Federal Judge Says Christian Hate Group Can Legally Be Called a "Hate Group"

[NeoGreen]

https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2019/09/21/federal-judge-says-christian-hate-group-can-legally-be-called-a-hate-group/

Federal Judge Says Christian Hate Group Can Legally Be Called a “Hate Group”
By Hemant Mehta, September 21, 2019

A district court in Alabama has tossed out a lawsuit from a Christian ministry that didn’t like how the Southern Poverty Law Center labeled it a “hate group.” The judge said, correctly, that SPLC’s designation was protected by the First Amendment.

The lawsuit was filed in 2017 by D. James Kennedy Ministries (formerly called Truth in Action) after it was named to the SPLC’s list of “Active Anti-LGBT Hate Groups.” (Kennedy himself died in 2007.)

The ministry said in the lawsuit that being put on the SPLC’s list hurt them financially because Amazon (also a defendant) refused to allow them to fundraise via AmazonSmile precisely because they’re considered a “hate group.” GuideStar (also a defendant) temporarily labeled SPLC hate groups as such on their website, and the ministry said that also hurt fundraising.

The ministry insisted there was nothing hateful about them… Which was about as convincing as Donald Trump saying he’s not a racist.

The basis for SPLC’s declaration that the Ministry is a hate group is that the Ministry espouses and supports Biblical morals and principles concerning human sexuality. It was on these Biblical principles that this Nation was founded and built.
…
Based on GuideStar’s and SPLC’s statements, they have conspired to publish written information in interstate commerce that subjects the Ministry to disgrace, ridicule, odium, and contempt, by declaring the Ministry a hate group. Under Alabama law, this conduct constitutes defamation, specifically libel per se.
…
The SPLC knows that its publication of its claims that the Ministry is a Hate Group both in the Hate Map and in the SPLC Transmissions are false and that these publications defame the Ministry. The SPLC intended the Hate Map and SPLC Transmissions to be statements of fact, not statements Of opinion.

You don’t have to be a lawyer to recognize that was always a very weak attempt at showing defamation. If the SPLC was going after all ministries that espoused “Biblical morals and principles concerning human sexuality,” then damn near every evangelical church would be on the list.

Haters gonna hate.

[Major Nikon]

1. Well bless their piece of shit hearts

[customerserviceguy]

2. I tried looking up this ministry

but I couldn't find anything as to why their views were somehow more harmful than other fundie groups that have the same ancient beliefs about sexual orientation and sexuality.

[Major Nikon]

3. What is the point of being a fundie if you can't feel self-righteous?

After all, Jebus (metaphorically) said it was OK to hate other people.

[customerserviceguy]

6. That would apply to the believers of many religions

Some are just more open about their "superior dance" than others.

[Mariana]

4. SPLC definition of a hate group:

The Southern Poverty Law Center defines a hate group as an organization that – based on its official statements or principles, the statements of its leaders, or its activities – has beliefs or practices that attack or malign an entire class of people, typically for their immutable characteristics. We do not list individuals as hate groups, only organizations.

Do you believe this ministry does not qualify as a hate group, under this definition?

[customerserviceguy]

5. I do, but

Aren't there a lot of fundie groups out there who insist that marriage is only between a man and a woman? The Catholic Church wouldn't marry a same-gender couple, would the SPLC define them as a hate group? Or do they just go after small groups?

[Major Nikon]

7. Discrimination does not equal hate

The SPLC designates groups as hate groups if they openly advocate malice towards a class of people simply because they belong to that class.

That doesn't mean the RCC doesn't do those things covertly, but when a religious group refers to homosexuality as a scourge that needs to be eradicated, they have crossed the line between just general assholery and hate. That's the differentiation that the SPLC makes.

[customerserviceguy]

8. Which brings me back to my original question

What is it that is different about this fundie group that distinguishes it from others who practice discrimination? I couldn't find anything.

Is it simply the language used?

[Major Nikon]

10. I just told you what distinguishes them

If you want examples, they aren’t that hard to find.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/namesake-of-ministry-suing-splc-once-endorsed-homophobic_b_59b9a864e4b02c642e4a138d

[customerserviceguy]

13. I didn't know about that

But, the comic book that they endorsed was back in 1986, at the height of the AIDS crisis. While fully repulsive today, it was closer to mainstream thought over thirty years ago. For the next half dozen years or so, many states stained their constitutions with amendments banning equal marriage.

Hopefully, we all know better now, even those that don't recognize equal marriage in their religions. But the AIDS crisis caused a lot of otherwise normal people to say and do things that look horrible in today's light.

[Major Nikon]

14. Do you really think they have changed?

To this day they are still allied with Gary DeMar, who among other things has called for the execution of homosexuals.

[customerserviceguy]

15. Probably not

but they might not be as rabid as they were then. The Gary DeMar thing is pretty horrifying, though.

[Mariana]

11. Why do they have to be worse than other hate groups

to be listed as a hate group?

[customerserviceguy]

12. I just think there's a lot of power

given to the SPLC, and it would be interesting to know their criteria for listing some groups and not others with the same beliefs. If they just go after bit players while ignoring the big organizations, because of fear of backlash, that makes them look like bullies in some people's eyes.

[Mariana]

16. "...that makes them look like bullies in some people's eyes."

Like yours?

[customerserviceguy]

17. Not necessarily

By looking like a bully, I mean picking on small groups, and not taking on bigger ones that could get a group like SPLC scrutinized by more people.

If they came out against the Catholic church, or the Baptists, they'd probably face some tougher sledding. Their power to get what they want from say, Amazon, might be severely curtailed. It's just as important to oppose the big players as it is to go after small groups of fundies.