Pastor prays against expanded gambling before governor champions it
By Jack Brammer
jbrammer@herald-leader.com
FRANKFORT – In his prayer to open the joint session of the Kentucky General Assembly Tuesday night, a Frankfort pastor railed against expanded gambling before Gov. Steve Beshear pushed for it in his budget speech.
The Rev. Hershael W. York, senior pastor of Buck Run Baptist Church, asked in his prayer help for Kentuckians “to foster salaries, not slot machines, to build cars, enable jobs, not license casinos.”
Sen. Kathy Stein, D-Lexington, called York’s prayer “a political speech that was disrespectful to the governor and the voting members of the General Assembly.”
York told reporters that he “does not question the governor’s motives, just his methods” and that he prays “about real-life issues.”
York said Senate President David Williams asked him to deliver the opening prayer but did not tell him what to say.
“I believe that gambing is immoral,” York said.
Williams, R-Burkesville, was not available to comment on the prayer.
House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, said he can’t fault York for his prayer.
“He was invited here to give a prayer, and I guess that was what was on his heart.”
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Scam of the Cloth | Jan 17, 2012 | Reply
Williams and the others would be going nuts if Stumbo had a preacher open the session with a prayer that talked about income inequality as being contrary to Christ’s teachings, criticized spoilation of God’s creation through pollution going against the teachings in the Gospel, opposed the death penalty, and so on. What a hack.
Andew W. | Jan 17, 2012 | Reply
Video of the prayer can be found here: http://vimeo.com/35229060
Ken T. | Jan 19, 2012 | Reply
Hey Pastor! Welcome to the 21st Century! Casino gaming is slowly becoming a nationwide way for citizens to enjoy themselves. If it is immoral then a majority of the world is going to hell?? Get real! Bring on the one armed bandits!!! I got my quarters ready!!!!
David | Jan 20, 2012 | Reply
Stein, who insisted pastors should unite, not divide, showed herself to be ignorant of scripture and of the man, Jesus Christ who said:
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword” (Matt 10:34). Luke renders that statement, “Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division” (Luke 12:51).