For those unfamiliar with Chris Royse, he ran an unsuccessful campaign against Frank Principi for the vacated Woodbridge Supervisor seat during the 2007 election. (This video shows him addressing the BOCS on 7-10-07). In this letter to the editor he perhaps purposely misrepresents Principi’s pro-life stance. One needs to ask themselves Royse’s motivation for doing so. Presumably he wants to keep his name in the public domain because he anticipates another candidacy for public office. In short, a blatant attack on elected officials masked as a ‘christian’ holiday greeting is in extremely poor taste and should be remembered as such for a long time to come.
Here’s the letter:
This time of year is special to Christians as Christmas is the celebration of the birth of our savior Jesus Christ.
Birth and life are very important concepts to Christians, and in particular Catholics.
We are commanded by the Pope to love and protect the unborn since God sent his only son to be born, raised and crucified among us.
This year, shortly after Christmas, we will inaugurate President-elect Obama who has publicly referred to pregnancy as “punishment,” and we will see his local followers, Congressman-elect Gerry
Connolly and Woodbridge Supervisor Frank Principi — both Catholics who support pro-choice agendas in direct violation of the Church’s teachings — continue on their path of supporting the destruction of
human life.This holiday season, a season which includes the celebration of birth, I request that leaders throughout the Arlington Diocese call on Connolly and Principi to stop their hypocrisy and to consider denying them communion until they realign themselves with the teachings of our church.
As Jesus taught us in Matthew 23:12 “and whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted,” Christmas is the perfect time for the humble unborn to be exalted and
those local “leaders” who exalt themselves by publicly defying their own faith to be humbled.Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year.
CHRIS ROYSE
Woodbridge
You don’t think experts have reviewed that tape?
I have colleagues in the field who have made unofficial opinions.
No feeling sorry for Greg Letiecq allowed. (=
Seriously, he is a radical right wing extremist, possibly a fanatical religious zealot, otherwise he’s just a fraud. He defends radical right wing extremists like Chris Royse because he wants radical right wing extremism to rule over the rest of us.
His views were always radical, even when the rest of the county was blinded by the fog of anti-immgrant hysteria, the man was way out there on the edge of insanity with his extremist political views. Those views have not changed. They were always counter to American ideals, they were always hateful and offensive.
Stewart, Stirrup, Letiecq, Duecaster, and Royse. There are five of them who stand out and will stand out in history as the most outrageous extremists of this decade and maybe this century in PWC. They have five or so followers remaining faithful to them, and that makes 10 of them. The fact that their views are so extreme that they are now in such a minority is no reason to feel sorry for them.
Oh, that tape. Yeah, that was the first I ever saw of Gospel Greg. But what’s the analysis. I’d love to know. I have my own theories but have never shared them.
Wasn’t that Stirrup and Stewart’s economic plan – send all the illegal immigrants back to their countries? But…they took their bucks with them. Now we have all these foreclosures.
Juturna, that Gospel Greg tape and the one where he bragged about inundating the BOCS with FAIR-generated emails were his undoing. Pride goeth before a fall…
NGL, I think Chris Royse is more of a follower than a leader in the right wing extremism gang of 10. But with that horrific video in mind, I should have said I ALMOST feel sorry for Greg.
Horrific video? He speaks gospel truth in it. It WAS/IS the main issue of interest to his constituents, and even as he was speaking the illegals WERE exploited by those around them.
Father Bob to me is the imbecile in the video.
You know, lost in all of this is the fact that Principi is pro-life / anti-choice. I am pro-choice, but I respect Principi for being able to stand up for what he believes in. If he weren’t courageous enough to do that, we’d still have the unconstitutional version of the Immigration Resolution on our books, and probably being sued by the U.S. Department of Justice.
I guess the “Dough Boy Ploy” (Chris Royse’s attack on Principi) is tantamount to attacking a pro-life Democrat like Harry Reid and saying you can’t be a Democrat and be pro-life. But Royse is especially disgusting to me because he is trying to impose his political views on someone else’s religious faith.
