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| The Gubmint sow says, "I only have so much to give to my hungry piglets. You should use your own money for eleemosynary projects. " |
This is the link to the information. Some of it is copied so people can get a start and study what is being said. Results may vary.
Mass Immigration in the Name of God: Countering Disinformation About LCMS RSOs
Brief:
Matthew Harrison’s February 2025 letter on U.S. immigration and Lutheran organizations attempts to relieve himself and the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod body politic of any and all culpability for money laundering. His false statements and use of dissembling rhetoric are examined here, to the conclusion that Harrison and the LCMS are indeed guilty of crimes against the American people, whether a charge of money laundering sticks or not. Indeed, through their facilitation of mass immigration, the LCMS, its Recognized Service Organizations, and the leadership who oversee them both, are all guilty of economic (and otherwise) violence against United States citizens.
In aerial warfare, the two biggest dangers are radar, and your own heat signature; both can be used to direct missiles to your aircraft, and ultimately to bring you down. That is why many aircraft carry two countermeasures when flying into enemy space: chaff, and flares.
Chaff is released in the aircraft’s wake to obscure radar, effectively allowing the aircraft itself to evade radio detection. Flares burn extremely hot for several seconds, enough to fool heat-seeking missiles into chasing them away from the aircraft. Both of these countermeasures are vital for ensuring that the aircraft itself can continue on its mission, unimpeded and intact.
This very strategy of deploying evasive countermeasures was, by analogy, employed by Matthew Harrison, Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS) president, this past week in his response to inferences of money laundering operations involving LCMS Recognized Service Organizations. Let me explain.
General Flynn Tweet and Response
On February 1st, 2025, retired General Mike Flynn posted the tweet in the below screenshot, noting that billions of American Government dollars have been directed to various Lutheran Non-Government Organizations (NGOs).
Elon Musk agreed and amplified, noting that the Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was on the case.
These statements naturally raised many questions for Lutherans. Many were sure that this was predictable Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) funny business. Others appealed to Lutheran leaders for a statement.
The ELCA statement came immediately, as their Presiding Bishop appeared on video the very next day to rebuke General Flynn and his accusations.
President Harrison of the LCMS, however, had a fortuitously scheduled Council of Presidents meeting from February 3rd through February 6th. That council eventually produced the statement from Harrison’s desk, published on February 6th.
You can read his statement in full here.
Unfortunately, rather than accepting accountability and owning what amounts to — at best — gross negligence in his duties to oversee matters of the Synod, Harrison chose the path of Deny, Deflect, and Defend. In short, he launched chaff and flares, and embarked on a strategy of evasive countermeasures in an attempt to shake pursuit.
Addressing Harrison’s disinformation, then, is the major objective of this essay.
Roll Up Your Sleeves
Before getting into Harrison’s glaring omissions and half-truths, it behooves us to consider his rhetorical skill as employed in this missive.
He begins with “Grace and peace in Jesus!” followed by a gratuitous block quote from Ephesians 1:15-23, where Paul gives thanks for the believers in Ephesus and extols Christ.
This is an interesting choice for Harrison, who has a track record of getting straight to the meat of what he considers a pressing issue for the Synod. Compare and contrast his opening in his letter on the death of George Floyd.
