Christian Right Observer Weekly (Volume 14)
CROW's 7 stories on the Christian Right that you need read this week.
1. Leonard Leo Allies Plan to Challenge State Efforts to Protect Abortion Access
In 2017, the Trump administration officially supported a House bill that would have banned abortion nationwide after 20 weeks. Trump has since supposedly reversed course, however, presumably because he realized that he could not win re-election in 2024 while publicly supporting a federal abortion ban. He now claims that individual states have the right to protect abortion access if that’s what they want to do:
“Everybody agrees — you’ve heard this for years — all the legal scholars on both sides agree: it’s a state issue. It shouldn’t be a federal issue, it’s a state issue,” Trump recently declared.
Trump’s remarks are misleading at best. Unbeknownst to most voters, allies of Supreme Court “puppetmaster” Leonard Leo (who advised Trump on all three of his Supreme Court nominations) are already teeing up a plan to thwart state efforts to protect abortion access.
Those allies include attorney Robert George (a Princeton University professor and Leo confidante) as well as Orange County attorney Tim Busch who sits on the board of the Napa Legal Institute with Leo.
As we reported last week, Busch has glowingly referred to the Supreme Court as the “Leo Court,” reflecting Leo’s close ties to all six members of the Court’s right wing supermajority, including the three justices that Trump nominated upon Leo’s recommendation. (See Brief #3.)
Those three Trump justices sided with the majority in Dobbs, the case that overturned Roe v Wade in 2022.
Contrary to Trump’s recent remarks, Busch and Professor George argue that states cannot legally protect abortion access. In support of this position, they claim that a fetus qualifies as a “person” under the due process and equal protection clauses of the 14th Amendment.
Busch has promoted this “fetal personhood” argument during a post-Dobbs event organized by the Napa Institute (which Busch co-founded).
Professor George has promoted this same argument during an appearance on EWTN, the largest Catholic media network in America.
Likewise, Professor George has promoted fetal personhood in an article published in 2023 by the Federalist Society, which is co-chaired by Leonard Leo. There, Professor George and his co-author wrote that “state laws allowing elective abortion … violate constitutional rights” because they “deprive a class of human beings—those at the earliest developmental stages—of ‘the equal protection of the laws.’”
Professor George had previously advocated fetal personhood in an amicus brief filed in the Dobbs case that overturned Roe. Similarly, the fetal personhood argument was presented in a pre-Dobbs article published by the Ethics and Public Policy Center where Professor George sits on the board of directors.
Leo sits on the same board.
In Dobbs, the “Leo Court” found it unnecessary to decide the fetal personhood issue. But we should expect Leo’s network to present it to them again after the 2024 election, especially if Trump wins that election, which would enable Leo and his associates to maintain and perhaps even expand right wing control over the Court.
2. Tucker Whitewashes Christian Nationalist Kingpin Doug Wilson
Doug Wilson is a highly controversial pastor who leads Christ Church in the town of Moscow, Idaho, with the express goal of transforming the small city into a “Christian town.” In 2023, Wilson’s family publishing company, Canon Press, released a book titled “The Case for Christian Nationalism.” The book is itself highly controversial because, among other reasons, it advocates an ethnically uniform nation ruled by a “Christian Prince,” as detailed by Reason magazine.
Wilson, who has personally promoted the book, was recently interviewed by Tucker Carlson who seemed determined to create the false impression that the brand of “Christian Nationalism” espoused by Wilson constitutes mainstream Christianity.
The interview conspicuously omitted, for example, any discussion of the book’s promotion of a “Christian Prince” and ethnic uniformity. Nor did it mention Wilson’s advocacy of biblical patriarchy, the idea that God expects men to lead and women to submit.
During the interview, Tucker also overlooked Wilson’s infamous remarks regarding slavery, including Wilson’s assertion that “slavery as it existed in the South … was a relationship based on mutual affection and confidence.” Likewise, Tucker ignored Wilson’s extreme anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, such as Wilson’s assertion on his blog that “supporting same-sex marriage” is “a far more serious problem” than “supporting slavery.”
In addition to this softball interview of Wilson, Tucker has recently interviewed Wilson ally Meg Basham (a Claremont Institute alum) and Santiago Pliego, a graduate of New Saint Andrew’s College, which was founded by Wilson in Moscow, Idaho.
It should thus surprise no one if Tucker decides to platform more Wilson enthusiasts, such as Stephen Wolfe who wrote The Case for Christian Nationalism (the book published by Canon) and William Wolfe, a self-professed “Christian Nationalist” who is closely tied to Project 2025 leader Russ Vought, as first reported by Politico journalist Heidi Przybyla. (Link to tweet.)
