religious faith” from his duty as an elected official.
I remember when Jeff first informed me of his claim that President Lehnardt had threatened him. Until that point in our friendship, I had always looked at Jeff as the “politician” but as I listened to Jeff tell me his story, I genuinely heard a man profoundly worried that the threats against him would be carried out; that he would be excommunicated from his Church and effectively lose his inner identity.
It was really the first time that I saw Jeff in a completely different light other than the “politician” side of him, and I realized, for the first time, that Jeff truly holds his religious beliefs very close to his heart.
When it comes to the subject of Jeff’s’ piece above, I recall one Sunday morning when I attended the Mormon Church in Chillicothe, as the guest of Jeff and his family. I expected to hear the routine sermons but was literally shocked and deeply offended when the sermon consisted of using the pulpit to preach war; to encourage killing men and to pat the backs of our Soldiers who did the same.
Whatever your views are about our current war, I personally do not believe it is appropriate to use the House of the Lord to actively preach violence and death against other human beings regardless what religious faith a person claims. The House of the Lord is supposed to be a place to worship God; to rejoice in his word, his love and his gift of eternal life. Its’ supposed to be a place to learn about ourselves and how to be better, do better and have better by and through the word and love of our Lord. But on that black Sunday morning, the pulpit was used to preach hate; encourage death and rejoice in the misery of others.
I do not know if I would vote Jeff into the office of the U.S. President, but I do know that I want someone who, is capable of separating their religious beliefs from their duty as an elected official. I’m not saying that they should be void of asking God for guidance, but I am saying that when making life altering decisions, it has to be done for the good of all people, rather than solely for the selected class who shares the same religious affiliation.
November 30, 2007 at 6:08 pm
That was quite interesting, Christopher. Your thumbnail sketch was very useful in shedding some light on what kind of person Jeff Foli is. A little background info and surrounding context is always helpful when dealing with complex issues such as this.
What struck me, assuming that what Jeff says here is accurate, is that it was rather courageous of him to speak out about this issue when he has already been threatened (seriously or not) with excommunication from his church.
It’s not easy to speak critically of one’s own church, and I don’t see that there’s anything to gain by putting this story out to the public. It seems that his motivation is a personal and a sincere one. Dare I call that a patriotic act?
November 30, 2007 at 9:39 pm
Dear Jodi and Nathan.
The details of the legislation is not important. What is important is that it is against the law for a church to influence or coerse ANY KIND of legislation, period. However, religious leadrs do have every right to share thier opinions and feelings on issues. See Title 26 Section 501. These things are in the process of going to a Federal Lawsuit. I sent about 20+ correspondences to Church authorities, and specifically to President Hinckley. I respect the office of my religious leaders, but I do not respect those who do not learn and operate within their jurisdicitional boundries. I will soon dislose the details of my issues, but be aware that they are far more controversial than any political stance on abortion or same sex unions.
Jeff Foli
November 30, 2007 at 10:02 pm
Let me be perfectly clear. I believe Mitt Romney has the potential of being a fantastic President. I do believe his principles and standards are probably as high as just about any candidate running for office. I personally do not share many of his views and beliefs, and hope he would reconsider his position on several things. My story is not shared to try to discredit Mitt, but I am speaking from my personal experience with inappropriate actions from leaders within my own faith. Mitt has the opportunity to address these unspoken concerns of many, but which the media is too afraid to confront. If Mitt can look the American people in the eye and tell them that in such a circumstance he would do whats best for the citizens of the USA first and foremost, then I believe he deserve serious consideration, and would be a viable contender. Again, these issues can and do pertain to any and all religious leaders who try to push thier beliefs too far into the political realm, and I believe there needs to be accountability for those who go beyond that which is legally appropriate.
Jeff Foli
November 30, 2007 at 10:18 pm
For a brief understanding of the issues I dealt with, see blog below:
Family Secrets
Jeff Foli
November 30, 2007 at 10:29 pm
Thanks for adding additional clarification and extending your remarks.
One thing you quickly learn about political blogging during campaign season is that anything written about any individual’s chosen candidate that does not praise that candidate is taken as an attack.
This is especially true of Romney and Paul supporters. Your article contains no attack on Mitt. You simply relate your own experience as Mayor and express your concern about the same tactics being used on Romney, should he become President. I think you made it perfectly clear.
This cannot in any way be construed as an attack piece.
