Last Friday, our buddies over at the Pub-dog's site put up a post they called "Caesar? We Don't Need No Stinking Caesar!" The Pub-dog's discussed an email chain that featured the Park Ridge Community Church Senior Pastor Brett McCleneghan suggesting that people interested in opening a PADS shelter should "ignore the city and open the shelter."
The PRU Crew can't say where the Pub-dog's got a copy of the email they are citing and so we can't vouch for their source, but we're willing to vouch for ours and that the email from Big Talking Bandito Brett does appear to be authentic. And we're pretty sure not a single sender or recipient in that email chain is tech-savvy enough to engage in email spoofing, let alone Pastor Bandito Brett who doesn't seem to be able to grasp the simple principles of being a law-abiding member of a community.
Unlike St. Paul of the Cross Pastor Carl Morelleon, who seems to relish the role of dictator, Bandito Brett seems to prefer a role that offers a bit more of an outlaw persona. Though we do wonder why Bandito Brett hasn't offered up his own church as a site for a homeless shelter since the full text of Bandito Brett's email says, "I would hesitate to call good news any provision which allows the City to regulate, approve or license ministries of the Church. This establishes a dangerous and clearly unconstitutional precedent. Ignore the city and open the shelter."
And there you have it people -- at least one member of the PRMA, and probably all the others too, does not believe homeless shelters should be subject to any public oversight, even when it has been clearly established that the shelter operator -- in this case, PADS -- is publicly funded. And avoiding public oversight is precisely why Journeys from PADS to Hope has hidden behind churches who eagerly take up their cause in the name of religious free expression. And avoiding public scrutiny is precisely why PADS is alleged to have told Mayor Howard they would agree to a contract with the City of Park Ridge because they have "issues" with being subject to special use permitting and licensing procedures.
Some of the other recipients in the email chain include --
Pat Harrington -- Journeys from PADS to Hope, Inc.'s PADS Program Director
Amity Carrubba -- former Pastor at St. Mary's Episcopal Church
Gerry Gunderson -- Pastor at Mary Seat of Wisdom Church
Ted Stone -- Priest at Mary Seat of Wisdom Church
Stephen Larson -- Pastor at St. Luke's Lutheran Church
Jim McCracken -- Pastor at Park Ridge Presbyterian Church
Jack Owens -- Park Ridge zoning attorney and Friend of Frimark
Laurie Pegler -- An attorney tracking mold issues for the Property Loss Research Bureau, a national organization that serves insurance companies. (per our source)
We have no way of knowing if any of the people sharing in this email chain subsequently tried to pull Bandito Brett back onto the reservation, but we do know that one recipient, Ms. Laurie Pegler, got out her pom poms and cheered Bandito Brett on -- saying in part, "Contrary to the statement that a shelter cannot be opened without a zoning provision in place, it is legal to do so in the absence of a law to the contrary. Open the shelter using the compassion and empathy and common sense, not to mention patience, exhibited to date."
As we told our source, Ms. Pegler should stick with chasing mold -- municipal law is clearly over her pay grade.
While the PRU Crew recognizes and would strongly defend the right of each of these people to voice their opinion on any public issue of their choice, we take great exception to the arrogant and callous disregard PADS supporters have shown to their fellow parishioners, neighbors, and our community as a whole. "Patience", Ms. Pegler? You've got to be kidding!
We feel it is the height of corrupted contempt to not only try to shove their current pet social cause down the throats of everyone else, but to also suggest that the process of public governance, debate, and the laws of the community should be ignored if the outcome isn't exactly what they desire.
But hey, maybe the PRU Crew is just being grumpy about things like public discussion and respect for the rule of law. After all, Bandito Brett is one of the people Benedict Alderman Robert Ryan told us we should trust.
Addendum -- per "Anon's" request --
Opening email:
From: Gxxxxx Kxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 7:09 AM
To: xxxxx
Subject: PADS
Good Morning... and it is a good morning!!!
It looks like some positive movement has occurred!! I do not know if there are still issues which must be considered, but all the prayers and diligence have produced the below!!
I will send on any new information I receive. If anyone else gets new information, please send it on for the rest of us.
Keep the faith,
Gxxxxx
Updated 10/21: Park Ridge gives shelters first OK
(copy of H-A article)
Bandito Brett's Response:
>>> "Brett McCleneghan"
Dear Friends,
I would hesitate to call good news any provision which allows the City to regulate, approve or license ministries of the Church. This establishes a dangerous and clearly unconstitutional precedent.
Ignore the city and open the shelter.
Grace and Peace,
Brett W. McCleneghan
Attorney Pegler's response:
From: Laurie Pegler
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 9:23 AM
To: xxxxx
Subject: RE: PADS
Brett,
Thank you for reading my mind and identifying the issue: Contrary to the statement that a shelter cannot be opened without a zoning provision in place, it is legal to do so in the absence of a law to the contrary. Open the shelter using the compassion and empathy and common sense, not to mention patience, exhibited to date.
