Nationals suspend chapel leader after comments about Jews

WVEC / Associated Press ^ | 09/20/2005 | BRIAN WESTLEY

[muawiyah]

"The first shall be last, and the last first" ~ logically impossible.

On the other hand it's pretty much a fairly clear restatement of the yin/yan thesis found in Eastern religions.

I think God can issue all the contradictory manifestos She wishes.

[Betaille]

"If they don't like this, then they don't need to hire a Christian chaplain."

Wait. So do all Christians believe that jews are going to hell or not? The anti-jewish contingent on this list needs to get it's story straight.

[SJackson]

If they don't like this, then they don't need to hire a Christian chaplain. And if the team doesn't want to be directly connected to this, perhaps the Christian players themselves could arrange for the chaplain.

Sounds like they don't, and don't anymore. Clearly the players can do what they want on their own, no one has questioned that.

[SJackson]

Wait. So do all Christians believe that jews are going to hell or not? The anti-jewish contingent on this list needs to get it's story straight.

That falls in the who cares category.

[Young Scholar]

There are certainly some Christians who believe observant Jews can still go to heaven, but, aside from very liberal universalists, almost all Christians believe SOME people will not go to heaven. My point was, if a team hires a chaplain, they should not be surprized if his views are offensive to some people, since Christianity is offensive to some people.

[Stone Mountain]

Concerning: "Another Jewish leader, Rabbi Ethan Seidel of the Tifereth Israel synagogue, said, "Yeah, no one likes to be told they're going to hell, but Christians have been saying that for thousands of years."" we are forced to note that SOME, not ALL, and as a rule Christians do not, in fact, live for thousands of years. Nothing like expressing your own bigotry and ignorance while criticizing that of the other guy.

Uh... Christians have been saying that for thousands of years. Haven't they? I should note, this does is not saying there are Christians who are thousands of years old who are saying this.

[Betaille]

"There are certainly some Christians who believe observant Jews can still go to heaven"

Then why is it contradictory to have a christian chaplain but not expect him to say jews will go to hell?

[Petronski]

My guess, if his prayer revolved around Bush eats babies, he would have been fired too.

Snort!

[twas]

An article published Sunday in The Washington Post described outfielder Ryan Church asking Moeller if Jews are "doomed" because they do not believe in Jesus — to which Moeller reportedly nodded.

He was asked a question and he gave his opinion.

And the problem is...?

[Young Scholar]

I think God can issue all the contradictory manifestos She wishes.

True, God can do whatever He chooses, but the evidence I see in the Bible indicates that He will not save people of every religion. I have seen some arguments to the contrary, though, and I would be interested in hearing your reasons for believing this.

[SJackson]

My point was, if a team hires a chaplain, they should not be surprized if his views are offensive to some people, since Christianity is offensive to some people.

If a company hires a chaplain to conduct a non-denominational prayer, they should be shocked at a statement like this. If he can't deliver a prayer in a non-denominational setting, he should refuse the job.

That said,it sounds to me like the Chaplain was set up. That's a bizarre question following a simple pre game prayer, and there's no doubt in my mind it was asked to elicit a specific response. The player, unidentified, is more culpable here.

[muawiyah]

There are also millions of Christians today, and over the last couple of thousand years who NEVER said that.

The rabbi's statement was inherently bigoted.

[muawiyah]

That's one reading of the text. You are supplying an interpretation that is not necessarily supported in other parts of the accepted text, nor, in fact, by God.

[wgeorge2001]

The scriptures plainly teach in the new testament the fact that Jesus Christ IS MESSIAH and that his atoning death and resurrection requires this belief and that there in no other name given under heaven through which salvation must come. The Chaplain was not guilty of anything since men everywhere,including the Jew, must be saved by grace through faith in Lord Jesus sacrificial death and resurrection for our salvation.
It is not hate to say what God says is true. I would say that the hate crime here is commited against the Christian Chaplain.

[muawiyah]

That's your own personal interpretation of what you've read or heard. I am entitled to have a totally different interpretation.

[F16Fighter]

Moeller [was asked] if Jews are "doomed" because they do not believe in Jesus — to which Moeller reportedly nodded.

Moeller said nothing about "hell."

Imo, he was set up on minimal charges -- afterall most folks know Christians believe Christ is THE way to heaven.

That being said, God will do the judging -- NONE of us knows who may or not be invited to their Father's House.

[Young Scholar]

It is contradictory to hire a Christian chaplain and expect him not to say anything offensive to anyone. Sure, some Christians may make an exception for Jews, but Muslims, atheists, and others they belive WILL go to hell will still be offended. There's no pleasing everyone with religion, so if a team wants a chaplain, they should be prepared to have some people unhappy. Because this may not be the best decision for the team, another possibility is for the Christian players themselves to hire a chaplain (in which case it really doesn't matter who is offended).

[rawhide]

Glad to see someone stand up for their Christian beliefs and tell the truth.
So what he lost his job!
But I think the ballplayer goaded him into affirming that. What else is a genuine Christian supposed to say?
Anything other than the truth that is spelled out in the bible waters down their belief.
So he had no choice but to affirm that.
Sorry, if other religions do not like that, but that is the way it is.

[NativeNewYorker]

I am quite educated in those matters...and am also all TOO familiar with the stereotypes others hold of Jews.

[Alouette]

Trying....

...trying again...

...trying very hard......

.

.

...sorry...

......my give-a-damn's busted...