Is ESPN Practicing Religious Intolerance?

ESPN refuses get out the vote ad because spokesperson is an Evangelical Christian.

This morning on Fox and Friends newscast, Blake Koch, a nationally recognized NASCAR driver was interviewed because of ESPN’s Recent decision not to run this ad.

 

Now I ask you this? Did you see any religious overtones or political persuasion in that advertisement? I surely didn’t. It was nothing more than a get out the vote effort to sign up new voters, especially NASCAR voters. So why in the world would ESPN decline to run this advertisement?

According to the news report at Fox and Friends, ESPN left this message on Blake Koch’s voice mail.

“The spot was declined for political and religious overtones which we avoid by all of our standards. We looked at the website, you know, as well…at Blake’s website and do see the religious aspects of this. So those are the reasons.”

source: http://video.foxnews.com/v/1535936984001/why-wont-espn-air-christian-nascar-drivers-ad

On the RiseUpAndRegister.com website the only mention of religion is an offer for Blake to come to your church and bring his car and a booth to register people to vote. On Blake’s own personal website, there is a 1 page called Outreach where Blake talks about sharing his faith with NASCAR fans.

The 2012-2013 NASCAR Season is all about reaching out to NASCAR fans with the message of the Gospel. Blake will be speaking and sharing his testimony in churches all across America. Blake is strong encouragement to young and old and he shares the challenges of Christian life as a top NASCAR driver, and the ultimate victory in Christ.

So is ESPN practicing religious intolerance?

Religious intolerance is intolerance against another’s religious beliefs or practices or lack thereof. In this case, ESPN is being intolerant of Blake Koch’s religious beliefs. The ad was secular and non-partisan, the webpage did not promote any political agenda or belief system, and only on Blake’s personal webpage is there any mention of religion and it is one page out of many.

If you feel that ESPN is practicisng religious intolerance then I urge you to write to ESPN and demand that this practice be stopped.

First they came for the communists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a Jew.

Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

Pastor Martin Niemoller – Pastor during the Nazi uprising in Germany

To contact ESPN Just click on this link It is time that Christians made their voices heard!

Blessings

Pastor Duke