Rick, we have a miscommunication here. The “horrific video” I meant was the one where Greg Letiecq talks about how God put Corey Stewart in office and therefore we should not question him. Send them back with love was slimy and disingenuous, but to me the problem is that certain leaders are somehow god-like. Yucky yucky scary scary.
As for the Royse video, he was just being a political opportunist like any pea-brained politician would have been during that unfortunately divisive time in our county history. Ironic, though isn’t it, that Royse is followed by Father Bob?
I respect Father Bob as do most in the religious community of PWC, as does the BOCS except for Corey “god-like” Stewart.
Yeah, I did not know Principi was Pro-Life. I have no problem with a man who is genuinely religious extending God’s mercy to the unborn. The important thing is that he represent his belief as his own belief, and not the word of God to be imposed on others. The fact that his belief comes from God’s word is a personal matter, and not to be used for political exploitation.
I think the fact that Royse used religion to attack a political opponent says a lot about how he sees religion. It’s just another weapon to him. Sick, sick, sad, sad.
I had no idea that the Salvation Army was a religion. I learn something new everyday 🙂
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=6409127
Anyway, I actually liked the bible verse Chris was quoting about being HUMBLED. It starts within ONESELF first. It is okay to speak of what you believe but to cast judgment and call for a public stoning/shunning is not the way to have someone with opposing views turn their ear up and open their heart.
I have actually learned a lot of things by wanting to understand where the other view is coming from first and finding the common ground.
SHellyB said:
Using religion as a political weapon is EXACTLY what is wrong with Royse, and exactly what is wrong with the extremist wing of the Republican party. It is a problem within the various churches when leaders preach politics from the pulpit. That can be dealt with.
But when politicians preach religion with the official stamp of government, that’s when we all should be concerned. Religion cannot be used as a weapon by politicians!
We have lived by this wisdom in America since the founding fathers conceived of the separation of church and state. That’s why you find unanimity on this blog among conservatives and liberals, pro-lifers and pro-choicers: Chris Royse is out of line and out of touch. He should apologize to Principi and Connolly and retract his call to have them denied Communion.
“Rick, we have a miscommunication here. The “horrific video” I meant was the one where Greg Letiecq talks about how God put Corey Stewart in office and therefore we should not question him.”
Sorry. Okay I watched that one too. I don’t agree with Greg’s thinking in that segment at all, in regards to God electing public officials and the rest of us needing to obey. Nevertheless, I think that his leadership of HSM has been fantastic and that he has helped to rescue this community.
Red Dawn,
That’s a great point. The Bible quote idiot Royse used to justify his attack on Principi and Connolly can easily be turned against him.
He has foolishly allowed his sense of helplessness over Democratic victories to blind him to his own hypocrisy. In an incredible ill-timed act of poor sportsmanship after an election, Royse has tried to use the Bible to exalt himself, and he has been humbled.
Of COURSE a song comes to mind…lol
“The girl (me) can’t help it” 🙂 -that is a song too but this is the one running thru my head
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDyx10eukUI
“He should apologize to Principi and Connolly and retract his call to have them denied Communion.”
Why should he? Just because the touchy-feely political corectness we expect from politicians and candidates from either of our two corrupt major parties demands it? Let him have his opinion.
Okay Rick, I back down. I’m not demanding he apologize. But he ought to if he wants to remain a viable candidate for public office. This is backfiring on him big time and he needs to stop the bleeding.
I would think that that is somewhat true.
This is the better version! LOL…I didn’t recognize THAT MULLET….hah hah 😉
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8_FOQ7-P30&feature=related
The issue of the unborn is an extremely important human issue. Unfortunately Mr. Royse utterly diminishes its importance — and perhaps reveals how important it really isn’t to him — by objectifying unborn innocents in order to score political points.
