Health Departments Continue Their Harassment of Ohio Churches

County health departments continue sending letters, making phone calls and emails to churches in counties throughout Ohio with complaints that their religious gatherings are not complying with state face mask orders. In this pastors panel discussion, we talk with two pastors who have been contacted by the departments of health. The Ohio Christian Alliance has obtained record reports which indicate that the DeWine Administration is encouraging local health departments to enforce the face mask mandate. OCA has also obtained records that confirm that funding is being provided to health departments and local prosecutors' offices to carry out the enforcement of the Governor's face mask mandate.  The following was obtained by a public records request- 

We are making an official records request for information pertaining to violations or conversations regarding COVD19 restrictions or policies. 

1.       We request information for Phone calls made from 7/13/20 to 8/27/20 to churches or religious organizations to include the name of the organization, who contacted them and date

2.       We would also request  a copy of any written or electronic information or warnings sent to churches or religious organizations between 7/13/20 and 8/27/20 as a result of a complaint or possible violation of the COVID-19 protocol

3.       We would also like a copy of any correspondence between the Cuyahoga County Health Dept. and Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Dept. or other law enforcement entity regarding support for visits or issuing fines and warnings for COVID-19 protocol. 

The following was obtained by a public records request- 

-The Governor would like to provide assistance to local health departments, and local
prosecutor’s offices to help with the enforcement of Ohio Department of Health orders. The basic
concept is that the Ohio Department of Health would provide funding for local health departments to
contract with investigators who would assist in the investigation of complaints against individuals and
businesses who repeatedly and blatantly fail to comply with the Ohio Department of Health orders.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT CALL LOGS HAVE BEEN OBTAINED IN A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST BY THE OHIO CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE DETAILING THAT HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ARE MAKING NUMEROUS CALLS TO CHURCHES ABOUT THE STATE'S FACE MASK ORDER - THE RESPONSES ARE MEANT TO INTIMIDATE PASTORS AND CHURCHES

The following is a screenshot of a text message obtained by public records request between health department officials in Northeast Ohio referencing the use of a county Sheriff to accompany agents as a show of force to help enforce the face mask order. Again, this records request was in relation to the county Department of Health engagement with churches since the state's face mask order went into effect. CLICK HERE TO READ THE CALL LOGS

The Ohio Christian Alliance is in the process of making records requests in other counties, as we have received multiple reports from churches that county boards of health have been calling churches with intimidation and threats of fines and closure for noncompliance. Here is a link to a report out of California in which a court ordered a church closed due to noncompliance with the state's COVID-19 restrictions.

The Ohio Christian Alliance and its network of churches, staff, and volunteers, are going to stay on top of this issue until there is clarity from the Governor's office down to the county boards of health that churches are not to be targets of anonymous complaints that cause local government departments of health officials to act with gestapo-style bullying tactics against churches and their pastors.

 If your church has been contacted by county health officials, please fill out this form, and our staff will get back with you. We are compiling a list of churches throughout the state that have been contacted by county health departments in the last several weeks since the face mask statewide mandate went into effect.

Thanks to everyone who helped to make the OCA Freedom Banquet a special evening of encouragement and blessing. Thanks to Dr. Paul Jehle for his presentation on the Pilgrims and the Plymouth Landing 400th year. We'd also like to thank State Auditor Keith Faber and SOS Frank LaRose for sharing with our attendees. Special thanks to our emcee Matt Miller and Melanie Murphy Miller for the presentation of patriotic music.  CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES FORM THE OCA FREEDOM BANQUET!

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE FROM DR. PAUL JEHLE

Protests, Riots, and the Anarchist Group ANTIFA- The Christian Response

   Protests sparked in cities across America in response to the viral video of the arrest and death of George Floyd. What followed were protests that turned into riots and something more, orchestrated anarchy in the city streets of America by the well-funded organized domestic terrorist organization ANTIFA. In this program, we receive a detailed report of the tactics, funding, and organization of the group ANTIFA. 

Part 2 Constitutional studies in the Ohio classroom. The audio testimony presented by OCA President Chris Long in the Primary and Secondary Education Committee held on Tuesday, May 26th before anyone knew what was happening in the outside world in relation to the George Floyd tragedy. Of special interest is the discussion with committee members as it relates to the importance of Constitutional studies and the rights of all men and women under the U.S. Constitution. Tune in and tell a friend.

The Honorable Mike DeWine

Governor of the State of Ohio

Riffe Center 30th Floor

77 S High St

Columbus, OH 43215-6117

Dear Governor DeWine,                                                                                   June 5, 2020

 CONTACT GOV. DeWine here!

