[CIMC-work] Pastor Mike Treis and Hiding Posts.

[DickReilly at aol.com]

Hi all

n response to Chris K's request for more substantial info, I'm posting the following background article which appeared on the N Texas IMC site about that black helicopter fearing, rapture ready, pistol packin fundamentalist known as Pastor Michael Treis of the Messiah Sabbath Day Ministry of Waxahachie, Texas. 

Further info is readily accessbile via a Google search under 'Pastor Mike Treis'. My personal fave remains the post on RFID chips bearing the Mark of the Beast. Followed closely by a little missive  entitled 'Our Not So Sacred Capitol - which purports to reveal the Satanic iconography incorporated into the design of Washington DC. http://tallahassee.indymedia.org/newswire/display/2923/index.ph

Then there is this news item from David Koresh country.  
"Texas milita standoff continues" - AP wire  http://www.rickross.com/reference/militia/militia31.html 

IMHO, the good Pastor is on his way to matching the exploits of that venerable IMC troll Bobby 'Deaf Messager" Meade. 

Yahoo,
Dick 


Case Study in Hate: Far Right Infiltration in North Texas 
By Cliff Pearson,  reposted from N.Texas IMC 

Like most people, I am offended by the racist, sexist, anti-Semitic, and homophobic hate-spewing and religious-based bigotry of the Far Right. 

Recently, a self-proclaimed "pastor," Michael Treis, posted such rhetoric on the open-publishing Web site of the North Texas Independent Media Center, in what I maintain were thinly-veiled attempts to gain credibility and validation, while covertly attempting to co-opt their listservs and Web site to further his Far Right agenda. 

After being exposed as a "Christian Identity movement" minister, he made two last viciously homophobic attacks via the newswire, and then un-subscribed. 

The following are the links and information exposing Treis' links to the Far Right, which ultimately led to him voluntarily leaving the list. Because of the possibility that this individual or others like him may try to infiltrate other progressive listservs and/or message boards, I provide you with the following as a Case Study in how the Far Right operates to infiltrate progressive sites: 

1. TREIS' CLAIMED A "MINISTRY" THAT DOESN'T REALLY EXIST 

This man, Michael Treis, claims to be the pastor of something he calls "Yahshua Messiah's Sabbath Day Ministry." A thorough search for this organization proves that this "ministry" doesn't actually physically exist. There is no street address, no phone number, and no Web site for such an organization. The only evidence for this organization is "pastor" Michael Treis' claim that it exists, and an alleged post office box in Waxahachie, Texas (Yahshua Messiah's Sabbath Day Ministry, general delivery USPO, Waxahachie, Texas 75165). This lack of a legitimate physical ministry looks to me like the work of either a confidence man, or someone trying to provide a modicum of credibility to his rantings. His credibility, therefore, is highly suspect. 

2. TREIS USED OPEN-PUBLISHING SITES TO SPREAD RACIST THEOLOGY 

"Pastor" Michael Treis posted a story to the Austin Independent Media Center that clearly demonstrates that he espouses racist, ultra-Right, religious and political views and uses IMCs to spread his ideology. 

Excerpts from this man's posts include the racist theological views that White Europeans are the "real" Israelites, or are the "Lost Tribes of Israel," an ultra-Right view known as "Anglo-Israelism," advocated by – among others – the Ku Klux Klan, and the Christian Identity Movement. 

In this excerpt, "Pastor" Michael Treis quotes from a "minister" named Sheldon Emry: 

Some of the Celts moved into Spain and became known as Iberes, the Gaelic name for "Hebrews." Others poured into Britain to form the bedrock of the British race. Later, the Iberes moved into Ireland as Scots, and later into Northern Britain to establish the nation of Scotland. Your history books also record the Germanic tribes breaking up into many divisions - the Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Danes, and Vikings, to name just a few. Other Germanic tribes later poured into the lands vacated by the Celts and established the Gothic nations of the Vandals, Lombards, Franks, Burgundians, and others. The so-called "lost tribes of Israel" really, were never lost. They only lost their identity as they migrated westward over the centuries from the land of their captivity." 

This ideology moves from strange but benign, to overtly racist and nationalist (if not fascist), as evidenced by the following quote from "minister" Embry's interview with someone named "Capt," which Treis also included in his post to the another post to the Austin IMC, in which he quotes Emry categorizing interracial marriage with "sexual promiscuity," "pornography," and "crime." 

. . . for the same reason they [bankers] favor drug use, alcohol, racial intermarriage, sexual promiscuity, abortion, pornography, and crime. 