He’d have done better to discuss the children in PWC who are already born and who may be suffering, and then encourage people to take part in activities that could help them.
Especially during Christmas, where “good will toward men” is as foundational to this holiday as the “concept” of birth.
Wow. Two amazing things. Rick and NGL agree was amazing enough. But Robb Pearson that analysis of Chris Royse’s inappropriate use of his faith is SUPERB!!!
Not only does it show how unimportant the real issue of the unborn is to Mr. Royse, it also shows what a thoughtless and heartless person he is. Christmas time tells him he should attack people to score political points? That’s just beneath contempt.
I am pro-choice and make no bones about it. I am extremely offended on behalf of Mr. Principi who I know is not pro-choice. The same trashing and misrepresenting was done to Senator Colgan. It was unacceptable.
Mr. Royse’s letter to the editor was a cheap way to take a dig at someone who beat him in an election. I wonder if Mr. Royse will support his president come Jan 20.
This attack isn’t really about abortion. It is about attacking Frank Principi.
I suppose I am finding it odd that 2 men are hiding behind the shield of abortion. Corety did this in the VOICE gathering. Now Royse uses the same shield.
Does anyone else find this odd that both men hide behind what ultimately can only be a woman’s issue?
I’m a little surprised that no one is willing to defend Chris Royse on this other than Greg Letiecq. I should think that is a good sign. Perhaps the days of hate first think later are over in PWC, and over in America?
I agree Dolph. I stay out of the abortion issue myself, since there are so many other issues that make it obvious to me that I am support sound policy over social issue fake posturing.
That said, I do respect Mr. Principi and others who take stands on this issue as a matter of faith. And the fact that most of us didn’t know that he was pro-choice means he is not the type of leader who imposes his faith on others. Nor is he the type to use faith as a political weapon like Mr. Royse.
Dolph,
How nice to see you here! Did you decide to make a big splash when you saw
Lafayette? 😉
I sure know we took a fair share of heat over the issue of abortion back in the bvbl days. I’m with you. Where do these mean get off thinking they know what’s best for pregnant female? This is somehting they’ll never have to worry about. At this point I think these kind of men wanting to inflict their religious beliefs on laws regarding women are the lowest of low. Maybe, they fantasize of being a woman.
Opinion, today I am going to agree with you.
Rick, You aren’t going to get the gasping and awwwwking over here when you make anti-religious marks. You have the right to think all religion is hooy if you choose. So the shock jock treatment won’t work.
As for Royse apologizing to Connolly and Principi–I don’t expect it to happen but it should and you know why it should. You are a smart enough guy and none of us need to paint you a picture. If I deliberately misrepresented you and lied about you, should I apologize?
Witness, it does look like Greg is the Lone Stranger out there defending Royse. For all we know, he talked him in to doing it. Stewart and Stirrup are silent. Duecaster very politely suggested another method, (Duecaster was in immenent danger of becoming the darling of Anti for a few brief moments today), and only Greg is defending him.
Greg has his work cut out for him on this one because the entire letter is totally indefensible.
LOL!!!
in re to men hiding behind women, etc
I was looking for the origin to the saying : behind every great man there is a woman and found this…..I dedicate it to Mackie, my brother. Love your white sista xoxox 🙂
Taste the rainbow! LOL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmrNAfXtZmI
Wrong video!!!
Here is the taste the rainbow video…LOL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auuTYwaag9M
You all have got to check out Tyler Perry’s (aka Madea) plays/movies
here is another video 🙂 I guarantee some laughs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMryEzCwflQ&feature=related
Royse won’t apoligize, CLEARLY it’s not his religion to do so. I am not sure, but I would imagine this may be the topic of a very interesting homily. I still can’t get over the fact he did this. The church is against re-marriage. Will Mr. Royse condem those that are divorced and remarried as well????? I just can’t figure out the motivation of this one other than sheer stupidity. Which convinces me he is a puppet.