December 1, 2007 at 3:41 am
Mitt Romney has already said his church never contacted him as governor of Massachusetts, nor did he contact them. He said he assumes it would be the same if he were president, especially since the lds.org church web-site says the LDS Church, while reserving the right to communicate it’s concerns on Church-related matters, will not get into politics per se, and that Mormon politicians should represent their constituents in an honorable and honest manner without church involvement. Orrin Hatch and Harry Reid–on opposite ends of the political spectrum–have said they have never been “told what to do” by the LDS Church.
Jeff, your lack clarification of what legislation or matters were involved is not fair. Also, to state that LDS Church President Hinckley “verbally threatened” you with excommunication is a bit far fetched and out of character of this great man. You come across as a disgruntled, trouble making person, whose not allowing the other side of the story to come out. And your involving the IRS and especially the ACLU sounds like you may have not made a real effort to make your views and concerns known to Church general authorities for clarification. They are reasonable and good people, not the evil and vicious predators you paint them to be from your comments. From my 36 years experience in the LDS Church, I’ve never known of such a thing. Something does not add up with your story.
Also, regarding Christopher’s comments, that he visited a Mormon service and “was literally shocked and deeply offended when the sermon consisted of using the pulpit to preach war; to encourage killing men and to pat the backs of our Soldiers who did the same.” Again, it’s unfair not to hear the other side of the story.
Almost all LDS sermons are routinely are given by men and women of the congregation, not the bishop (pastor). So, frankly, often what is said includes a member’s personal opinion and not “official policy” of the Church. As a retired Air Force Officer and patriot I feel more could be said in church about the sacrifices our men and women in uniform do to insure our rights of worship and other freedoms. But, I can’t quite believe you when you say you heard preaching of “violence and death against other human beings regardless what religious faith a person claims.” Perhaps you need to attend more LDS meetings to get a more accurate sense of typical LDS sermons, where love for your fellow man is typically the topic. Please don’t be so quick to judge about the “mite” you saw in a Mormon’s eye.
December 1, 2007 at 7:20 am
David,
I used to believe the way you do until I actually experienced things differently for myself. I was a missionary, a graduate of BYU, had a Logan Temple marriage,….. I was even asked to teach primary a few weeks ago. Your view seems reasonable and seems like the right thing, however, I regretfull tell you it is not the truth. Like you, I have never, ever seen anything like this in my life before. I never wished to be treated in this manner, and was shocked and suprised myself. I have never been excommunicated and have never changed my story in 4 years. Had the church not made an agreement to trade non-compulsive actions towards politicians for tax exempt status, I believe they could have threatened me the way they did legally. Time will show what is true and false. I have records and testimony of those who have been involved. Had you been treated in the same manner, I would have liked to see how you would have reacted. I have provided you with breif clarification on the issues involved in a previous blog, please keep up with the info. as it comes out if you are really interested.
Jeff Foli
December 1, 2007 at 7:28 am
David,
For clarity, here is a brief overview of one issue:
When I was Mayor of Chillicothe, Missouri, I submitted a Resolution to the State of Missouri Legislature for Redress, where a legitimate decendant, Mormon or not, with a legit case might be qualified for a tax abatement on land, up to the amount of the taking. On Feb. 9, 2003, while at church, Pres. Hinckley, via the Stake Pres., gave me 24 hours to recind the Resolution or be excommunicated. I informed them that it was against the law for the church to influence or coerce legislation. I inappropriately responded with vehimance, and threated to take them to Fedral court for the felony committed. That issue was several years ago, and I have yet to hear anything in response. I did not apprecite the threat, and then no carry through. We all have alot to learn. Dealing with each other appropriately is a challenging thing for us all. I have since apologized, and still feel the resolution that went no where with the Legislature, is a viable thing. As I have written here before, all this is being portrayed in the Movie documentary comming soon called “Consecrated”?, by movie producer from southern California Kenneth Ballentine, who presented much of this info at the recent Sunstone Conference in SLC last summer.