Laurie
October 27, 2008
Bandito Brett McCleneghan!
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22 comments:
Politics is a ground where trust does not exist. Thank you for sights like PRU who, sometimes we may not 100% agree, but at least keep us up to speed with what is and might be going on in our city. Without PRU and others we would be reading the aftereffects in the paper. Than you!
Is there a copy of this e-mail chain posted?
The chain is not posted, but only the "original" email:
http://publicwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/1551_001.pdf
Badges?
Badges?
We don't need no stinking badges!
Is there a reason that the chain is not posted? It would be helpful to have that piece of information out in the open for all to see.
my understanding is that currently it is illegal to have a homeless shelter in park ridge, as written in the current zoning ordinances; it was my understanding that they are absolutely modifying that, that they felt it was archaic or something.
Am I right? I thought that is what I heard... It's interesting how the pastors of all these churches true colors have come out. They are nothing but righteous S#U$#@##. They don't care about children or even the homeless, just about looking important and feeling good. Pride goeth before the fall and all that. They will fall flat on their face, hopefully at the meeting, hopefully not at the expense of some innocent child. I noticed mrmorello left the journey landscape add out of the bulletin this week. I wonder if they disbanded the business when they realized the workers beating the hell out of each other might turn on the clients.
As a member of PRCC's congregation, I'd like to (re)state and/or (re)confirm, as if that is necessary, Brett McCleneghan's wisdom, intelligence as well as his compassion and care for his congregation and Park Ridge generally.
My point is not to dispute the origin of the email but rather to say that it would be worth while, I believe, to seek further comment from him on this matter, before we characterize him as a bandito or any other prejorative.
Based on my years of knowing the man, I suspect the email chain you are in possession of is a snippet from a larger, more nuanced conversation, and you've just one (albeit a quotable) piece of that discussion.
Talk about thick as thieves here...
and then they wonder why...
Hey Charles.....never defend
a poor position Amego!!
PRU,
Is the email chain you posted in order...? ...or just a snippet?
Bean --
What we have posted are the first three emails in the chain, in order.
Charles:
Your last paragraph reflects my read on this completely - and my thoughts come without the benefit of knowing the man. I would hate to have my opinion on a given issue quantified by one of a series of e-mails discussing the issue.
Of course it does make for wonderful kindling to fire up the troops!
-- or clear evidence of the real nature of how these preachers conduct themselves when they think only their devotees will know what they're saying.
Charles,
Seeing as you know the man, perhaps you would like to make the time to explain to Pastor McCleneghan what you earlier took the time to comment upon here...in response to Ald. Bach's musings on the constitution...
What PRU has posted seems wholly lacking in...nuance...
Anon 3:36 - it isn't a poor position, but rather giving someone a well-earned benefit of the doubt. I think that it would be worthwhile for someone to give Paster McCleneghan a call to ask for a clarification. Lord knows I've made summary statements that if taken out of context could suggest a less nuanced position than I actually possessed.
Bean - either I'll email him this week or I'll talk to him about it next Sunday. He's an intelligent and educated man who, I believe, has a much better understanding of constitutional concerns as they relate to the actions of a church, than, say, others who I/we have commented upon here.
Charles,
I suppose functional illiteracy can be measured by varying degrees...for the sake of comparisons...
Best of luck in your efforts.
I agree with anonymous at 1:29. The true colors of these pastors are coming out the minute they can't just say how things will be and they face challenges to their so called wisdom.
I don't see any of this being about really helping the homeless or really the safety of our children. For these pastors it is all about the power.
Suggesting that it's somehow beyond Rev. McCleneghan to encourage lawbreaking because of all his years as a nice guy is exactly what we heard about Fr. Morello's calling opponents of a PADS shelter at St. Paul practioners of "racial and economic bigotry." Morello even claimed he was quoted without permission, as if his lack of permission somehow negated his statements.
These are the kinds of attitudes - holier than thou, beyond question or contestation - that have led to most/all of the abuses of law and morality by clergymen. And it's why these clergy should stay in the pulpit dealing preaching the Word of God instead of playing politics.
A friend of mine forwarded this article to me: A federal appeals court ruled that a county did not violate a church's constitutional right to religious freedom by denying it a zoning variance to operate a homeless shelter on its premises. This can be found at this link:
http://www.churchlawtoday.com/private/library/cltr/c0295821.htm
Keep it coming -- "Charles" is going to need all the help he can get.
A preacher has an understanding of constitutional issues? Was he a lawyer before he became a preacher? Maybe he can take over for Buzz; who clearly lacks an understanding of constitutional issues...
Hey, Charles - did you email El Bandito? Did he ever respond? Inquiring minds want to know!
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