3. TREIS ALLUDED TO HIS ULTRA-RIGHT, RACIST, AND ANTI-SEMITIC AGENDA 

In the post to the Austin IMC excerpted above, Treis admits that his ideology is unpopular and is often regarded as ultra-Right by those with whom he disagrees. I quote from his post: 

When some few Patriotic people or organizations who know the truth begin to expose them or try to stop any of their mad schemes, they are ridiculed and smeared as "right-wing extremists," "super-patriots," "ultra-rightists," "bigots," "racists," even "fascists " and "anti-Semites." 

Additionally, "pastor" Michael Treis makes clear in his posts to the Austin IMC that he actively opposes Leftist philosophy, equating Leftists, such as socialists and humanists, with wickedness and evil. I quote him again: 

Today the great Israel nation of America is surrounded and invaded by the socialist-Humanist Antichrist forces. The wicked of the earth, who are the enemies of Jesus Christ, have grown strong and arrogant in our land. They have infiltrated our schools, the news media, even churches and government in their attempt to keep you in ignorance of your identity as Israelites. They are attempting to steal your heritage that they may conquer America and take rule over the whole earth. 

As if this isn't enough, "pastor" Michael Treis actively opposes such respected organizations as the American Civil Liberties Union and the League of Women Voters. Another excerpt: 

Who are "they"? "They" are all of the politicians of the two old parties and elected officials. All "educational" groups like the League of Women Voters . . . and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) . . . . All economics and history professors at all colleges and universities . . . . All labor leaders. All televangelists, your local minister, priest or rabbi. All of the above and more are hiding the truth from you. 

4. MICHAEL TREIS USED LISTSERVS TO ATTACK GAY PEOPLE 

The following e-mail was sent to KVIL Station Manager Kurt Johnson by Michael Treis. This "pastor" also sent a copy of this e-mail to me, knowing full well that it was an unsolicited e-mail to an openly gay man and therefore an act of harassment on his part. Note the use of the slurs, "pervert" and "abomination." 

From: Michael Treis 12/13/02 11:13 AM 
Subject: Christmas fairy 
To: cliffpearson at netzero.net, feedback at kvil.com, kjohnson at cbs.com 

Dear Sirs: 

In response to the "Christmas fairy" on KVIL, I must say anything labeling perverts as normal is wrong. The Word of God call them an "abomination". The fact we have to endure from radio, TV, even school boards the idea we must accept these perverted individuals as 'normal' goes beyond discusting. 

If these perverts are unwilling to give up their perverted abominable behavior there is NO place for them in the Kingdom of God. The idea we must accept this perverted behavior as normal is equally abominable. It is this type of thinking that is destroying morals of our youth and this country. 

Pastor Michael Treis 
Yahshua Messiah's Sabbath Day Ministry 

But "pastor" Michael Treis didn't end it there. He took his hatred of GLBT people to our listserv, and decided to also personally attack Monica Taher, whom Michael Tries knew did not want to receive this kind of hate mail, and whom he knew is a director of GLAAD – the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. 

Note also that the e-mail was directed primarily to Ms. Taher, and that I was once again singled out to receive hate mail from Mr. Treis. Note also that in this hate mail, Mr. Treis: (a) denies the existence of homophobia, (b) repeats the hateful comments that GLBT people are "perverts, and "abominations" and adds that God will "destroy" them – something to which he seems to approve, and (c) refers to homosexuality not as a form of human sexuality but as a "lifestyle." 

From: Michael Treis 12/27/02 10:39 AM 
Subject: Homosexual, gay, lesbian PERVERTS & ABOMINATION 
To: taher at glaad.org 
CC: davis.clay at att.net, cliff at cliffpearson.com, Ntimc_group at worldunrest.org 

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS HOMOPHOBIA! Only people tired of perverts telling them that what they do is normal. The Word of God otherwise known as the Bible calls these perverted acts, ABOMINATIONS. 

Those who will not yield to the laws of God, Yahshua, will be destroyed. You have a choice. You can disobey His laws of face destruction. If you will not renounce these perversions and seek your Savior's, Yahshua Messiah's ( otherwise known as Jesus) forgiveness, you face everlasting destruction. Thats the plain simple Word of God. If you seek his forgiveness, and turn from your wickedness, you CAN have eternal life. YOU choose. 

Those who will not bow to your wishes to be called normal in your perversion, are just following the Word of God. We do not have to accept anything that goes against God's law as normal. You can criminalize, it call it a hate crime, thought crime, it makes NO difference. Those who follow the will of the Almighty Father, His Son our Savior Yahshua Messiah, the God of Jacob Israel, Isaac, Moses, will not bend to your perversion as normal. It is those of you who follow a perverted lifestyle that have the phobia, a fear of the rath of your Maker. It is YOU that must change, or face destruction not us. 

