Ohio U.S. Rep. Gillmor, megachurch pastor D. James Kennedy pass away

by: Pam Spaulding

Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 14:30:00 PM EDT

Rep. Paul Gillmor (R-Ohio), died in his office on Tuesday. From The Hill:

According to an inter-conference email obtained by The Hill, Gillmor did not show up to the office this morning causing his staff to become concerned. When they went to his apartment to check on him, they found that the lawmaker had passed away.

Capitol Police is currently investigating, but sources believe that the 10-term lawmaker may have had a heart attack.

In November, Gillmor won his district with 57 percent of the vote, holding on to his seat in a year that saw Democrats take over a GOP Senate seat and the governor's mansion in Ohio.

A special election will be necessary to find someone to fill out the rest of the term. While Republicans are favored to retain the seat, such an election will likely be costly and an added burden to the GOP.

* Voted for adoption of H AMDT 890 to HR 2546, an amendment to repeal the Health Care Benefits Expansion Act of 1992 which allows unmarried individuals, regardless of gender, to register as domestic partners, allowing them to be eligible for D.C. government health care.

* H J Res 88: Voted to pass a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment providing that marriage in the U.S. consists only of the union of a man and a woman, and federal and state constitutions can not be construed to require marriage or legal incidents of marriage be conferred in other unions.

* H.AMDT.200 to HR 1501: Voted for an amendment that allows States to decide whether or not to display the Ten Commandments on or within publicly owned property.

* Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007: no surprise. He voted against it.

* Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Voted for this in 1996.

* HJRes 54: Proposed an amendment to the Constitution of the United States authorizing the Congress to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.

***

The passing of Florida megachurch pastor D. James Kennedy, of Coral Ridge Ministries, was not unexpected. He had been ill for some time. More on him after the jump.

"With other dangerous and contagious diseases, all sorts of  efforts are made to identify those carrying the disease, and to minimize their  contact with the public. And yet, here we have homosexual rights groups working  day and night to make sure AIDS victims ARE NOT IDENTIFIED! ? Until action is  taken, AIDS victims are free to infect anyone ?" (Newsletter, 1989)

Another newsletter item featured a photograph of very young  children under the headline,  "SEX WITH CHILDREN? HOMOSEXUALS SAY YES!" The newsletter went on to assert that  "Adult sex with children has been a crucial component of the homosexual  movement all along."

"Whatever four members of the Supreme Judicial Court of  Massachusetts may say, the intimate coupling of two men or two women is not  marriage. It is a pale and misshapen counterfeit that will only serve to empty  marriage of its meaning and destroy the institution that is the keystone in the  arch of civilization. ? If homosexuals win the  right to 'marry,' expect further similarly argued claims challenging legal  barriers to polygamy, bestiality, and child marriage." (Center  for Reclaiming America  for Christ, 10/2003)

"We express our condolences to the family, friends and all those close to the Rev. Dr. D. James Kennedy, a man who claimed to be 'proclaiming truths that transform the world.' Unfortunately, Kennedy's 'truth' included the vilification and demonization of millions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people for more than 30 years.

"Through his advocacy of ex-gay ministries, Kennedy called for the 'transformation' of LGBT Americans while ignoring scientific truths about the lack of efficacy and gross mental, physical and spiritual harm caused by so-called 'conversion therapy' programs. He used his media empire of television and radio programs to spread lies and misinformation to support his opposition to marriage equality, hate crimes legislation and employment nondiscrimination legislation.

"Like so many religious right leaders of his generation, Kennedy's version of religious 'truth' divided rather than united American families."