Operation Rescue Founder, Randall Terry, Exonerated by Catholic Priest, Clergy and Pro-Life Activistsby Staff
June 19, 2008
MEDIA ADVISORY, (christiansunite.com) -- On May 29 and June 6, Mr. Jeff White's issued press releases condemning Randall Terry for an "unbiblical lawsuit" against Troy Newman because of Mr. Newman's false registration of the name Operation Rescue with the Trademark office. The press releases failed to make a single point in defense of Troy Newman or offer any justification for his misappropriation of the name, "Operation Rescue."
Instead, it featured the same old discredited charges ("deceived donors," "misused funds," "immoral relationships") which have been leveled against Mr. Terry some of those who broke with him in the 1990's (partly over Randall's continued commitment to non- violence as reported in 1995 by the New York Times.)
Seven men, Clergymen and businessmen, have come forward to rebut the false accusations leveled by Jeff White and Troy Newman. They (with one exception) have known Randall Terry for an average of twenty years each; they have stayed with Randall in his home and he in theirs. They are all accomplished, respected, and successful in their fields, and none have an economic or media stake in the ownership of the name, Operation Rescue.
What follows are excerpts of each of their statements, dealing with the falsehoods in Mr. White's press releases.
Their complete statements, with brief bios, are available at
www.operationrescuetheft.com/7statements.pdfDr. Rich Buhler, who birthed the idea to raise money for the Terry's to buy a home, states:
"[The] fund raising project for Randall and his family was my idea. I am the one who approached him about it. He had nothing to do with conceiving it and to my knowledge had never even thought of it... I am angry and disappointed that this sincere effort on the part of those of us who wanted to support and encourage Randall Terry has been used as a weapon against him."
Father John Mikalajunas, the Catholic priest who received Randall Terry into the Catholic Church, states:
"I have known Randall longer than all his accusers... Let us remember that it is the Devil, the father of lies, who is the 'accuser' of the faithful.
"I am happy to declare as a Catholic priest and a proclaimer of the gospel, that Randall Terry is a Catholic Christian in full communion with the Church, and that the statements and insinuations to the contrary should be devoutly ignored by the faithful.
Attorney Michael Hirsh of Atlanta (an Operation Rescue leader in 1988 ) states:
"...because Troy Newman was (and is) ecclesiastically untethered, I suggested to Randall that he pursue Christian Mediation to resolve this process. He was immediately and enthusiastically in favor of that. To that end, I called Troy....What Troy said in the press release is simply not true. No, let me clarify: it is a lie. In fact, the exact opposite is the case: Randall has sought mediation repeatedly. Troy has dodged it, avoided it, and rejected every attempt to set up mediation of this dispute. Randall was left with no choice."
Mr. Rob Shearer, Author, Historian, and Publisher, states:
Randall's accusers have once again demonstrated their own reckless nature, and a reckless disregard for the truth. As the statements of the seven of us will demonstrate (to those who take the time to read them), their charges are a litany of lies.
Mr. Joseph Costello, Television Host and Chicago Businessman, States:
None of them admit as to why they want the name Operation Rescue in their fight against abortion in Wichita. These men could stand on their own merits, but they don't. We have to ask, why? Why don't they just use their own name to fight against abortion? ...The answer is obvious: money. Randall Terry "branded" the name Operation Rescue, and it has high name recognition with donors and with media, and these men are profiting from that name.
Rev. Bruce Moore, an Assembly of God Pastor and Operation Rescue veteran states:
Randall has not defrauded donors in any way, as some have accused. It is the thieves of the name Operation Rescue that have defrauded donors. They falsely accuse Randall of the very sin they are actually committing! Think of how many hundreds of thousands of dollars they have falsely raised by unethically using the name, Operation Rescue!
Archbishop Craig Bates states:
"...there are those who continue to bring charges and accusations against Mr. Terry through the "secular" and "Christian" press, grabbing microphones at rallies, spreading rumors on the internet, etc. They say they are doing so in love and with a desire for repentance and restoration for Randall. They refuse to accept the fact that repentance and restoration has already happened and has been confirmed by orthodox believing Christian leaders."
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