In HIS Service 
Pastor Michael Treis 

5. TREIS DID NOT CEASE EVEN AFTER BEING WARNED 

Martin Wallace of the North Texas IMC Editorial Collective rightfully admonished "pastor" Michael Treis for violating the Mission Statement and Editorial Policy of the North Texas IMC listservs, and reminded him that this is not the first time he has needed to be warned. "Pastor" Michael Treis responded not by apologizing, or even by promising to follow the Mission Statement and Editorial Policy in the future, but by attempting to justify his behavior as "moral" and insisting that he will continue to attack GLBT people in the future as some sort of divine mission he sees himself on. 

Note in the following message also that, while the language is toned down a little, "pastor" Michael Treis continues to spread homophobic and bigoted ideas: (a) GLBT people should not advocate for equal rights and acceptance in society, (b) young people should not have access to accurate and inclusive information about human sexuality and sexual orientation, (c) homosexuality is not a type of human sexuality but is a "lifestyle," and (d) GLBT Pride Parades are public displays of lewd behavior. 

From: Michael Treis 12/27/02 2:59 PM 
Subject: [Ntimc_group] Re:Your reply 
To: Ntimc_group at worldunrest.org 

I understand you feel I might be guilty of "hate" for homosexuals. I do not hate them. I wish however that they would abandon their ways. These are their choices. There is nothing right about them trying to force legal acceptance of their beliefs as normal, they are not normal. I do not advocate 'hate' of anyone. If they wish to continue in their lifestyles so be it. But they have no right to force anyone to accept their behavior as normal. 

You can't say that aren't in your face about it either. They try to pass laws for acceptance, making it a crime to speak against such lifestyles. If they want to live this way according to the Constitution they can. But they have no right to force anyone to accept their behavior as normal. That is my the problem as I see it. Children should not have to be subjected to literature that condoned their lifestyle. It is up to their parents to decide what they should learn on those subjects. 

People should not have to view nudity, sex acts, mock sex acts, in public parades conducted during 'gay acceptance' week or what ever. There are many instances of such behavior on their parts for such parades and demonstrations. If I or anyone else committed such lewd acts we would be arrested, and well should be the case. On the other hand they are ignored and passers by have to endure this lewd behavior. 

As is my job, I warn people of the consequences of actions that are to their detriment or the detriment to others. I also equally tell of the Grace offered them as a free gift of salvation. This doesn't come from me, a church, or any pastor. It is a free gift of God that is their's for the taking. It is about a personal relationship with their savior and nothing else. I can't "save" a soul. However, If I do not warn them of the effects of the breaking of God's law, then I have the guilt of their blood on my hands for not warning them whenever I have the opportunity. 

I have done so by answering the e-mail I received. I can't change anyone, only sound the warning. I will continue to do so, as is my job. I do not condone violence upon or hate of anyone, as we each will also have to answer for that also. 

Pastor Michael Treis 

6. FURTHER RESEARCH CLEARLY LINKED TREIS TO THE FAR RIGHT 

Sheldon Emry, now deceased, was the founder of America's Promise Ministries. 

Besides posting articles by Sheldon Emry, "pastor" Michael Treis CC-ed America's Promise Ministries in e-mail that he sent to the North Texas Independent Media Center listservs. He also uses the term "Yahshua Messiah" which you will notice is a phrase used by the Christian Identity movement to refer to Jesus Christ. 

The Christian Identity movement is one of the most hateful, racist, sexist, anti-Semitic, and homophobic ultra-Right movements in existence. Notice what hate-monitoring groups say about this movement. 

The Religious Tolerance Project, says the following: 

The term "Christian Identity" has two distinct meanings: 

Anglo-Israelism (a.k.a. British-Israelism): A theological belief that the Anglo-Saxon, Celtic, Scandinavian, Germanic and associated cultures are the racial descendants of the tribes of Israel. Thus, by extension, Americans and Canadians, are composed of the descendants of the ancient Israelites of the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). 

Racist, Christian-based faith groups: A number of small, extremely conservative Fundamentalist Christian denominations which have accepted Anglo-Israelism, and grafted it to racist, sexist, anti-communist and homophobic beliefs. They view the Jewish people as descendants of Satan. Followers tend to be involved in political movements opposing gun control, equal rights to gays and lesbians, and militia movements. 

The Christian Identity movement is a movement of many extremely conservative Christian churches and religious organizations, extreme right wing political groups and survival groups. Some are independent; others are loosely interconnected. According to Professor Michael Barkun, one of the leading experts in the Christian Identity movement, 'This virulent racist and anti-Semitic theology, which is practiced by over 50,000 people in the United States alone, is prevalent among many right wing extremist groups and has been called the "glue" of the racist right. 

