Blog Investigation Turns Out To Be A Witch Hunt

What happens when a blogger criticizes the pastor at his church? Well if you live in Jacksonville, Florida you could end up under criminal investigation. At least that is the story that one blogger is saying happened to him. The condensed details are as follows:

A formerly anonymous blogger who criticized his prominent Southern Baptist pastor has sued police and state prosecutors for revealing his identify to the church even though an investigation showed he had done nothing illegal.

Rich started his blog after noticing differences in preaching style, fundraising and church administration between Mac Brunson, who became pastor of the Southern Baptist megachurch in 2006, and his predecessor, Jerry Vines, who retired in 2005.Rich created the blog anonymously, he said, to encourage open and honest dialogue without getting into personalities.

Last fall Robert Hinson, a police officer and First Baptist member who also serves as a member of Brunson’s security detail, opened a criminal investigation into the blog at the request of church leaders. He subpoenaed Google and Comcast to find out who owned the blog.

After closing the investigation, Hinson told the church that Rich was the author. The church then issued trespass warnings against the Riches. Not allowed on church premises, the couple sought out a new church.

The story ends with a lawsuit being filed by the blogger against the sheriff’s office for violation of his First Amendment rights.

What is disturbing about this incident is how any church organization can offend their members by resorting to the illegal actions of law enforcement. From what I read there was no illegal activity by the blogger except for his honest opinion of the new pastor.

What do you think?

The full article is here.