Posted on 07/31/2020 10:07:47 AM PDT by lightman
State Sen. Doug Mastriano attacked local faith leaders Wednesday night in a since-deleted Facebook Live video after more than 40 signed a letter rebuking his attacks on COVID-19 safety measures, particularly his rejection of mask wearing.
The Franklin County Republican, who also represents a portion of southwest York County, accused the religious leaders of being corrupted by leftist ideologies and "denying" the power of Christ.
The comments came the same day the group — largely composed of reverends, deacons and vicars — signed onto the letter that appeared as a full-page advertisement in The Gettysburg Times.
In the video, Mastriano said the clergy members had never personally reached out to him, which he claimed contradicted the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament.
"I think they lack the courage," Mastriano said. "I think they're cowards hiding behind their keyboard. That's how the left is. We can completely discount their allegations, because they have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof."
The senator went further, saying one of the signatories, who he did not name, "dislikes our lord and savior."
He also criticized them for spending money on an advertisement instead of using the funds for a charitable purpose, calling it a "terrible waste of money."
Mastriano has been one of the most vocal opponents of Gov. Tom Wolf's efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
He has repeatedly said wearing a mask should be a personal choice and has argued against restrictions on large gatherings, likening the measures to tyranny.
He has also used that criticism to argue for churches to resume normal operations, citing scriptures and Martin Luther, a seminal figure in the Protestant Reformation, in efforts to justify not wearing masks — something medical experts nationwide have said is vital and proven by research to be effective.
"The senator's interpretation of Luther's actions in the Protestant Reformation are taken out of context to serve his political agenda," the letter reads. "In short, they are inaccurate, and it is unfortunate that one who bears responsibility for over 270,000 citizens in our area displays such disregard for honest and accurate dialogue about a life or death matter for those he was sworn to serve."
The letter rebutted Mastriano's claims that Luther would support not wearing a mask in support of personal freedom, quoting Luther saying "A Christian lives not only in himself, but in Christ and his neighbor."
Masks may be the most widely discussed mitigation technique as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the U.S.
The York Dispatch reported Wednesday that issues have also arisen at the York County Judicial Center, where there's little enforcement of mask mandates.
Two employee who work at the center have tested positive for COVID-19. One works in the DA's office, but county officials have refused to identify in what department the individual works.
But Mastriano's comments, which no longer appeared on his Facebook page Thursday morning, went beyond wearing masks and congregating in churches, as he continuously questioned the signatories' religious beliefs. Faith leaders from Adams and Franklin counties rebuke state Sen. Doug Mastriano.
Mastriano said many of the church leaders who signed the letter participate in "science denying" because they support the "murder of babies" and turn a blind eye to the "selling of body parts," even though they claim to care for all lives.
"To have such a hard heart for people who have never participated in or been overseas in a combat deployment, and to think this is something they could just rationalize away," Mastriano, a U.S. Army veteran, said.
Multiple letter signatories did not respond to inquiries for comment. Calls to Mastriano's office Thursday were not immediately returned.
In the final paragraph of the letter, the leaders pleaded with Mastriano to prioritize the health of human lives.
"Ad hominem attacks and divisive rhetoric are never helpful," the letter reads. "Rather, we ask that, as a fellow Christian, Senator Mastriano join with us in looking to the health and welfare of our neighbors by sacrificing his own self-interest for the sake of the greater good."
As of noon Thursday, there were 2,243 cases of COVID-19 and 85 deaths linked to the disease. Statewide, there were 111,078 cases and 7,176 deaths.
Pennsylvania Ping!
Please ping me with articles of interest.
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Mastriano is right. Not sure why he deleted the video.
Lutheran (EL C S*A) Ping!
* as of August 19, AD 2009, a liberal protestant SECT, not part of the holy, catholic and apostolic CHURCH.
Be rooted in Christ!
Do not put the Lord Our God to the test? Is that the best these bozos can come up with?
Because a servant girl came to him and said “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,”
Their Bishop has totally drunk the Corona Kool aid that “My mask protects you, your mask protects me” and put out a letter to that effect in early July.
In that letter he and his Epicopal and Roman Catholic counterparts say that wearing a mask is demonstrating love of neighbor.
I don’t drink their kool aid or agree with their logic, but it is a bit better than what the Seminary profs and their fellow travellers came up with.
I’m really getting tired of people taking back what they have said.
The Senator’s full response:
” Unfortunately, as a result of the unclear edicts imposed by the Wolf administration, there has been ample misinformation about churches.
The administration has done very little to address the confusion, and transparency has reached an all-time low.
During a recent press conference, state officials admitted that churches are not subject to the unenforceable 25-person requirement instituted by the Governor.
(It is important to note that the Governor himself has publicly defied this group-gathering edict).
As you can imagine, our office receives hundreds of inquiries every day about the flawed rules being imposed by the administration.
These inquiries include, but are not limited to, whether church congregations can gather, whether business can open, whether families can convene to celebrate holidays, whether masks are a state law, why unemployed residents have waited four months without unemployment compensation, and whether people can have a glass of wine before or after their meal, etc.
Specifically, regarding churches, many denominations and congregations have developed unique ways to hold services…despite the Governor’s order not applying to their groups.
Many congregations have met outside or conducted online worship, and many churches have resumed Sunday services, albeit with limited social distancing capacity.
Senator Mastriano has simply pointed out that, if Pennsylvanians want to attend church, in person…and their church is not open…then they may want to consider attending another church that is conducting in-person services.
You asked about the ad in the Gettysburg Times. It was disappointing to see a group of clergy members react so negatively to the Senator’s daily Fireside Facebook chats.
First, the Senator appreciates that they are watching his daily videos. These daily briefings were launched when the flawed Emergency Declaration was implemented in mid-March, as a way of enhancing transparency, and providing constituents with the most current and accurate data on Harrisburg’s response to COVID.
As a reminder, the Governor has not consulted with or engaged in dialogue with the General Assembly throughout the course of the Emergency Declaration.
Also, the Governor is fighting a subpoena in court, which would show the criteria utilized (if any) to shut down what he deemed as “non-life sustaining businesses.”
Senator Mastriano believes transparency is necessary now, more than ever.
We would challenge those misguided members of the clergy to find any lawmaker…in any state…as transparent as Senator Mastriano.
Second, we would rather see those pastors unite to address important state issues and legislation: such as saving unborn babies; lobbying against using taxpayer dollars to fund abortions; advocating on behalf of religious groups participating in adoption services (the Wolf administration opposes this concept); vocally supporting the jobless state residents that have not received their state-authorized unemployment benefits…many have been waiting four months; addressing the Governor’s lack of transparency; properly funding our police officers and fire departments; providing food, clothing and shelter to the poor that have been adversely impacted during the COVID-19 crisis; speaking on behalf of congregation members that cannot afford the state’s skyrocketing property taxes; and taking a stand against government overreach, which impacts the everyday rights of Pennsylvanians.
Sadly, the misinformed clergy members that penned the misleading ad have been silent on those important issues.
In Matthew 5:23-24, Jesus directs his disciples to personally address any offenses with a fellow believer in private if there is a concern.
The fact of the matter is not one of those who signed the letter made any effort to discuss their concerns with the Senator.
These misguided clergy members used their religious positions, and non-profit status, to launch a political attack against a Senator in contravention to both Matthew 5 and Romans 13. Therefore, their malicious attack can be discounted as not sincere or viable.”
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