And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth,
and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Genesis 6:5
"The Southern California city of Pasadena has suspended its public health director, Dr. Eric Walsh, while it investigates statements the Seventh-day Adventist lay preacher allegedly made in several sermons.Walsh is one of the latest in a string of incidents where people speaking out on politically sensitive topics face threats to their employment.
According to a statement from Pasadena city manager Michael Beck, Walsh was suspended with pay in order "to provide the City of Pasadena the opportunity to complete an inquiry into statements made by him, in his private capacity, and to assess the impact those statements may have on his ability to effectively lead the City’s Public Health Department."
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| WALSH |
"Topics discussed by Walsh at the pulpit include: homosexuality as a sin; ...Darwin’s theory of evolution as a satanic belief; and describing the prophet Muhammad, founder of Islam, as a Satanist," the Pasadena Star-News reported.
Walsh, a graduate of Seventh-day Adventist-owned Oakwood University who also holds master's and doctorate degrees in public health, has directed Pasadena's Public Health Department since 2010, earning $193,600 in wages and $56,900 in benefits in 2012, state records obtained by the Los Angeles Times revealed. The newspaper quoted Pasadena spokesman William Boyer as saying Walsh oversaw creation of a dental clinic that served low-income patients, as well as those with HIV/AIDS.
Southern California Conference (SCC) released a statement Tuesday distancing itself from the controversy surrounding past comments made by Pasadena Public Health Director and SDA associate pastor Dr. Eric Walsh regarding homosexuals, Catholics and Muslims. SCC spokeswoman Betty Cooney said, "[H]e does not hold ministerial credentials from the Adventist Church, does not speak on behalf of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, and as far as we know, does not represent his views as anything other than his own.”
Her statement appeared to imply that Walsh's views on homosexuality did not reflect the church's; however, the Seventh-day Adventist General Conference issued this statement in 2012:
The Bible makes no accommodation for homosexual activity or relationships. Sexual acts outside the circle of a heterosexual marriage are forbidden” (Lev 18:5-23, 26; Lev 20:721; Rom 1:2427; 1 Cor 6:911).
The SCC was unclear about which of Walsh's views did not represent the church, leaving room for speculation that the conference's politically correct statement was more concerned about public opinion than standing by its beliefs." ADvindicateExcellent Commentary below by someone who posted a response on Advindicate (Name withheld for privacy reasons)
"Betty Cooney further stated that “the Seventh-day Adventist Church does not discriminate against groups of people based on sexual orientation, race or other factors.”
That isn’t the issue, Betty. Eric Walsh didn’t discriminate against anyone either,
he simply presented the Bible’s teachings on homosexuality.
These social justice zealots went back to 2006 to find ammunition against Eric.
Get ready for the question that each of us will be asked one day.
“Are you now, or have you ever been opposed to homosexuality?”
And to the degree that a conference, leader, or church yields to political correctness, to that degree they will distance themselves from you when you stand for biblical truth."
ADvindicate comments