The largest Christian Identity movement has traditionally been the Ku Klux Klan which was reorganized in 1915 by William Simmons, a Christian pastor. He had been inspired by the film The Birth of a Nation which portrayed the KKK as a champion of white civilization. The KKK slid into obscurity by the second World War, but was revitalized in the mid 1950's as a reaction to enforced racial integration in the southern US. 

Other current organizations which follow Christian Identity beliefs are: American Nazi Party; Aryan Nations; Church of Jesus Christ Christian, Aryan Nations; Confederate Hammerskins; Jubilee, National Association for the Advancement of White People; The Order; radical modern offshoots of the original Posse Comitatus; Scriptures for America, White Aryan Resistance (WAR) and White Separatist Banner. Many small groups fade in and out of existence frequently. 

The Southern Poverty Law Center, says the following: 

CHRISTIAN IDENTITY 

The Christian Identity religion asserts that whites, not Jews, are the true Israelites favored by God in the Bible. In most of its forms, Identity theology depicts Jews as biologically descended from Satan, while non-whites are seen as soulless "mud people" created with the other Biblical "beasts of the field." Christian Identity has its roots in a 19th-century English fad called British Israelism, which asserted that European whites were descended from the ten "lost tribes" of Israel and were thus related to Jews, who were descended from the other two Hebrew tribes mentioned in the Bible. But British Israelism, which was initially friendly to Jews, was adopted and transformed in the 20th century into a rabidly anti-Semitic creed by a number of racist preachers in the United States. 

For decades, Identity has been one of the most important ideologies for the white supremacist movement. In its hardest line form, it asserts that Christ will not return to earth until the globe is swept clean of Jews and other 'Satanic' influences. In recent years, deep doctrinal disputes, the lack of a central church structure, and a shift among white supremacists towards agnosticism and racist variations of neo-Paganism have weakened the Identity movement and reduced the number of its adherents. The total number of groups counted in 2001 was 31. 

Also, please note that Sheldon Emry, whose works were posted to the Austin IMC by "pastor" Michael Treis, is quoted favorably by a self-described Christian Identity movement "ministry" called Kingdom Identity Ministries. 

Numerous organizations who monitor hate groups, list both Kingdom Identity Ministries and America's Promise Ministries as known hate groups. 

You will notice on the Web site of America's Promise Ministries, that there are links to documents claiming that anti-Semitism doesn't actually exist, links to the rabidly anti-Jewish and discredited Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion, (which includes a paragraph claiming they were not a hoax, but were real), and a link to Operation Rescue (known for vicious attacks on abortion clinics, gay bars, and GLBT churches such as Dallas' Cathedral of Hope). 

Kingdom Identity Ministries is even more extremely right-wing, racist, sexist, homophobic and anti-Semitic than America's Promise Ministries. Their Web site has a page of available literature claiming to offer "the finest in Christian Identity Books and Tracts." 

Note some of the titles offered on this site: 

MISCEGENATION – by Earl Linville ("miscegenation" is another term for interracial marriage) 
DO ALL RACES SHARE IN SALVATION? – by Eric Norseman 
GOD'S ANSWER TO WOMEN'S LIB The Woman's Bible – Compiled by M. K. Hallimore 
THE NEGRO AND THE WORLD CRISIS – by Charles Lee Magne 
GOD COMMANDS RACIAL SEGREGATION – by Bertrand L. Comparet 

The Kingdom Identity Ministries home page also has a link to an extremely racist, and anti-Semitic cartoon bout "liberals" that blatantly defends "White Racists," 

Kingdom Identity Ministries' home page describes themselves as: 

a Politically Incorrect Christian Identity outreach ministry to God's chosen race (true Israel, the White, European peoples). We proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom (government according to God's Law) through books, tracts, tapes, videos, the American Institute of Theology Bible Correspondence Course, our international Herald of Truth Radio Broadcasts, a Prison Ministry, Biblical Counseling, Seminars, and other means. The Elect Remnant, Christian Patriots, Nationalists, Reconstructionists, Racialists, and all seeking a higher level of understanding will learn Biblical solutions to personal and national problems, and be given keys to unlock hidden truth. 

Lastly, take a look at these excerpts from their Doctrinal Statement: 

WE BELIEVE Yahshua the Messiah [note that this is the exact spelling and phrase used by "pastor" Michael Treis] (Jesus the Christ) to be the incarnate begotten son of God, the Word made flesh (John 1:14), born of the Virgin Mary in fulfillment of divine prophecy (Isa. 7:14; Luke 1:27) at the appointed time, having had His eternal existence as one with the Father before the world was (John 17.5, 21-22). 

