Mayor denounced for saying Lancaster is 'growing a Christian community'

Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris drew criticism from a leading Muslim group today after saying in his annual State of the City address that the high desert town was “growing a Christian community.”

"We're growing a Christian community, and don't let anybody shy away from that,” Parris told the audience of ministers gathered for his address.

“I need [Lancaster residents] standing up and saying we're a Christian community, and we're proud of that," the mayor said.

The Greater Los Angeles area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations denounced the statement and said it plans to file a complaint about the mayor's remarks with the civil rights division of the U.S. Justice Department.

“Elected officials should not use their public positions to impose their religious beliefs on others," said Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Los Angeles chapter of CAIR.

The mayor, reached by telephone today, said his remarks did not intend to impose his faith on others, and he said he would make no apology. 

“This is just about very few people wanting to get their 15 minutes of fame,” he said. “I guess they got it.” 

 -- Garrett Therolf

Comments

[Jack]

Lancaster has a proud tradition of bucking political correctness, and this is simply another example of how intolerants seek to limit free speech in the name of tolerance. I applaud Lancaster Mayor Parris not only for what he said, but for responding appropriately to the ridiculous demand for an apology.

[johnny Prescription]

The Council on American-Islamic Relations needs to grow up and get a life! Exactly what this city needs, in fact our country... is a good old fashioned Christian revival!

When you have city mayors and vice presidential candidates engaged in adulterous extramarital affairs while their wives struggle with terminal illness, dishonest politicians, and public schools where you can distribute condoms, advocate abortion and promote homosexuality…Thank heaven’s SOMEBODY has courage and SENSE to talk about something that’s good and decent, Like Christianity!

The Council on American-Islamic Relations should take a look all around them and realize MORAL CANCER is SPREADING…and if they cannot contribute in the fight against the degradation of our society, then they are also part of the problem!

[Orthodox Christian]

Islamists will always complain about any religion unless it is their own.
My Orthodox Christian Syrian grandparents had to leave Syria at the turn
of the 20th century because they had very few rights and the men were forced to be soldiers for the Sultan. Greek Orthodox Christians had their sons taken from them while they were toddlers and were trained to be Janissaries for the Sultan who return as young men to fight their own families. If Greek daughters were pretty, the Muslims took them for the harems of the Sultan. Greek parents would cut off the arms of their toddler sons and disfigure the faces of the young daughters so Muslims would not take their children. Many Arab Christians were slaughtered by fanatics at the end of the 19th century. Don't be fooled by these wolves who complain that their civil rights are being violated. Indigenous Christians have very few civil rights in the middle east. If the Islamists don't like it here they are welcome to return home to their crumbling economies in the middle east.

[hosemonkey]

Wether you moslems like it or not, this IS a Christian country, just as Egypt is a moslem country and just as Saudi Arabia is a moslem country. Unlike Christians in Saudi Arabiaand other moslem countries, you are tolerated here and can practice your religion freely. You are disliked and distrusted because of the actions of your co-religionists throughout the world in their campaign of terror against non-moslems. Perhaps if you would be more active in your denunciation and non-support of moslem terrorism, you would be looked upon more favorably by most Americans. Until then, I distrust you and have no sympathy for your claims of "Inequality." And yes, America IS a Christian country, not a moslem country. Get over it.

[daniel]

good for you Mayor! no need to apologize,,the Mayor is speaking the truth

[Former Californian]

Why is it that if he had said "a growing muslim community", "a growing gay and lesbian community", "a growing Pakistani community", etc. it would not be an issue, but the minute you say something that refers to Christianity or the Caucasian race it is racist????
He didn't try and force his beliefs on anyone...he made a simple statement about the area.
Wonder what the response would have been if he had said "a growing community of Proud Americans.?
Get over yourselves.

[Ted]

Ordinarily I wouldn't care one way or the other, but seeing as how terrorist front organization "CAIR" is involved, I say good for Parris for saying what he did originally, and I'm even happier that he refused to back down nor offer any sort of apology. Islam may be many things, but tolerant of other religions isn't one of them!