In addition to his collaboration with Vought, William Wolfe is a co-editor of the “Statement on Christian Nationalism” manifesto, as Jenny reported for the Beacon. He has enthusiastically promoted Stephen’s book but the two men are apparently not related, despite having the same last name and similar ideologies.
William (who has equated multiculturalism with murder) recently founded the Center for Baptist Leadership (CBL), whose goal is to steer the Southern Baptist Convention further right, as we reported last week. (See Brief #2.) While promoting CBL, Wolfe has said that he wants Southern Baptists to embrace “smash-mouth fundamentalism.” He wrote on X that the phrase was inspired by Wilson.
CBL states on its website that it is “supported” by American Reformer, which was co-founded by Claremont Institute fellow Josh Abbotoy and Claremont Institute alum Nate Fischer. Abbotoy has remarked on X that “America is going to need a Protestant Franco.”
For those who don’t know, Francisco Franco was a Spanish general who led the Nationalist forces that overthrew Spain’s democratic republic in the 1930s and established a military dictatorship, executing tens of thousands of Spaniards in the process.
As for Fischer, he belongs to a secretive men’s society, the Society for American Civic Renewal (SACR), as reported by the Guardian. SACR was founded by shampoo magnate Charles Haywood who shares Abbotoy’s admiration of Franco.
Haywood recently thanked Wilson for promoting “NEOTR,” which stands for “No Enemies On the Right,” a phrase coined by Haywood.
A separate investment firm started by Fischer, New Founding, lists Abbotoy as a Managing Partner on its website. New Founding’s staff includes Santiago Pliego and Joshua Clemans, both graduates of New Saint Andrews College, which was founded by Wilson in Moscow, Idaho, as shown in this thread.
One of New Founding’s projects involves building Christian communities in Appalachia. The project (known as “RidgeRunner” or the “Highland Rim project”) was seemingly inspired by Wilson who has built his own mini fiefdom in Moscow, Idaho.
Fischer and Abbotoy apparently anticipate some sort of attack because New Founding also partners with body-armor supplier Armored Republic.
In addition, New Founding partners with Kindred Harvest, an organic food and beverage company. Despite its wholesome sounding name, Kindred was co-founded by Raw Egg Nationalist, an anonymous influencer with an apparent affinity for Nazi images and dog whistles, as shown in this thread, as well as here. Raw Egg Nationalist has also published a cookbook through Antelope Hill, a Pennsylvania-based company known for its publication of historical works by Nazis and other fascists.
Tucker interviewed Raw Egg Nationalist last year. “NEOTR” indeed.
3. Releasing the Government of God in Oklahoma
"We release the Government of God - and the devil has no part of that story." - Heartland Apostolic Prayer Network Oklahoma Apostle Garland Dale Thomas
Christian Dominionist Apostle Thomas spoke those words not in his church but in the Oklahoma State Capitol. His appearance is part of his stealth assignment praying every Monday in the Oklahoma State Capitol as per elected officials’ request which he revealed in New Apostolic Reformation Movement Apostle Chuck Pierce's Surrounding the Nation Oklahoma call. His weekly Prayer meetings can be found under OK Worship at the Capitol where legislators like Representative Danny Williams have attended.
Prior to the launch of these Capitol Prayer Meetings, Apostle Thomas appeared with Christian Dominionist David Barton and OK Representative Josh Brecheen in 2022. Brecheen and Thomas have also attended theonomy seeking City Elders meetings. Thomas Oklahoma governmental connections also extend to Governor Kevin Stitt, another City Elders frequent flier.
“You believe that man has great potential for evil … All our government is made of fallen men, so our government has potential for great evil.”
This sermon about the government was not delivered by Apostle Thomas, but by his daughter Dr. Julie Mcintosh who is running for State Senate. Thomas has called his daughter an Apostolic Chief and has helped her on the campaign trail. Like her father, Mcintosh has also appeared at a Christian Dominionist City Elders meeting. Oklahomans must seriously consider if they want to take part in the battle of a Heavenlies Civil War when they cast their vote in November.
“We have same good versus evil Civil War going on in our country … There's a Civil War going on in the Heavenlies..Battle will continue until Christ comes & reigns” - Oklahoma State Senator candidate Julie Mcintosh
4. Christian Dominionist Sean Feucht Influences in Harrisburg: A Tale of 4 Events
National Day of Prayer
“We're convinced this is a place [Pennsylvania] that is significant for America and for the future of the world.” -New Apostolic Reformation Apostle Charles Stock of Harrisburg Life Center Ministries
Christian Dominionist Sean Feucht was strategically gathering in his former home base of Pennsylvania this week to prepare for his upcoming Harrisburg Capitol event on October 11. On social media Feucht recently recounted a dream where someone tried to take him out at the PA upcoming event.
