Marion County GOP Chair Declares Religious War on Oregon State Constitution

Joel Pawloski issues statement promising Christian-fueled movement to “safeguard posterity”

In urging Republicans to challenge the rule of law in Oregon, Marion County GOP Chair Joel Pawloski recently issued what sounded like a Christian jihad on the Oregon State Constitution.

“You were taught at a young age that we don’t talk about religion and politics. It makes people upset,” Pawloski said in his statement (emphasis added). “You have been taught about the separation of church and state which does not exist. Keep your religious opinions behind the closed doors of the church. In this way you have censored yourself, doing the work of your political opponents for them."

I don’t care what you think, this is objectively hilarious.

Pawloski’s statement was essentially a call to action. However, in this call, he drew attention to a Salem-area religious organization:

“Another expression of your political power is to join with like minded people to affect change that benefits the people. Non-compliance with government dictates is another. Thus you see the reason for Freedom Business Fellowship is the expression of political power."

The “Freedom Business Fellowship” is a function of The River Church - the extremist religious organization responsible for bringing the christofascist ReAwaken America tour to Keizer in the spring of 2022. You can see in this screenshot from the Oregon Secretary of State corporate search tool that Freedom Business Fellowship is registered to The River Church.

Look, I’m no rocket surgeon…but it sounds like the head of the Republican Party in Marion County just revealed IN WRITING that a non-profit religious organization is engaging in blatantly political efforts. And again, with very limited credentials in this area…I don’t think that’s allowed.

So the cause is religious retribution. The grievances are vague. And the target? 

Pawloski issued his statement to a publication run by disgraced former Oregon Legislator Mike Nearman (y’know, the guy who plotted with armed thugs to attack his colleagues in the legislature and then helped them execute their plan). He finished his brief manifesto with a preview on his ingenious plan for Christian Nationalist minority-power rule (also called theocratic fascism):

"We will use this political power of the people to affect change in Oregon, change that will benefit everyone, change that will ensure that the political power that belong to us and our posterity will not wane. We will do this through the initiative process. With only 1,000 signatures we can create an initiative. With only 8% of the population, we can put before the people of Oregon a change in the Constitution of Oregon."

Can’t wait! Sounds like a great time!

In the meantime, maybe someone should check on the tax status of The River Church. Seems like Pawloski is clearly stating they have entered the political sphere in Marion County.

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