[jhdteacher]

dear god, please protect me from your fanatics

[Surfermomma]

Seems The Christian Taliban is on the march

[Bill]

The Lancaster Mayor should be impeached or ousted for those remarks which are contrary to what the US Constitution states in the "Separation of Church and State" clauses.

America is NOT a Christian nation, but a SECULAR one. That is why we have a first amendment with religious freedoms. Parris is trying to convert Lancaster into his religious class beliefs which wont stop there. I am glad the Muslim community is filing a complaint with the Civil Rights Division of our US Justice Dept.

If we don't nip this in the bud, they will seize Lancaster and will branch out like thieves in the night blaspheming the true GOD with Christianity's vile hate and intolerance of those who don't believe in their God or Jesus.

God, save us from the false prophets.

[syscom3]

I don't care what muslims say anymore.

If they don't like the USA, then get the hell out. This country is predominately christian and Jewish.

[BOOYA]

I believe in GOD and faith...
so dude parris...you don't speak for me...
you are just a public employee...
do as your told...
govern local matters...don't use religion to
put forth your agenda.

[Joe]

Political correctness is ruining our country! This country was founded on Christian principals! People who come here need to respect that fact. No one is keeping them from their faith. Why should long standing principals be compromised because "New" Americans don't like the Christian faith. It did our country well for nearly 235 years and now people come here and want to change our way of life! They are free to practice any thing they want so why come down our America's original faith? live and let live! Get over yourself already.

[Sue Kamm.]

There appears to be a Jewish presence in Lancaster (I've found at least two synagogues in a Google search). Unless the Times missed something, why haven't the Anti-Defamation League or the ra?

[Eric Rice]

Good for Mayor Parris. The sad part about all this is that if the Mayor had said "We're growing a Muslim community" nothing would have been said...not even by Christians. Americans treat everyone's religious beliefs with kid gloves well everyone else comes down hard on American Christian beliefs.

[Terrence]

Never in my life have I been against a religion and always enjoyed the diversity of viewpoints our country affords. But now, with all the Christians telling me how to live and invoking God in our government and preaching to my kids in schools, I CAN'T...STAND...CHRISTIANS. Honestly, I'm starting to get the feeling that Christianity might be the problem, not the solution.

[Christopher Francis]

Well said, Mayor Parris. Don't buckle under to a group who can't handle the truth... especially GOD's truth.

CAIR: "Elected officials should not use their public positions to impose their religious beliefs on others." Uh, in an "audience of ministers," I those beliefs had already been imposed.

[davidozone]

What the newspaper is not printing is tha the JDL is also filing suit against his remark.So all in all we have 2 groups here attacking a certain religion,that bieng the majority one of our founding fathers.

[Mark]

This is exactly the type of comment that breeds racism and hatred. Yes, many Muslims are bomb-wielding terrorists but what about Jews, Hindus and Budhists? The mayor of Lancaster is a complete idiot. Does he not realize Christianity isn't the only religion in his little hick-town? Just another religious wacko...

[Marc Twane]

What a giant A$$...as usual, organized religion (and those that adhere to it) shows one of its best assets, that of dividing people!

[jamesincalifornia]

I am sick and tired of Christians trying to impose their beliefs on me and everyone else. The United States is not a Christian nation. Lancaster is not a "Christian community." Mayor Parris needs to apologize for his offensive remarks.

[Jim Q. Citizen]

Yes, and Muslims shouldn't use hijacked airliners and underwear bombs to impose their religious beliefs on others either.

[tim]

Thanks Mr. Mayor.

No APOLOGY IS NEEDED!!

[Archangel]

I have a new name for you Mr. Mayor... and you heard it here first;
"Right On Rex"!
Now yours if it works for ya', free of copyright restraints.

[Don Evans]

Americans are frightened by the news media reports. The Muslim religion has earned a reputation for brutality. The beheadings, beatings, and other acts of torture and mistreatment that have been attributed to this group have struck fear in many people. The Council on American-Islamic Relations has been accused of being a terrorist group. The Lancaster mayor’s term of office ends in April 2010. Most people in that town are Christian. It’s obvious the mayor is playing on public fear.