WE BELIEVE the White, Anglo-Saxon, Germanic and kindred people to be God's true, literal Children of Israel. Only this race fulfills every detail of Biblical Prophecy and World History concerning Israel and continues in these latter days to be heirs and possessors of the Covenants, Prophecies, Promises and Blessings YHVH God made to Israel. This chosen seedline making up the "Christian Nations" (Gen. 35:11; Isa. 62:2; Acts 11:26) of the earth stands far superior to all other peoples in their call as God's servant race (Isa. 41:8, 44:21; Luke 1:54). Only these descendants of the 12 tribes of Israel scattered abroad (James 1:1; Deut. 4:27; Jer. 31:10; John 11:52) have carried God's Word, the Bible, throughout the world (Gen. 28:14; Isa. 43:10-12, 59:21), have used His Laws in the establishment of their civil governments and are the 'Christians' opposed by the Satanic Anti-Christ forces of this world who do not recognize the true and living God (John 5:23, 8:19, 16:2-3). 

WE BELIEVE in an existing being known as the Devil or Satan and called the Serpent (Gen. 3:1; Rev. 12:9), who has a literal "seed" or posterity in the earth (Gen. 3:15) commonly called Jews today (Rev. 2:9; 3:9; Isa. 65:15). These children of Satan (John 8:44-47; Matt. 13:38; John 8:23) through Cain (I John 2:22, 4:3) who have throughout history always been a curse to true Israel, the Children of God, because of a natural enmity between the two races (Gen. 3:15), because they do the works of their father the Devil (John 8:38-44), and because they please not God, and are contrary to all men (I Thes. 2:14-15), though they often pose as ministers of righteousness (II Cor. 11:13-15). The ultimate end of this evil race whose hands bear the blood of our Savior (Matt. 27:25) and all the righteous slain upon the earth (Matt. 23:35), is Divine judgment (Matt. 13:38-42, 15:13; Zech. 14:21). 

WE BELIEVE that the Man Adam (a Hebrew word meaning: ruddy, to show Blood, flush, turn rosy) is father of the White Race only. As a son of God (Luke 3:38), made in His likeness (Gen. 5:1), Adam and his descendants, who are also the children of God (Psalm 82:6; Hos. 1:10; Rom. 8:16; Gal. 4:6; I John 3:1-2), can know YHVH God as their creator. Adamic man is made trichotomous, that is, not only of body and soul, but having an implanted spirit (Gen. 2:7; I Thes. 5:23; Heb. 4:12) giving him a higher form of consciousness and distinguishing him from all the other races of the earth (Deut. 7:6, 10:15; Amos 3:2). 

WE BELIEVE that as a chosen race, elected by God (Deut. 7:6, 10:15; I Peter 2:9), we are not to be partakers of the wickedness of this world system (I John 2:15; James 4:4; John 17/9, 15, 16), but are called to come out and be a separated people (II Cor. 6:17; Rev. 18:4; Jer. 51:6; Exodus 33:16; Lev. 20:24). This includes segregation from all non-white races, who are prohibited in God's natural divine order from ruling over Israel (Deut. 17:15, 28:13, 32:8; Joel 2:17; Isa. 13:14; Gen. 1:25-26; Rom. 9:21). Race-mixing is an abomination in the sight of Almighty God, a satanic attempt meant to destroy the chosen seedline, and is strictly forbidden by His commandments (Exo. 34:14-16; Num. 25:1-13; I Cor. 10:8/ Rev. 2:14; Deut. 7:3-4; Joshua 23:12-13; I Kings 11:1-3; Ezra 9:2, 10-12; 10:10-14; Neh. 10:28-30, 13;3, 27; Hosea 5;7; Mal. 2:11-12). 

WE BELIEVE God gave Israel His Laws for their own good (Deut. 5:33). Theocracy being the only perfect form of government, and God's divine Law for governing a nation being far superior to man's laws, we are not to add to or diminish from His commandments (Deut. 4:1-2). All present world problems are a result of disobedience to the Laws of God, which if kept will bring blessings and if disregarded will bring cursings (Deut. 28). 

WE BELIEVE men and women should conduct themselves according to the role of their gender in the traditional Christian sense that God intended. Homosexuality is an abomination before God and should be punished by death (Lev. 18:22, 20:13; Rom. 1:24-28, 32; I Cor. 6:9). 

In response to the above exposé, "pastor" Michael Treis attempted to make more or less point-by-point rebuttals to the exposure of his links to the Far Right Christian Identity movement, and tried to distance himself from the movement. 

He also attempted to play wounded sparrow and act as though he has been victimized and is being treated hatefully. He even claims to have been "demonized" by those exposing him. 

Besides the fact that no one ever addressed him personally, or sent him e-mail directly as he has me and others, no one has made any accusations that were not supported with fact. 

Unlike Treis, I do not claim moral righteousness on the basis of my belief in a disputed religious book (the Christian Bible) or on the basis of my religious beliefs, as opposed to demonstrable facts. 