December 1, 2007 at 7:31 am
David,
Again for clarity, another issue:
MOUNTAIN MEADOWS WAS VERY SAD INDEED. AS MAYOR OF THE CITY THAT KILLED THE PEOPLE OF HAUNS MILL, I OFFICIALLY APOLOGIZED IN 2001 TO GORDON B. HINCKLEY FOR THE ACTIONS OF MY PEOPLE IN 1838. THERE IS MUCH MORE TO THE STORY THAN HAS EVER BEEN BROUGHT TO LIGHT. IN ACTUALITY, AN OFFICAIL MILITIA WAS FORMED THE DAY AFTER JOSEPH AND THE BRETHEREN CAME TO CHILLICOTHE, MISSOURI AND STOLE THE COUNTY CANNON. NINE PRISONERS WERE TAKEN BY THE LDS, AND THE MILITIA ATTACKED HAUNS MILL 9 DAYS LATER. I ASKED FOR THE CANNON TO BE RETURNED, BUT I WAS ASKED BY HUGH BARLOW, DIRECTOR OF THE INDEPENDENCE VISITORS CENTER, TO FORGET I EVER FOUND THE CANNON, OR THAT IT EVER EXISTED. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS AN HONEST WAY TO PROMOTE HEALING OR DEAL WITH THIS TRAGEDY. BUILDING A BRIDGE OVER THE IGNORANCE THAT STILL EXISTS IS MY GOAL. IF ANYTHING IS TO BE LEARNED FROM THIS SAD TRAGEDY, WE CANNOT BE AFRAID OR UNINTERESTED IN SEEING THE OTHER PERSPECTIVE. ALL THE KILLINGS ON BOTH SIDES WERE WRONG, BUT THE LEGISLATURE OF MISSOURI NEVER HELD GOVERNOR BOGGS RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE THEY WERE SADLY, GLAD TO BE RID OF US. ATROCITIES AND KILLING OCCURED ON BOTH SIDES. I WILL BE SHARING MUCH MORE OF THE NEVER SHARED BEFORE INFORMATION ON THIS STORY. THE MOVIE ‘CONSECRATED’ IS BEING FILMED CURRENTLY, BY FILMAKER KENNETH BALLENTINE, HOPING TO BRIDGE THE IGNORANCE AND PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING AND HEALING.
Jeff Foli
December 1, 2007 at 7:55 am
David,
If you were honest with yourself, you would admit that, at least in a small way, there are often innapropriate subtle messages given in the church, yes, by lay members and not the leaders, that might easily be construed the way Christopher saw them as a non-mormon visitor. To him, the subleties were not so subtle, and I felt the need to apoligize and make excuses for the remarks. I agree that Christopher was probably the only one feeling this way, but I knew he was picking up the subtleties where others were just lulled, as normal, into a good feeling of cohesiveness, where we are in the right club. I personally believe the subtle messages given that we are the righteous and the elect are prideful and egotistical. If we have the moral and ethical higher ground, then we should share our message and let that speak for itself. More oft than not, we are sadly not on the higher ground. Jesus did not try to scare people into being in his club, in fact, he said there was none righteous, only God. I think we often go a bit far in our subtle comments.
On another point, Hitlers hinchmen agued that had they not obeyed Hitler, he would have killed them. The courts at Nueremberg did not buy the defense. In like manner, if we ignorantly or knowingly obey our leaders, civic or religious, we will pay for any mistakes ourselves personally. This is not the Mormon party line. If we obey a leader who is wrong, we are guaranteed no blood will be on our hands. If Pres. Bush told you as an Air Force Officer, to do something that was against the law, I dont care if he was your leader, you will be responsible for your own personal actions. The Mormon members get really qiuet when you bring these things up in Priesthood meetings.
Jeff Foli
December 1, 2007 at 8:37 am
I, for one, am looking forward to seeing Consecrated. I have heard about it a few times and it sounds like an interesting subject. It’s impossible not to notice that the Mountain Meadows Massacre occured on September 11. That seems to be a bad day for innocent people.
December 1, 2007 at 10:51 am
Nathan,
I loved Jan Mickelsons interview with Mitt. Thanks for sharing that with me. It gets really tough sometimes, for a politician to dance the dance between such issues without looking a bit silly. I think Mitt did a fair enough job, but I think a patriot can do even better. I do not dance that dance very well, and believe in real transparencey and striaght talk.
Jeff Foli
December 2, 2007 at 3:34 pm
Jeff:
The issue you discuss and for, which is the focus or apart of your suit, is not one of solely attempting to use the pulpit to coerce legislation, in and of itself, but also that of attempting to influence the actions of an elected official while in office, by use of extortion tactics, as a means and way to threaten, intimidate or coerce an elected official to do what the Church wants, rather than what the elected official believes or purports to believe is in the best interest of the people, and seeks to use his or her public office to try and accomplish by legislative processes.
