The location of Plymouth, Massachusetts, was chosen to host last September a nondenominational day of prayer and repentance because that is where Pilgrims landed in their flight from religious persecution. The New Hampshire Democrat Party was disgusted by the gathering, particularly because State Rep. David Bates was speaker. He is a Christian.
A video of the event recently surfaced where Bates is heard to say that we must conform to II Chronicles 7:14. Otherwise, he said, God will certainly not bless America as our only hope is to “turn from our wicked ways and ask God to heal our land” and “the problem we have here in this country and in all of our states is that we no longer fear God.”
Bates quoted Abraham Lincoln's Civil War proclamation which called on the nation to humble itself and pray and which was issued at the request of the U.S. Senate. Bates flat-out told the Plymouth audience that today, "America needs prayer."
Democrat Press Secretary Harrell Kirstien responded to the video in an official statement saying that Christians want to force "their Bible Belt social agenda upon the people of New Hampshire."
The harsh words sparked a counter-accusation of "religious intolerance." Kevin Smith, head of Cornerstone Policy Research, is calling on the Democrat Party to apologize for the inappropriate show of intolerance.
New Hampshire Republican Party spokesman Ryan Williams agreed that the Democrats were completely over the line,
"Clearly, the Democrats are trying to demean and belittle Rep. Bates for stating his personal, religious beliefs at a prayer meeting. They should apologize."
However, former New Hampshire House Democratic leader Peter Burling called the demand for an apology ludicrous and that Republicans were elected to deal with the budget crisis, not push "socially conservative junk."
For original article with video, click here.
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