UPC Pastor Convicted of Slander in Pulpit!

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by jfrog

That wasn't his defense.

His defense was:

One of the reasons the pastor gave James Driver as grounds to biblically remarry was that James Driver once found his then-wife Angela Driver wearing a bikini at a swimming pool while with the husband of a mutual friend. The pastor felt that constituted exhibitionism and met the biblical definition of fornication, according to the defense summary.

Read more: http://www.macon.com/2010/07/07/1187...#ixzz0td6QcJR6

Oooh, there we go. Good words to include in a lawsuit. LOL!

“The statements were made and calculated to harm the plaintiff and to justify defendant’s daughter’s relationship with James Driver, who was previously divorced from plaintiff, and to obtain the church congregation’s approval of the relationship between James Driver and Reverend Fogarty’s daughter,” the lawsuit stated."

Oopps...

He explained that the biblical definition of fornication includes more than sex outside of marriage. He told the congregation he had given James Driver permission to remarry because Angela Driver had committed one act of fornication, the motion states.

Yes, this is how they won it.

However, the acts given the congregation that constituted fornication accused Angela Driver of adultery, and the use of the term “fornication” imputed immorality to Angela Driver, the lawsuit stated.

Still not giving the woman a pass, by any means. It looked like a bad marriage. The pastor shouldn't have not brought that to the congregation. Even though he felt that her dress and actions constituted fornication, he couldn't prove she had done a physical act. That turns it toward slander.

Well, that was a good lesson for the ministry. It's going to do more harm than good, though. All of the ants will be out of the woodwork, including homosexuals. We won't be able to say anything because of those that have abused the position. Well, that's the way it works. We all get punished for the mistakes of others.