Selective Justice? The Bethel Scandal, New Birth Protest & FACE Act Double Standards

This Week on the Podcast:This episode dives into the complicated intersections of church drama, constitutional law, and Black history, unpacking three stories shaping conversations in faith spaces, courtrooms, and culture.⛪ Church: The Growing Bethel Scandal & Selective OutrageWe begin with the escalating Bethel Church scandal involving Sean Bolz and the broader questions it raises about accountability within charismatic Christian movements.From there, we turn to the white pastor who chose to protest outside New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta, led by Pastor Jamal Bryant. Despite his disruptive behavior, he was not arrested under the FACE Act—a stark contrast to how Pam Bondi oversaw the arrest of Don Lemon under similar conditions.⚖️ Court: Fifth Circuit Reviews Texas Ten Commandments CaseNext, we examine the en banc hearing in Rabbi Nathan v. Alamo Heights Independent School District, part of Texas’s ongoing push to mandate Ten Commandments displays in public schools.We explore why this case matters, the constitutional tensions at stake, and how this hearing fits into larger national battles over religious expression in public education.🎬 Culture: It’s Black History Month — Go Watch ThisFinally, for Black History Month, I spotlight Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s new documentary: Black and Jewish America: An Interwoven History.Links Mentioned in the ShowBethel Letter: https://www.bethel.com/news/an-important-letter-from-bill-kris-and-dann-on-behalf-of-bethel-leadershipPBS “Black and Jewish America” Docu-Series: https://www.pbs.org/video/episode-1-let-my-people-go-m3hnvj/For weekly discussions on race, religion, law, and culture, make sure to subscribe. Get full access to The Church, The Court & The Culture at palookesworld.substack.com/subscribe