I am writing you today concerning the COVID-19 shutdown policy for nursing homes and health care facilities. We are now entering the fourth month of a lockdown on nursing homes across the State of Ohio. Husbands, wives, children, and loved ones have not been able to go in and visit their family members in Ohio’s nursing homes. Our elderly who deserve visits, care and the expression of respect from those who love them have been denied this since the order went into effect.

There are numerous heartbreaking stories of family members who were not able to be with their loved ones during their final days and hours on earth. This is cruel, and an unusual act of government policy. The untold sadness, sense of loss and remorse of those who were not able to pray with, care for, and simply just express their love to the ones they cherish before they left this life is something that I never thought we would see state government impose. The original intent of safeguarding our nursing home residents from the coronavirus may have been set forth with good intentions, and many Ohioans, including myself, thought this might be for a few weeks, but the duration of now going into 4 months with no plan for at least one family member going in to meet with their loved one is unacceptable.

We are receiving numerous reports that these residents in the nursing homes are becoming despondent, confused, and not eating. Their family advocates are not able to properly fulfill their roles in helping to oversee the health care needs of their loved ones in Ohio nursing homes; the order forbids them from entering the facilities to observe what health care workers may or may not be doing to care for their loved ones.

My own mother has dementia, and I have not been able to see her since February in-person. She does not understand why we cannot come in to see her, and I can tell that she feels as if we do not care; every time we see her through the window it breaks our hearts. I never thought  I would live to see the day that a government would keep me from fulfilling one of the commands of God to “honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the earth.” Exodus 20:12

My mother lived through the Great Depression in hard poverty, then WWII, then raised her family and served others. She and so many like her deserve better. Governor, I urge you in the strongest terms – allow family members to meet with their loved ones in Ohio’s nursing homes.

The goodwill and patience of Ohioans who have been waiting to hear from your office about a plan that would allow for visitation while safeguarding the residents has expired. We long thought that by now an announcement would have been forthcoming, but the reality is, these seniors are wasting away in loneliness and a sense of imprisonment. They committed no crime, yet they are serving a punishment from a draconian order of government that is keeping them from family and friends.

Even the incarcerated in Ohio’s prisons for the worst types of crimes are entitled to visitors, but our elderly, some of the greatest generation, are being forced into seclusion without their consent. We urge you in the strongest terms, appealing to your good will and judgement, that the time has come to set forth a plan to allow for family and loved ones to visit their beloved family members in Ohio’s nursing homes.

Sincerely,

Chris Long

President of Ohio Christian Alliance

This morning, unexpectedly, former State Rep. Andy Thompson of the 95th Ohio District, passed away suddenly. Andy Thompson was a friend to many who came to know him at the Ohio Statehouse during his time of serving the 95th District. As testimony to his life and character, many tributes are being posted today in acknowledgment of our dear friend. 

Rep. Andy Thompson was a sponsor of the ban on human cloning and chief sponsor of the anti-Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) Resolution. Andy wanted to take a strong stance in support of the State of Israel by opposing the BDS movement, which he believed to be an anti-Israel movement here in the United States. Ohio Christian Alliance was proud to stand with Rep. Thompson in support of the Jewish people and the State of Israel. Rep. Thompson served with distinction as he proudly represented the people of the 95th District.

A native of Marietta Ohio, he was proud of his historic hometown and was happy to show visitors around the charter city of Ohio. Andy was also co-author of the Bird Watcher’s Digest that received national acclaim. If you ever wanted to know the species of a particular bird, Andy was always willing to help you out. He was a man of the people, always available for constituents, and willing to discuss pending public policy with interested parties from around the state. He was known far beyond the 95th District as a serious legislator.

We will miss our good friend, and our thoughts and sincere prayers are offered on behalf of his wife Jade, and his family. God bless his memory. 

 PROTEST OF FINDING INVALIDATING

SIGNATURE OR SIGNATURES ON REFERENDUM PETITION

Medina, OH - Concerned Citizens of Medina City today submitted a protest appeal to the Medina County Board of Elections and the Ohio Secretary of State regarding the Medina City Ordinance 112-19 that was passed by Medina City Council on July 8, 2019. This ordinance is an LGBTQ comprehensive special rights ordinance. Citizens in the community of Medina had expressed concerns about the comprehensive nature of the ordinance before Medina City Council passed it.

Citizen volunteers with assistance of the Ohio Christian Alliance circulated a referendum petition to place the measure on the ballot.  1,173 signatures were gathered in just fourteen days. On July 31st, the citizens committee submitted the referendum petition in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code to City Finance Director Keith Durham. Mr. Durham held the petitions for ten days before submitting them to the Medina County Board of Elections for review. On August 12th the Board of Elections reported that they had invalidated 234 of the signatures.  983 signatures were needed to place the measure on the ballot. The Board determined that the referendum petition committee had 939 good signatures, 44 signatures short of what was needed.