When George W. Bush signed the Faith Base legislation into law, making it legal for the federal government to fund churches and other faith based organizations, with public tax revenue, Pandora’s box was opened wide.
Unfortunately since that time, the saying of “give an inch but take a mile” has been a substantially dominating factor in our collective U.S. society, as more and more religious leaders use their pulpits to preach and / or substantially influence politics among their congregation. To-wit, a great deal of this is directly traceable to the evangelical television shows that use their media outlets to preach that any action taken, other than what is being preached, is an immediate abomination of God.
We saw the aforesaid come true when the issue of same sex marriages existed and the propaganda plastered on such television and cable religious programming, on the erroneous predication that, despite the high divorcé rates, the high number of dead beat dad’s, the high rate of domestic violence, and the fact that 96% of child molestations are committed by men identifying themselves as heterosexuals, it is gays, bisexuals and lesbians who are the immoral degenerates simply and only because they seek to have [equal] legal rights as heterosexual have by and through marriage.
We have also seen the aforesaid come true when religious leaders use their pulpit to gain federal funding to help homeless people, all the while paying high dividends to executive officers of the Church while doing extremely poor jobs in actually helping homeless people get find suitable housing and jobs, in order to maintain or increase their profit margins which are based upon statisical numbers of homeless people served being reported to the federal government.
The point that I am making here is simple enough: Selective enforcement of biblical scriptures for the benefit of a privileged few is by no means new in our society and it is most assuredly consistent with the manner that we have long since selectively enforced, or permited others to selectively enforce the laws, Corporate policies and the purported “moral” conduct that makes us a so-called “civilized society.”
As I told you, when you and I first discussed what happened to you several years ago, the Church is clearly in the wrong for what they did to you, and the Church officials involved, need to be held accountable in lawful ways. But we must be mindful that the greater source of the problems existing is our tolerant society that prefers to have blind eyes on the basis that unless and until a person suffers adverse actions themselves, then they have no duty, as a citizen of the U.S. to take any action against such. Or, in the words of Chief Justice Earl Warren, in “A Republic, If You Can Keep It”, p. 48:
“The only protection of every citizen from such deprivation of rights is a strict
adherence to the Bill of Rights by everyone - for everyone. This should be self-
evident but the danger of erosion of rights stems largely from the fact that so
many citizens of the majority, who have never been deprived of any of these
rights, find it difficult to understand what the deprivation of them means in the
lives of others.”
December 2, 2007 at 11:06 pm
[...] and relevant: Political Power in the Pulpit, a guest post by former Mayor Jeff [...]
January 7, 2008 at 3:53 pm
[...] there are those who have voiced similar concerns about the Mormon Church putting pressure on politicians, such as a President Romney, it’s not [...]
February 13, 2008 at 2:01 am
FORMER CITY MAYOR TO BE EXCOMMUNICATED FROM MORMON CHURCH FOR NOT FOLLOWING ORDERS IN POLITICAL MATTERS?
Probably because of the Romney controversy, on February 4, 2008, Thomas S. Monson said to Peggy Stack, reporter for the Salt Lake Tribune, that the church does not get involved in political matters. If this is true, then why, when I was Mayor of Chillicothe Missouri, was I was threatened with excommunication if I did not rescind a piece of Legislation that I sent to the Missouri State Legislature. It is supposedly against Fereral Law (Title 26, Section 501) for a church to influence legislation, but in 2003, the late Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley and his councilors thought it appropriate and acceptable to threaten my membership in the church when I was Mayor of Chillicothe in Northwest Missouri, regarding a political matter.
On Feb. 17, 2007, the Church will hold a disciplinary Council (church court) on me because I let the public know of these acts via the internet, and I finally filed charges with the local Sheriff, the ACLU, the IRS, and others because of the continual manipulation and abuse of Mormon leaders. I tried for several years to quietly and internally settling these issues, but they would have none of it. They view my exposure and revealing of thier actions as my attempt to disparage and criticize leaders (evil speaking of the Lords anointed). They state, “those who reject Christ’s servants, reject him”. Why does leadership demand no accountability in Chuches for innapropritae actions of leaders?
Do we think Brigham Young would have personally sought out those accountable for the senseless murder of 120 men, women, and children on SEPTEMBER 11, 1857, without pressure from the Federal Government? Who will protect us? Where are the checks and balances for questioning potential religious abuses? Most of the Mormon people are good, honest individuals, but the people of Missouri will not put up with this type of stronghanded influence. So as the Mormon Migration to Missouri continues, I hope the Mormon people will open their minds and become more careful and considerate of the people they meet. Most have no idea of what really happened in Missouri over 170 years ago, because the whole story was never fully told.