Feucht was the crowning post event attraction for the National Day of Prayer Harrisburg Capitol event featuring NAR Apostles Abby Abildness and Stock.
Several elected officials attended or participated in three event:
Representative Marla Brown ,who has spoken at NAR Apostle Mark Kauffman’s International Network of Kingdom Builders event.
Representative Rob Kauffman
Representative Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz
Senator Cris Dush who is part of Abildness Apostolic Hub where she and Intercessors give real time recommendations on bills.
The National Day of Prayer event was coordinated by Kurt Weaver of Church Ambassador Network of Pennsylvania which is an outreach ministry of NAR Life Center.
When reflecting on this Harrisburg event, constituents must remember that Abildness once said:
“I [God] want Harrisburg to be mine. I want it to be known as City of God.”
Pastors Gathering
“The government is upon your shoulders.” - Sean Feucht
After the day of prayer segment, pastors attended a gathering with Sean to help coordinate his tentative October 11 date for Kingdom to the Capitol in Harrisburg. Pastors weren't the only ones attending. Representative David Zimmerman who networks often with Abildness was present along with Abildness. Northeast Regional Director of Patriot Academy Toni Shuppe spoke as did Christian Dominionist Senator Doug Mastriano. Feucht stressed that Pennsylvania was his last state Capitol stop before his Washington D.C. Capitol event strategically timed before the election.
Life Center Worship & US Capitol
“One person + God = A Majority” -Sean Feucht
Feucht appeared at Life Center giving an end times sermon that same evening before traveling with Apostle Stock to the Washington DC National Day of Prayer event to worship in the US Capitol.
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” - Sean Feucht
Further recommended reading:
5. Christian Nationalism Is on the Ballot in North Dakota State Legislative Race
The Bad News: First-term GOP State Rep. Brandon Prichard is an example of the Christian Right’s Gen Z Holy Warriors.
Prichard called on "conservative states" to codify the idea that "Jesus Christ is King and dedicate their states to him." He also wants to limit how non Christians worship.
He, of course, is also an anti-LGBTQ bigot.
The Good News: Rob Port, a reporter and columnist for In Forum, is covering the story. And he is being primaried.
He represents the future of the MAGA-Christian Nationalist Republican Party, as well as the threat against those of us who believe in a secular, inclusive, multi-racial democracy.
6. Christian Nationalism and Public Policy in the U.S.
Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy brought together experts from across the country for a one-day conference to explore the following questions: Why does Christian Nationalism exist? What are its origins? Is it most closely related to race or religion? What implications will it have on local and national politics and policies?
Check out the amazing lineup and watch the video below.
7. New Book: “Kingdom of Rage: The Rise of Christian Extremism and the Path Back to Peace”
Elizabeth Neumann, who served as a Homeland Security official in the Trump administration before quitting in 2020 has a new book out – Kingdom of Rage: The Rise Of Christian Extremism And The Path Back to Peace. She was inspired to write the book in part by the horror of Jan. 6, and the role many self proclaimed Christians played in the attempt to overthrow our democracy. She told NPR in an interview: “The people that were committing these horrific acts were praying. They were carrying pictures of Jesus. They were carrying signs that had Bible verses on it.”
From Hatchette Book Group: “In Kingdom of Rage, Neumann explores the forces within American society that have encouraged the radicalization of white supremacist, anti-government and other far-right terrorists by co-opting Christian symbols and culture and perverting the faith’s teachings.While Neumann offers decades of insights into the role government policies can play to prevent further bloodshed, she believes real change must come from the within the Christian church. She shines a bright light on the responsibility of ordinary Americans – and particularly American Christians – to work within their families and their communities to counteract the narrative of victimization and marginalization within American evangelicalism. Her goal for this book is not only to sound a warning about one of the greatest threats to our security but to rescue the Church from the forces that will, if left unchecked, destroy it – culturally, morally, and ultimately quite literally. This is a book for anyone who wants to understand the unholy marriage of right-wing politics and Christian exceptionalism in America and who wants to be a part of reversing the current path towards division, hatred, violence and the ultimate undermining of both evangelical Christianity and American democracy.”
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The reference to Franco was not random. Opus Dei (Leonard Leo's overlord) got it's start under Franco and explicitly supported the regime:
https://www.voltairenet.org/article136480.html