In other words, despite his attempts to rebut the points I made in my original motion, Treis hasn't been very successful. The following are the answers to Treis' attempted rebuttals: 

1. TREIS CLAIMED HE "NEVER ADVOCATED KILLING ANYONE," ETC. 

Yet Treis sent personal e-mail to me twice, and sent unsolicited e-mail to the director of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, in which he threatened gays (and by association, me) with "being destroyed" by God – and seemed to approve of what he claimed was God's plans to destroy me and other GLBT people. He claims that he "didn't know" I was gay when he sent the e-mail. This is either a lie, or evidence of his irresponsible behavior. I said I am a gay man in the first sentence of the e-mail he claims he was responding to. And the letter he sent to Monica Taher of GLAAD he certainly knew was sent to a GLBT rights representative. 

Additionally, despite his claims that he "doesn't hate" gays, he makes no apology for having called me a "pervert" or an "abomination" – in fact, he rationalizes his use of such terms as being part of his self-proclaimed divine mission. He also continues to maintain that preaching against gay people's sexuality is his divine duty, as he is "warning" gay people of their impending "destruction" by God (a fate in which he seems to agree), and that this "warning" is an act of love. 

As one of Treis' objects of affection, I can tell you, I perceive nothing loving at all in his "warnings," behavior, or rhetoric. I have to wonder, if being called a "pervert" and an "abomination" is loving, what would he do if he hated me? 

2. TREIS' CREDIBILITY WAS HIGHLY SUSPECT 

"Pastor" Michael Treis' credibility is immediately called into question in looking at his attempts to rebut the points raised by North Texas IMC members. "Pastor" Treis made several claims that he was simply "responding" to e-mail "sent to him." This is misleading because, first of all, Mr. Treis was on a listserv. The e-mail he received was sent to the list, not directly to him, and he knew it. So he is not merely answering e-mail sent to him personally. 

This same point applies when looking at Mr. Treis' hateful verbal assault on Monica Taher of GLAAD and me. His e-mail to both of us was sent to us personally, not merely to the list. If anyone had been simply receiving e-mail that "ends up in their box" it was us – not Michael Treis. In short, Michael Treis' attempts to create sympathy for himself fell short when we consider that it was he who launched the offensive by personally attacking others. Treis didn't start out on the defensive, despite how he tried to portray himself. 

Treis took his incredulous wounded sparrow routine a step further by making the ridiculous claim that we were the hatemongers for exposing the Far Right nature of his rhetoric and his links to right-wing extremist theology. He even categorized the Southern Poverty Law Center and Hate Watch (highly respected anti-hate organizations) as being hateful themselves because they report extremists (such as himself) to law enforcement authorities. 

Treis' credibility is further called into question by some of the claims he made about himself. In attempting to prove that his "ministry" physically exists, he defended the validity of his ministry by saying it's a "Sabbath Day" "truck stop" ministry. In other words, he hangs out at truck stops on Saturdays. He did not address the actual points raised about the legitimacy of  his "ministry" – it has no physical address, no phone number, and no Web site or other advertising. 

Treis also claimed that he did not violate the terms of use for the North Texas IMC since he was first warned. This was a misleading statement, since he made it abundantly clear in his answers to warnings, and in his statements to me, that he had every intention of continuing to "warn" GLBT people to "repent" and "turn from their evil ways." In other words, Treis had no intention of ceasing to violate our rules by attacking GLBT people, because he believes he has a divine calling to "save" the gay people. 

Lastly, Treis made the blatantly untruthful claim that he wouldn't "use the listserv as a pulpit." This was clearly a lie, since he had already done this more than once by declaring the wrath of God's judgment on GLBT people. He has also said that he would continue to do as he is "called" to do and proclaim God's "warnings." 

3. TREIS PROMOTED RACIST PSEUODOSCIENCE 

"Pastor" Michael Treis' credibility is further called into question by his promotion of pseudoscience and his use of erroneous information. Treis says he agrees with the "research" of "Bible archaeologist" E. Raymond Capt. Capt, however, is hardly a reputable or credible man of science. Capt is the author of numerous fringe science works, espousing such nonsense as the belief that the Egyptians were originally from the planet Mars, that the Great Pyramid of Giza has a secret code built into it, and the long-ago disproven theory that Stonehenge was used by the Druids. 

Treis used erroneous information, and therefore promoted factual inaccuracies, in his attempt explain his use of the phrase "Yahshua Messiah" as being nothing more than the transliteration of the Hebrew words for "Jesus Christ." Treis also says the term is used by "Messianic Jews." Actually, the proper transliteration of the name "Jesus Christ" from Hebrew to English is Yehshua Moshiach. "Messianic Jews" use the spelling "Yehshua" not "Yahshua." The only groups that seem to use the spelling "Yahshua" are Michael Treis and the Christian Identity movement. 