Sincerely,
Jeff Foli
Former Mayor of Chillicothe, Missouri
February 19, 2008 at 4:43 pm
[...] A few months ago, former mayor of Chillicothe, Missouri, Jeff Foli submitted a guest post, Political Power in the Pulpit, about his concerns regarding then candidate Mitt Romney based on his own experience with Mormon [...]
March 27, 2008 at 3:58 am
Since my excommunication, the Mormon church, via its leaders, is using the arguement that my excommunication was legitimate because they have spent money combatting certain political issues in the past. They try to muddle the issue and confuse people so as to minimize their guilt. The fact that they went above and beyond mere suggestion and decided to resort to threat was a line illegally crossed. Churches do in fact, often suport or oppose many issues, but to cross the line into threat, intimidation, and coersion of members is innappropriate. Can you imagine the Mormons getting up at the pulpit and threatening thier members if they were to vote or support certian candidates or issues? They do not do this openly, but they do this exact thing in cliendestine meetings behind closed doors. I was excommunicated for exposing this fact which they term, “disparging church leaders”. I forgive them openly for what they have done to me, but I hope to God, they do not continue with this kind of action with others. They sometimes do not respect the delicate line between church and state. They have got away with it with me, because of their power and influence, but I do not believe, the citizens of Missouri will ultimately put up with this, as the Mormons become more numerous in Missouri. The mass exodus and return of the Mormons to Missouri is inevitable, and could once again prove to be deadly if the clash of cultures once again ruptures. Curiously, this tragic possiblity happend in Missouri at Hauns Mill, when the people of my City attacked the Mormons, because civility broke down. It again occured in southern Utah on September 11, 1857, when the Mormons, in retaliation for what happened here in Missouri, attacked a waggon train of non-Mormons and murdered 120 men, women, and children. Are we blind as to why and how these types of things happen. For Gods sake, please let us learn the lessons of history enough as to not need to repeat them in other days, and in other ways. They Mormons today, will see this type of thing as an impossibility, but if you ask them if thier leaders told them to do terrible deeds, many would, without reservation, quickly aswer, YES. The programming is strong, and has many ggod aspects, but in the wtrong circumstance, this type of blind obedience could be very deadly. The day will come, when Missouri’s elected offices and legislatures will be dominated by Mormon influence. Possibly by that time, the political power and cultural influence will be virtually unstoppable. My desire was to stop this kind of action right up front, but that did not happen. Don’t get me wrong, the Mormons are generally very excellent people, but in certain critical cases, it has been proved to be spiritually deadly to go against their political agendas.
March 27, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Since my excommunication, the Mormon church, via its leaders, is using the arguement that my excommunication was legitimate because they have spent money combatting certain political issues in the past. They try to muddle the issue and confuse people so as to minimize their guilt. The fact that they went above and beyond mere suggestion and decided to resort to threat was a line illegally crossed. Churches do in fact, often suport or oppose many issues, but to cross the line into threat, intimidation, and coersion of members is innappropriate. Can you imagine the Mormons getting up at the pulpit and threatening thier members if they were to vote or support certian candidates or issues? They do not do this openly, but they do this exact thing in cliendestine meetings behind closed doors. I was excommunicated for exposing this fact which they term, “disparging church leaders”. I forgive them openly for what they have done to me, but I hope to God, they do not continue with this kind of action with others. They sometimes do not respect the delicate line between church and state. They have got away with it with me, because of their power and influence, but I do not believe, the citizens of Missouri will ultimately put up with this, as the Mormons become more numerous in Missouri. The mass exodus and return of the Mormons to Missouri is inevitable, and could once again prove to be deadly if the clash of cultures once again ruptures. Curiously, this tragic possiblity happend in Missouri at Hauns Mill, when the people of my City attacked the Mormons, because civility broke down. It again occured in southern Utah on September 11, 1857, when the Mormons, in retaliation for what happened here in Missouri, attacked a waggon train of non-Mormons and murdered 120 men, women, and children. Are we blind as to why and how these types of things happen. For Gods sake, please let us learn the lessons of history enough as to not need to repeat them in other days, and in other ways. They Mormons today, will see this type of thing as an impossibility, but if you ask them if thier leaders told them to do terrible deeds, many would, without reservation, quickly aswer, YES. The programming is strong, and has many ggod aspects, but in the wtrong circumstance, this type of blind obedience could be very deadly. The day will come, when Missouri’s elected offices and legislatures will be dominated by Mormon influence. Possibly by that time, the political power and cultural influence will be virtually unstoppable. My desire was to stop this kind of action right up front, but that did not happen. Don’t get me wrong, the Mormons are generally very excellent people, but in certain critical cases, it has been proved to be spiritually deadly to go against their political agendas.
