TV-HGTV-NO FLIPPING
Brothers disappointed in HGTV ouster
NEW YORK (AP) — Two brothers who were shown the door by HGTV before their upcoming real estate show made it on the air say that if their Christian faith cost them a shot at TV fame, “then so be it.”
David and Jason Benham said Thursday they were disappointed that HGTV pulled the plug on “Flip it Forward,” due to debut in October.
After the network announced the show was upcoming, the lobbying group Right Wing Watch labeled David Benham an “anti-gay extremist” and reported statements he made against homosexuality and gay marriage.
The Benhams said in a statement that they don’t hate homosexuals. They add, quote: “With all of the grotesque things that can be seen and heard on television today you would think there would be room for two twin brothers who are faithful to our families, committed to biblical principles and dedicated professionals.”
HGTV spokeswoman Audrey Adlam refused to say why the show was canceled.
Sound: (3:06 a.m. audio feed)
237-a-13-(David Benham, real estate investor, in AP interview)-“so they stopped”-Real estate investor David Benham says HGTV was pressured to keep him and his brother off the air. (8 May 2014)
< 238-a-06-(David Benham, real estate investor, in AP interview)-“losing their livelihood”-Real estate investor David Benham says Christians face an increasingly hostile environment in America. (8 May 2014) < 239-a-13-(David Benham, real estate investor, in AP interview)-“and dedicated professionals”-Real estate investor David Benham says it’s a shame that their show was canceled before it ever aired. (8 May 2014) < 240-a-07-(Jason Benham, real estate investor, in AP interview)-“was his prerogative”-Real estate investor Jason Benham says if their faith cost them the TV opportunity, then so be it. (8 May 2014) < 241-a-13-(Jason Benham, real estate investor, in AP interview)-“folks are sacrificing”-Real estate investor Jason Benham says he and his brother don’t feel sorry for themselves. (8 May 2014) < CARROLL COUNTY-PRAYER Md. county reverts to disputed prayer policy WESTMINSTER, Md. (AP) — The elected leaders of a Maryland county have voted unanimously to revert to a disputed prayer policy following a U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing clergy to invoke specific deities in opening invocations at government meetings. The Carroll County Commissioners still face a First Amendment challenge from critics who say the high court ruling doesn’t address the practice of having opening prayers said by the elected commissioners themselves, some of whom routinely invoke Jesus Christ. The plaintiffs in a pending federal lawsuit say those prayers violate the Constitution’s prohibition of establishment of a state religion because the prayers are said by government officials. The plaintiffs say that amounts to coercion. Commissioner Haven Shoemaker, an attorney, acknowledged that the Supreme Court ruling “didn’t necessarily affirm” their practice. But he said, “as long as we’re not proselytizing or denigrating, and none of us ever have, that’s not a violation.” Sound: (3:06 a.m. audio feed) 310-w-58-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Carroll County, Md., commissioners Robin Frazier and Haven Shoemaker)–A Closer Look: The Supreme Court’s prayer ruling prompts a Maryland county board to reinstate its invocations. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (8 May 2014) < 233-a-06-(Robin Frazier, Carroll County Commissioner, at Thursday board meeting)-“part of it”-Carroll County Commissioner Robin Frazier says the Supreme Court made the right decision on prayer before public meetings. (8 May 2014) < 234-a-13-(Haven Shoemaker, Carroll County Commissioner, at Thursday board meeting)-“the establishment clause”-Carroll County Commissioner Haven Shoemaker says the Supreme Court didn’t directly address officials reciting their own prayers, but he believes it’s constitutional. (8 May 2014) < 235-a-11-(Doug Howard, Carroll County Commissioner, at Thursday board meeting)-“absence of God”-Carroll County Commissioner Doug Howard says public officials enjoy the same rights as other Americans. (8 May 2014) < 236-a-14-(Richard Rothschild, Carroll County Commissioner, at Thursday board meeting)-“the first person”-Carroll County Commissioner Richard Rothschild says he and his fellow board members aren’t coercing anyone with their prayers. (8 May 2014) < TEXAS CHEERLEADERS-SCRIPTURE Appeals court: Texas Bible banner lawsuit was moot HOUSTON (AP) — An appeals court has ruled that a lawsuit filed by Texas high school cheerleaders who fought to display banners emblazoned with Bible verses at football games was moot because school district policy was changed to allow such banners. Parents of Kountze (koontz) High School cheerleaders sued after the district said the banners couldn’t be displayed. A judge last year ruled the banners are constitutionally permissible. An appeals court in Beaumont on Thursday overturned the main crux of the judge’s ruling, saying the parents’ claims had been moot because the district’s policy change resolved the dispute. The payment of lawyers’ fees is still in question. Thomas Brandt, the district’s attorney, hailed the ruling as a victory for the district. Hiram Sasser, the cheerleaders’ attorney, says he’s considering appealing the decision. Sound: (3:06 a.m. audio feed) 215-a-12-(Hiram Sasser, director of litigation for Liberty Institute, in AP interview)-“their religious banners”-Hiram Sasser, director of litigation for Liberty Institute, says the case involved Bible verses on the banners that high school football players ran through before games. (8 May 2014) < 216-a-14-(Hiram Sasser, director of litigation for Liberty Institute, in AP interview)-“the same protection”-Hiram Sasser, director of litigation for Liberty Institute, says the court of appeals declared the case moot because the school district now allows religious banners. (8 May 2014) < BALL STATE-INTELLIGENT DESIGN Ball State promotes professor from course dispute MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) — A Ball State University faculty member has been promoted after being told last year to stop teaching intelligent design in a science course. The Star Press reports that the promotion followed a private meeting last month between university officials and four Indiana state legislators who raised religious and academic freedom concerns about the treatment of physics faculty member Eric Hedin. 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