More on the Cult Behind the Dan Fisher Campaign
By now more and more people are aware that the Dan Fisher gubernatorial campaign is largely staffed with AHA cult members. Abolish Human Abortion is a cult that sprang up focused on radical and sometimes violent opposition to abortion however their main targets seem to be mostly other churches and pro life groups that AHA believes to be too timid.
Why the cult label? Simply put, because AHA meets most of the criteria for being a cult. There are several good lists of cult behaviors but here is one that focuses on the difference between a bona fide church and a cult:
1. Opposing critical thinking
2. Isolating members and penalizing them for leaving
3. Emphasizing special doctrines outside scripture
4. Seeking inappropriate loyalty to their leaders
5. Dishonoring the family unit
6. Crossing Biblical boundaries of behavior (versus sexual purity and personal ownership)
7. Separation from the Church
The common denominator is that the tenets of the cult, the views and basics that make the cult unique, are not to be questioned along with a belief that the cult members are anointed by God and above reproach or question.
If there was ever any doubt about the cult status of AHA and the Dan Fisher campaign it was ended this week when the AHA Facebook page posted a message calling a vote for any other candidate a "sin". The point being that Dan Fisher was somehow anointed by God, was uniquely entitled to the position and your vote, and to deny Dan Fisher support made you a sinner in the eyes of God and the community. This of course incorporates the #1 and #4 cult behaviors in the list above.
AHA has left a trail of damage and broken people in its wake over the years. Last week one such person reached out and told me their story. They specifically mentioned T. Russel Hunter, the person that posted the Facebook post above, a person who also is a staffer in the Dan Fisher campaign and responsible for the videos put out by the campaign. Hunter is the founder of AHA and our source met him in April of 2011 at an abortion clinic picketing event put on by a more mainstream pro life group.
Our source said that for the first few years all was well but in February of 2013 the tenor changed. The Catholic Church became a focus of the AHA leader's anger despite the long, long, history of the Church standing against abortion. It should come as no surprise that many of the women in pro life and AHA groups had became active after getting an abortion and realizing the after effects and moral cost of undergoing an abortion. Initially in AHA these women were welcomed but in February of 2013 they also became targets of AHA leadership. The problem stemmed from the majority of these women having gone through the Catholic post-abortion recovery process, and the sudden hatred of all things associated with the Church meant that these women were tainted and unrepentant of their past sins. AHA rejects the idea that a woman can be coerced into an abortion.
Another told of being publicly shamed for attempting to use their 100% Disabled Veteran Tax Exemption Card during the purchase of tee shirts and other retail items that AHA sells. They were denied the sales tax exemption on the purchases and were labeled as greedy and government assistance dependent, welfare queens of a sort. Of course the state of Oklahoma has the sales tax exemption in place to compensate those wounded and disabled soldiers for their service to the state and to the country.
The Catholic Church bigotism spewed by AHA is well documented. Consider the views of another of the AHA co founders, Toby Harmon, a person that one story said was a one time drug dealer from Norman Oklahoma who found Jesus in prison. We were unable to corroborate the criminal past other than one asset forfeiture for contraband in Cleveland County but there is no doubt of the virulent anti Catholic bigotism that permeates AHA.
"We do not consider Catholics brothers in Christ or Christians at all. We will not seek unity with a Satanic religious system. The only unity that can come is for Catholics to repent of their false religion and idolatry and repent and put their faith in Christ alone (not rituals, not Mary, nor the Church of Rome or any mere man.)" Toby Harmon, AHA "
And the AHA members follow that lead as discussed in this video about AHA members heckling Catholics marching in a pro life demonstration. Another video shows AHA protesters on Palm Sunday demonstrating outside another church.
And sadly, Dan Fisher is merely using the AHA movement for political purposes. Fisher is anything but stupid and calculates every step he takes. Fisher KNOWS he has zero chances of garnering more than 3 to 5% of the vote in the primary so why in the world is he taking an apparent suicide run for office?
To fund a movie about his efforts with the Black Robe Regiment, the project that is his pride and joy. Fisher had actually received some major funding for the project then angered the donor by blowing the majority of the half million dollar donations on a really expensive tour bus and matching trailer emblazoned with a vehicle wrap touting the effort. We were told that the intent of the donation was to travel the country promoting the idea of pastors becoming more politically active, not buying a half million dollar bus and trailer so the Texas donor was said to have parted ways with Dan Fisher. By running for governor Fisher believes he can build his email list and credibility enough to crowd fund a movie about the Black Robe Regiment idea.
Abortion is murder and the vast majority of Oklahomans agree with this statement of fact. If you want to get involved win the Pro Life movement there are several well known and well respected organizations to help. Incrementalism is the only path forward until we have several more conservative Supreme Court judges seated. That day is coming and until we accomplish that, or Trump accomplishes that, our best manner of attacking abortion is to continue to make it expensive and rare by regulations that don't run afoul of the Supreme Court rulings.