Jeff Foli
Former Mayor of Chillicothe, Missouri
April 13, 2008 at 8:35 pm
As a member of the Chillicothe Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I have to take exception with Christophers comments that he made after he claims to have attended a meeting there to hear the “routine sermons”.
“When it comes to the subject of Jeff’s’ piece above, I recall one Sunday morning when I attended the Mormon Church in Chillicothe, as the guest of Jeff and his family. I expected to hear the routine sermons but was literally shocked and deeply offended when the sermon consisted of using the pulpit to preach war; to encourage killing men and to pat the backs of our Soldiers who did the same.
Whatever your views are about our current war, I personally do not believe it is appropriate to use the House of the Lord to actively preach violence and death against other human beings regardless what religious faith a person claims. The House of the Lord is supposed to be a place to worship God; to rejoice in his word, his love and his gift of eternal life. Its’ supposed to be a place to learn about ourselves and how to be better, do better and have better by and through the word and love of our Lord. But on that black Sunday morning, the pulpit was used to preach hate; encourage death and rejoice in the misery of others.”
Having attended that Branch for the last eight years, I have never heard what Christopher said he heard. I know that if some one is assigned to speak, he or she is given the topic to speak on and that those topics come from the most recent talks given by General Authorities of the Church in the latest General Conference. Any deviation from doctrine is stopped and the speaker asked to end his talk by the Bishop/Branch President. There are no political announcements made from the pulpit other than if there is an election coming up, encouragement to get out and vote on the appropriate day. That and only that. I don’t know what Jeff is referring to with his statement,
“Can you imagine the Mormons getting up at the pulpit and threatening thier members if they were to vote or support certian candidates or issues? They do not do this openly, but they do this exact thing in cliendestine meetings behind closed doors.”
As a member of the Chillicothe Branch which has about 140 members on record and having been in several leadership positions in the Branch and other Wards and Branches around the country, I have never been involved in or heard of any “cliendestine meetings behind closed doors” involving members in good standing and not on the “fringe” of the Church. In fact, the First Presidency advises it’s member to not take part in any of these types of meetings. If anyone really wants to know what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints preaches and believe, go to this link. http://lds.org/conference/sessions/display/0,5239,23-1-851,00.html
I have always believed, If you want to know about Coke, don’t ask a Pepsi drinker.
May 14, 2008 at 12:25 am
THE GARDEN OF FORGIVENESS
TENTATIVE SITE, 608 Vine, Chillicothe, Missouri 64601
Dedicated to all those who seek peace, mercy, or understanding, for any reason. In general, this is to be a beautiful yet quiet place for people to find within themselves the ability to forgive others, and let go of hate, animosity, or anger of any type.
In memory also, of those who participated in, were effected by, and/or died in, the Haun’s Mill Massacre, October 30,1838. Because of the involvement of our early Chillicothe City Fathers, this site is to be dedicated in hope that peace, healing, and reconciliation will grace our area in honor of the memory of the lives affected from this tragic episode in our early American history. May all sides be understood fairly and honestly so that no act or life may be seen to have been in vain, merely understood and learned by. This area is to be set aside solely for the purpose of quiet meditation and serious reflection.
Site to be maintained by a blind Trust.
May 14, 2008 at 12:25 am
My perspective is that both honest and ethical mormons and non-mormons alike should be uncomfortable with religious leaders who innapropriately use thier positions and callings to apply pressure to the political process. Missouri is a place where a nucleus of people with high ideals and standards have long focused thier attention. If we were able to gaze into the crystal ball of the future, I believe we would see such a nucleus working legally, quietly, and effectively towards finding ways to better our world in economic, spiritual, technilogical, environmental, political, social, and physical realms. Not only the Mormons have seen Missouri to be a place of enormous future growth for humanity, but other groups as well have tuned into this coming wave of advancement. What is the price to qualify to participate in the realms of a Johnathan Livingston Seagull? If there is any substance to my perspective, I believe the price might be different for each and every person.
Jeff Foli