Wow, first immigration divides the Republican party, and now abortion. They should split into two parties: the Republicans and the ultra right wing zealotricans.
Juturna, if Royse was ever a puppet, it was when he was giving Corey Stewart speeches at Citizens Time last year. Now I think the puppet has cut his strings now and is saying things that even Corey Stewart couldn’t condone. Royse sounds like a Taliban theocracy nut. Stewart is too smart politically to say something like that, or defend it.
Or were you saying Royse is a Greg Letiecq puppet?
Yes, he is a Letiecq puppet. Leteicq is madly searching for support for his agenda.
What on earth is Letiecq’s agenda? He is completely vanquished politically. I agree with previous posters that Letiecq is just looking for new ways to control people through their anger and fear.
A comeback? All his friends are now working for PWC on strategic teams…….. except him. Wonder why no one tapped him for a team? Something to ponder….
~splash~ yes hi Lafayette. Sorry I forgot to splash at you. Serious topic. Oh yes, I remember the misogynistic remarks. Who could forget. I am surprised we both weren’t burned at the stake.
I recall you were.
Dolph,
Serious topic, indeed! We will never forget!!
Oh God-less one! (That was the worst imho)
Juturna,
Not burned bad enough we still can’t make our voices heard. 😉
??????????????????????????????????
oh damn, this is my jam 🙂 LOL !!!!!!
?????????????????????????????????
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SymoyXbjTTo
Laf, that’s right, I was Godless. Or were you Godless? Or were we both Godless.
It’s too bad more people don’t ascribe to the live and let live philosophy.
~~splash~~
I believe all the Supervisors minus Covington & Jenkins are Catholic.
Oh, Hello Dolph! Long time no see. 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nC5Lw8rGM8
I can’t decide which is more pathetic, Letiecq’s only friend is Royse, or Royse’s only friend is Letiecq.
Letiecq’s only real chance for a comeback is to move to a part of the country where he isn’t known and his tricks are still new.
YES, hello to Dolph! I check in from time to time..LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My manners are dull or our friendship is sound! I would say ( KNOW) our friendship is sound.
Now, back to business hand. Enough with the x’s and o’s for Dolph! 😉
Red- Thanks, you know I enjoyed the Metallica!!
Dolph,
I’m pretty sure we were BOTH called God-less!! I do have those exchanges copied. That just shows they don’t have a real argument. They would much prefer to come of holier than though. I sure hope they don’t think they are fooling anyone. If there are two that are ready and willing to battle this issue it’s surely the two of us.
Ohhhhh SNAP! For MUSIC purposes ONLY…well,I do have to get in the bed .It is BRUTAL out there or will be to have /keep a J.O.B!!!!
I am signing off with this song .
Good night!
ASK your FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHY!!!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jACrmwTsi08
Change hurts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA3mOT8L4Eo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1T8xgHdMEM
My last word on this one: We should be mindful not to allow our criticisms of Mr. Royse to bring us to the point of imitating the very same ungraciousness he employed.
Instead, if our criticisms are to have any merit whatsoever, we should be doubly gracious toward him.
Tis the season. So let’s live it authentically rather than merely talk it up when we see others trip (no matter if it is over their own feet).
A true Catholic and self professing supporter of life would have opposed Obama and Connelly, Principis support of Connolly puzzled me because of the way Connolly attacked Fimians Pro-Life stance among other attacks on His Catholic Faith.
PWConservative, is it up to God or man to decide who is a true Catholic and who is not? All day long I have been getting this feeling that some were trying to see who was more Catholic than the other.
I would think that a ‘true’ Christian would leave the politics out of their religion. I guess that would be too much to hope for.
In a pluralistic society where many religions exist side by side, we just can’t have this kind of behavior. It reminds me of the Taliban. Churches should be free to tell their own parishoners how to behave but that is where it stops.
if nothing else, take a look at what has happened recently to the Episcopalian Church–modern day schism.