Ralph Ovadal

Ralph Ovadal is the pastor of Pilgrims Covenant Church in Monroe, Wisconsin. Ovadal is well known for controversial views and opposition to modern Bible translations, the Roman Catholic Church, homosexuality, and abortion.

Views and activism

Ovadal is the pastor of the Pilgrims Covenant Church in Monroe, Wisconsin, which is known for its opposition to "modern Bible translations, the Catholic Church, homosexuality and abortion."[1] Ovadal has called the pope the "antichrist"[2] and asserts that the Catholic Church has masterminded a plot "to turn Protestant America into a Roman Catholic country" by "aiding and abetting the criminal invasion of America by Mexicans."[3]

Ovadal has endorsed The Pink Swastika, a book that "falsely asserts gays masterminded the Holocaust."[2] The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks extremist groups in the United States, has listed the Pilgrims Covenant Church as an anti-LGBT hate group.[4]

Ovadal has criticized the behavior of Topeka's Fred Phelps, pastor of the Westboro Baptist Church, labeling Phelps' female family members as "profanity-spewing, angry Amazons."[5]

According to Ovadal's church, Ovadal was arrested "approximately 120 times" between November 1988 and May 1992 for physically blocking entrances to abortion clinics, mostly on charges of disorderly conduct and trespass.[6]

Ovadal is an avowed opponent of a well-known nude beach on the Wisconsin River in the Town of Mazomanie, Wisconsin, west of Madison.[7][8] In 2000, Ovadal began his protests against "nudity and other implied sins" in the parking lot of the beach, and on May 28, 2001, Ovadal led a group of protestors who confronted a naturist woman at the scene, screaming "harlot," "whore" and "Jezebel" at her.[9] Ovadal was subsequently convicted of disorderly conduct and a $1,000 fine was levied against him.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Shereen Siewert, Wisconsin hate group violence surge feared: High-profile cases are being used by hate groups to recruit new members, Gannett Wisconsin Media Investigative Team (August 13, 2015).
  2. 1 2 Intelligence Report: Hard-Line Gay-Basher Seeks a Kinder Look, Southern Poverty Law Center (May 29, 2009).
  3. ↑ Michael L. Budde, The Borders of Baptism: Identities, Allegiances, and the Church. Wipf and Stock: 2011, ISBN 9781610971355 p. 85.
  4. ↑ Active Anti-LGBT Groups, Southern Poverty Law Center (last updated March 2, 2015).
  5. ↑ Archived February 18, 2005, at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ↑ Is Our Pastor a Criminal?: Statement by the Elders of Pilgrims Covenant Church, Pilgrims Covenant Church. Archived March 4, 2016
  7. ↑ Wisconsin DNR tries – again – to curb sex at famous nude beach, Twin Cities Pioneer Press (April 17, 2012, updated November 10, 2015).
  8. ↑ DNR cracks down on sex at nude beach, Associated Press (April 17, 2012).
  9. ↑ Mike Muckian, Nature in the buff: Despite growing restrictions, Mazo Beach remains a top five haven for naturists, Wisconsin Gazette (August 9, 2012).
  10. ↑ Wisconsin pastor fined for taunting woman during nudity protest, Associated Press (June 7, 2002).

External links

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