Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Feds Raid Arkansas Church Headquarters In Child Pornography Investigation
In southwest Arkansas yesterday, federal authorities raided the 15-acre compound housing the Tony Alamo Christian Ministries. The Associated Press reports that the raid was part of a child pornography investigation. Social workers are talking with children who live at the complex located in the town of Fouke. In a phone call with the AP, Alamo said: "Where do these allegations stem from? The anti-Christ government. The Catholics don't like me because I have cut their congregation in half. They hate true Christianity." He argues that the raid is part of an effort by the federal government to make same-sex marriage legal while outlawing polygamy. He believes polygamy is permitted by the Bible, and that "anything that is in the Bible is law." He also says that in sexual matters, "consent is puberty".