Bateman is a minister and outreach program director at Healing Streams Word and Worship Center. He is working to develop a community development corporation so the church can broaden its capacity to help the community.
"My passion has always been to help others and the community by giving them the tools they need to be self-sufficient," Bateman said in a press release. "That's why community development will be my major focus on the council."
I personally believe that ministers have no business holding public office. They demonstrate time and time again that they are unable to separate their role as a religious leader from their role as a public official. And what's this talk of him developing "a community development corporation so the church can broaden its capacity to help the community." Isn't a community development corporation a quasi-governmental body?
Democrats in South Bend are already ruing their decision to appoint minister Timothy Rouse to its city council. He quickly used his new role as the city's common council president to block the mayor's proposal there to adopt a human rights ordinance barring discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The South Bend HRO lost by one vote. Does anyone believe that Bateman would have cast a vote in favor of Indy's HRO had he been in that seat instead of Steve Tally. Remember, the Indy HRO passed by just one vote.
I've known Paul Bateman as a UAW union activist for years --- a good man --- he'll do well as a City-County Councillor.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Gary, there's no place for a 'minister' on the Indianapolis City County Council.
ReplyDeleteJust look at the major wars going on around the Middle East today. Look at what happened in South Bend. Those who would like to impose their religious believes on others are at the very root of the violence around the world.
It's not a stretch to think that a minister or pastor or other 'religious leader' would use his/her power on a legislative body like the CC Council, to the detrement of those who might not share his/her views on various cultural issues.
Beware Marion County Democratic Party. You tread at your peril with such moves.
I've never understood how people can defend such violent opposition to any person of faith being elected to public office (starting with GW in 2000 to today). People say that making decisions influenced by faith is a violation of the separation of church and state, but it's not as if they can cast their faith aside because they're going into office. You can't separate the faith from the person, and those people are always going to make decisions influenced by their faith because that is who they are.
ReplyDeleteThe crackpot response to that is always, "Well, then, they shouldn't be serving in public office." Well, if they shouldn't be serving in public office, then you tell them that and then you pay for the legal bill when they sue the city and take them to court because you're violating their civil rights.
The guy has been on the job all of two days. Give him a chance before you start forming a lynch mob...
I have known Paul Bateman for 29 years. He has worked at Mount Olive -Mozell Sanders giving out dinners on Thanksgiving. He fought for rights of those at Chrysler where he worked all of his life( he wasnt a minister then and did an awesome job). Now he allows God to" order his steps" which makes his decisions moral & just.
ReplyDeletePaul Bateman is a minister who" happens to sit on the counsil seat". He has helped people pay thier rent, put food into thier homes, worked in the prisons, helped the community( west & east side). He is partnering on projects to better his district and the city as a whole.
He is doing what he has been doing for over 50 years only now he has a city- county seat.
I remember one day in the winter Mr. Batman walked from home to home digging folks out of the snow, after digging out his neighbors( some he didnt know) He went to the plant and worked 10 hours only to be called into work after he had been home and slept for an hour.
He was always a great man now he is a great man of God.
Rha