The Ohio Christian Alliance made a public records request from the Medina County BOE and began a review with its attorneys of the Board’s findings. The Medina County Board of Elections officials had invalidated 59 signatures for what they called “non-matching signature.”  In other words, these are registered voters in the City of Medina about whom the Board of Elections officials made a judgement call by stating that their signatures did not match what the Board had on file. The Concerned Citizens of Medina City Committee and its volunteers informed the petition signers whose signatures were rejected that the Board had invalidated their signatures for what they termed “non-matching”. These citizens were more than eager to sign sworn affidavits attesting to their identity, and that they had indeed signed the referendum petition and wanted it on the ballot.

This material proof has been submitted as testament that these signatures were valid and that these petition signers wrongfully had their signatures invalidated by the Board’s review. We are confident that upon further review, the referendum effort will be certified for the November 2020 ballot.  It is important that the people’s right of referendum be upheld.  

The Medina County Board of Elections on Monday reported to Medina City Finance Director Keith Dirham that the referendum petition effort on Ordinance 112-19, the LGBTQ Special Rights Ordinance, had fallen short of the signatures needed. However, OCA and its attorneys see discrepancies in the initial report.  The Board invalidated 260 of the 1,173 signatures submitted. OCA President Chris Long made the following statement, “Today we officially made public records request for the complete report of the signature review by the Medina County Board of Elections.  There are a number of questions concerning the initial report.   We believe that upon further review enough signatures will be validated to place the measure on the ballot in November 2020. The Concerned Citizens of Medina City, along with the Ohio Christian Alliance and their attorneys will review and challenge the Board’s findings on the signatures they invalidated. We are confident that we will have enough signatures to be on the fall ballot of 2020. The residents of the City of Medina who are concerned about this new ordinance have a right to have their voices heard at the ballot box. We will fight for their right of representative government and for them to have their opportunity to vote. We are only 44 signatures away from certification for the referendum to be on the ballot. We are confident that the court will validate enough signatures for the referendum to be on the ballot and let the people decide.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                        November 1, 2017

Government Accountability and Oversight Committee Passes HCR 10

Today, members of the Ohio Legislature took a positive step forward, pushing back against anti-Semitism by passing out of committee HCR 10, the resolution to condemn the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement against Israel and to condemn increasing incidents of anti-Semitism on Ohio college campuses.

OCA President Chris Long stated, "The Ohio Christian Alliance is pleased to lend its support to this resolution that Representatives Andy Thompson and David Greenspan, along with 25 other co-sponsors, have signed on to.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 12, 2016

Prayerless State of the State Address

In a major breach of protocol, the State of the State Address by Governor Kasich before a joint session of the Ohio General Assembly in Marietta last week, did not open with a prayer from the clergy. OCA President Chris Long who was in attendance recounted, "There was a call to order by the Speaker of the House and Senate President, a call to quorum, the presentation of colors by the Honor Guard, and then the Senate President looked down at his notes as to what was next on the program. .......

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 26, 2016

Ohio Christian Alliance Urges Delay of Implementation of Online Voter Registration in Ohio to Safeguard Ohio's Vote
S.B. 63, the online voter registration bill, has raised concerns that it may further threaten Ohio's election integrity. Ohio's elections process has been under some scrutiny over the past several years due to an increase in reported voter fraud cases, referenced in the Ohio SOS Post-Election Voter Fraud Reports May 2013, SOS December 2013 Report "Non-U.S. Citizens Register and Vote in the Battleground State of Ohio", SOS report March 12, 2015 in which it was reported that 436 non-U.S. citizens were registered to vote in Ohio, 44 of whom actually cast ballots, and the June 25, 2015 SOS report "14 Individuals Referred for Investigation for Allegedly Illegally Voting." Additionally, Franklin County reported more than 90 cases of double voting in the 2012 Presidential Election .....

WWII Memorial Prayer Act Signed Into Law by The President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   July 1, 2014 It's official – The President has signed The WWII Memorial Prayer Act (S1044) into law.  Earlier this month, the bill passed The U.S. Senate in a unanimous consent measure just in time for the 70th anniversary observance of the D-Day Landings.  Last week, The U.S. House of Representatives passed the measure overwhelmingly by a vote of 370-12, and yesterday, The President signed the bill into law.   The Ohio Christian Alliance would like to commend the bill's sponsors, Senator Rob Portman (OH) and Senator Mary Landrieu (LA), and Congressman Bill Johnson of Ohio's 6th District, who was the House sponsor, for their support of this historic legislation that will add FDR's D-Day Landing prayer to the WWII memorial in Washington D.C.