Charles Colson sent an urgent message to his supporters on Nov. 20, charging the seven judges on the Supreme Court of the State of Florida with “judicial usurpation” and “partisanship.”
He charged the court was “interfering in the electoral process” and acting “on its own motion.”
Colson, the founder and chairman of Prison Fellowship Ministries (PFM), also asserted in his national e-mail that the “media have said almost nothing about the seven judges” being appointed by Democratic governors.
Providing the names and telephone numbers of these seven justices, Colson urged his followers to lobby them not to interfere in the electoral process.
PFM is a not-for-profit volunteer-based organization that ministers to prisoners and their families.
While Colson charged judges with partisanship and claimed the media were avoiding full disclosure, he engaged in his own partisanship and failure of disclosure.
Governor Jeb Bush, through executive order, restored Colson’s civil rights in October. Colson, a convicted felon, had lost his right to vote, practice law and serve on a jury more than 25 years ago after he was sent to jail for his involvement in the Watergate scandal.
Colson has a home in Naples, Fla.
Bush, the brother of Republican Party presidential candidate George W. Bush, said Colson “certainly has served his time,” according to the New York Times.
“The crime that he committed was a serious one, but I think it’s time to move on,” said Jeb Bush. “I know him. He’s a great guy.”
Colson also failed to mention Governor George W. Bush’s strong support of PFM’s project with the Texas Department of Corrections.
Three years ago, PFM started the nation’s first faith-based prison pre-release program. Texas state government provided space, food and guards for PFM’s program, according to Jim Jones, religion editor at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Before Colson picks the speck out of the eye of Florida judges and the media, he might want to examine the beam in his own eye.
Inspecting one’s own eye is a commendable practice for all Christian partisans.
Robert Parham is BCE’s executive director.
Robert M. Parham (1953 – 2017) was the founder and executive director of Baptist Center for Ethics from 1991 to 2017. He served as executive editor of EthicsDaily.com, BCE’s website, from its launch in 2002 until 2017.