4. TREIS DENIED AFFILIATION WITH CHRISTIAN IDENTITY 

"Pastor" Michael Treis claimed not to consider himself a Christian Identity movement minister, but this claim – in and of itself – was neither relevant nor credible. Many other prominent Christian Identity ministers also disavow the term "Christian Identity." Take for example, Pete Peters. 

Since 1977, Peters has been pastor of the LaPorte Church of Christ, a Christian Identity church with fewer than 100 parishioners in LaPorte, Colorado, a community on the banks of the Cache La Poudre River northwest of Fort Collins. From the pulpit, Peters has expounded prolifically on Identity's biblical views, which include the belief that Jews are spiritually degraded and pose a threat to civilization, that blacks and other people of color are inferior to whites, that homosexuals should be executed and that northern European whites and their American descendants are the "chosen people" of scriptural prophecy. 

While Peters and his church have been prominent in the Christian Identity movement for years, he has of late disavowed the term "Identity." Peters describes himself instead as "a Christian who is part of the restoration movement now underway – a movement in which Christian Americans call themselves simply 'Christian.'" 

But like Treis, Pete Peters claims Sheldon Emry as a source of inspiration. Pete Peters credits radio with indoctrinating him into Christian Identity. As he tells it, it all started on a drive one lonely night, when a young Peters turned his dial to the blaring voice of a preacher. That voice happened to belong to Sheldon Emry, who carried the torch for Christian Identity over AM radio stations from the mid-1960s through the 1970s. Hearing Emry on the radio that night changed Peters' life forever. 

Peters is now hosting two radio shows of his own on WWCR-3, "Healthy Trinity Today" and "Scriptures for America." On the latter, Peters instructed a caller in 1997 on the proper etiquette to follow: "If you're going to talk about Jews on my program, talk about them as Antichrist Jews." 

Peters' Colorado church first came to national notice in 1985, when it was revealed that several members of The Order, the most violent Far Right terrorist group of the '80s, had attended his church during the time they were active in their criminal enterprises. 

Despite claiming not be a Christian Identity pastor, Pete Peters is a rising star in the movement. He seasons his extremist views with humor and, in so doing, is managing to reach millions, using the Internet, 
short-wave radio and the offices of his Scriptures for America ministry, based at his LaPorte (Colo.) Church of Christ. 

Peters was the organizer of the 1992 Estes Park, Colo., gathering of 160 "Christian men" that brought together Far Right factions and set the course for much of the current movement. While he portrays himself as a relative moderate, Peters' racism is apparent in his past rhetoric. But he is continuing to reach out to others. Christian Identity expert James Aho of Idaho State University says Peters, 51, is seeking a coalition with non-Identity people. As a result, Aho says, Peters and his "soft" version of Identity together form "probably the most viable Identity movement in America." 

Treis, like Peters, claimed not to be a Christian Identity minister, but espouses much of the same views of the Christian Identity movement, and like Peters, claims Sheldon Emry as a source of information. Sheldon Emry, as noted in previous posts, is linked heavily to the Christian Identity movement and is one of its most prominent figures. 

Treis admitted to having posted the racist and anti-Semitic Emry treatise Heirs of the Promise and Emry's piece on the "international bankers'" conspiracy that allegedly runs the Federal Reserve. Treis claimed that he "doesn't agree with everything" Emry wrote, but Treis did not include with the Emry article posting on the Austin IMC site any disclaimer or explanation of what he did or didn't agree with. The implication was that he supported the ideas in the article, and posted the article in an effort to promote the ideology. 

In fact, despite his claims not to agree with "everything" Emry wrote, Treis actually defended everyone of the questionable points quoted directly from Treis' post of Emry's treatise. So Treis' vague attempt to dissociate himself from Emry's racist "Anglo-Israelist" theories fell apart. 

Treis also attempted to defend his "Anglo-Israelist" beliefs – the teaching that the White race are literally Israelites of the Bible – as being a religious belief held by benign religious groups such as the Worldwide Church of God, and the International Church of God. It's true that these churches also believe this, and are benign religious groups. But the idea is also a major tenet of the Christian Identity movement, and it was not Herbert Armstrong (the founder of the Worldwide Church of God) or Garner Ted Armstrong (founder of the International Church of God) that Treis quoted – it was Sheldon Emry. 

Sheldon Emry is identified by all the groups that monitor and report on hate groups, as a major figure in the Christian Identity movement. Rightly so – as I pointed out by showing Emry's popularity with Far Right Kingdom Identity Ministries, Emry is as much a hero to the Christian Identity movement as he apparently is to Treis. 

Treis claimed not to be familiar with Kingdom Identity Ministries, but this is irrelevant, and Treis missed the point. As shown by Sheldon Emry's popularity with this clearly Far Right "ministry" (and other Christian Identity groups, like Aryan Nations), Emry is hardly a benign religious leader, and is in fact a major figure in the Christian Identity movement. 

5. MICHAEL TREIS DENIED LINKS TO GROUPS, NOT IDEOLOGY 

"Pastor" Michael Treis claimed not to be affiliated with, or to support of the ideas of: the Ku Klux Klan, Neo-Nazis, Aryan Nations, and other Far Right groups mentioned by name. Treis may not in fact be a member of any of these groups. But nevertheless, these groups share a great deal of theology, ideology, and goals with Treis. Despite Treis' vague assertions not to support these groups, like these groups – Treis promotes the theology and views of Sheldon Emry. 

Sheldon Emry, now deceased, was the founder of America's Promise Ministries – a Christian Identity movement organization listed as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, Hate Watch, and other groups. Despite proof of established links to America's Promise Ministries (he included them in e-mail he sent to our listserv), Treis never attempted to rebut these allegations. In fact, Treis never mentioned this ministry at all in any of his attempts to rebut. 

While it's true that Treis may not support violence, as he claims, America's Promise Ministries members have a history of violence: 

In 1995, three Identity adherents – Verne Jay Merrell, Charles Barbee and Robert Berry – robbed a local bank and bombed the Spokane, Wash. offices of Planned Parenthood and The Spokesman-Review newspaper. One of them, Merrell, has close ties to America's Promise Ministries, headed by the Rev. Dave Barley. Merrell preached at Barley's Bible camps, and Barley sold Merrell's tapes. 

Speaking of Dave Barley: 

Dave Barley rose to prominence in the Christian Identity movement because of a legacy: he inherited the thriving ministry of his father-in-law, the late Sheldon Emry. Emry, who created the America's Promise Ministries in Phoenix and expanded its reach by buying air time on 30 radio stations nationwide, died in 1985. Barley took over the ministry in 1988 and moved it to Sandpoint, Idaho, an area where white supremacists flourish. 

Barley and influential Christian Identity leader Pete Peters have come to represent a "softer" wing of Christian Identity belief, but Barley's links to extremism are well documented. Three recently convicted followers of the Phineas Priesthood, who robbed banks and bombed an abortion clinic and a newspaper office in Washington state, attended his Sandpoint church. The gang's leader, Jay Merrell, was a Barley protégé. Barley, 42, also is a close associate of former Klan leader Louis Beam. And he sells publications with titles like America: Free, White and Christian. 

Louis Beam is well known as the former Texas Klan leader who advocated the murder of government officials, a one-time resident of the FBI's most wanted list and the "ambassador-at-large" for the neo-Nazi Aryan Nations. But the near-legendary leader of the radical right is also a Christian Identity proselytizer who has written for The Jubilee, the nation's leading Christian Identity publication, and has spoken at several major Identity conferences. Beam, now 51, joined an Alabama Klan group in 1968, then became Texas leader of David Duke's Knights of the KKK. In 1988, after a period on the run in Mexico, he was acquitted with 
11 others in a sedition trial in Ft. Smith, Ark. He was a leading architect of the extreme right's communications systems. (On one bulletin board, he set up a "point system" to become an "Aryan Warrior" based on killing government officials and minorities.) 

6. TREIS MADE UNBELIEVABLE CLAIMS NOT BE AN ANTI-SEMITE 

Treis claimed not to believe in Far Right ideas, such as anti-Semitism, but this claim lacks credibility. I accept Treis' claim that he does not agree with the "seedline doctrine" of Christian Identity theology – the idea that Jews are the literal descendants of Satan – but America's Promise Ministries and Sheldon Emry teach this doctrine. Treis posted two articles – without any commentary or disclaimers from himself – written by Sheldon Emry (founder of America's Promise Ministries), and sent e-mail to them. 

Additionally, while Treis may not believe that Jews are literally the children of the Devil, Treis did support the rabidly anti-Semitic Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion – although he suggested they were written by "the Illuminati" rather by the Jews. (The "Protocols," by the way, have long been proven to be a hoax.) 

Lastly, Treis declared that he supports the notion that the "international bankers" (a known code word for "the Jews") are part of a vast world-wide conspiracy to control the world. This is an old, and well-established, anti-Semitic conspiracy theory. 

IN CONCLUSION . . . 

While "pastor" Michael Treis' links to the Far Right are not reasons, in and of themselves, to remove Treis from a listserv or message board – should he attempt to infiltrate yours – these links are demonstrable and clear, and are reason to be watchful. I submit that Treis is a person whose agenda is to spread the ideas and agenda of the Far Right, and as such should be carefully monitored and his every post scrutinized.