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O'Reilly & Fox News Pick the Wrong Christian to Demonize and Sue

 
January 3, 2003

 O'Reilly & Fox News Picked the Wrong Christian to Demonize and Sue

We reported on our Wichita voicemail ministry Thursday on the shift of cable news with MSNBC and CNN sinking dramatically in viewers and ratings while Fox News and Rush soar. Much of this is good news but beware - all that glitters is not gold. Fox is threatening to sue Stephen Bennett, a Christian evangelist of the gospel.

The threat of legal action involves a complaint by Fox over a 60 minute audio tape distributed by Stephen Bennett Ministries titled, "The O'Reilly Shocker" on his web site. Fox claims that Bennett's use of 2.5 - 3 minutes from his September 3 appearance on the O'Reilly Factor is a copyright infringement. The clips form the basis for the hour-long commentary.

Bill O'Reilly invited Stephen Bennett on the Factor to discuss his article, "The Gay Spin Zone" but it turned out to be Mr. O'Reilly attacking all Bible believing Christians through Stephen. O'Reilly referred to Stephen Bennett as an "idiot" and "religious fanatic" on his radio and television broadcasts on 9/3. The next day on his TV show, O'Reilly compared the recording artist to the "Islamic militants who blew up the World Trade Center." - So much for fair and balanced...

In the audio resource, Bennett defends the Gospel of Jesus Christ, confronts O'Reilly's distorted theological remarks, his public support of homosexual special rights and his disparaging comments against the Bible and Christians worldwide.

The American Family Association's Center for Law and Policy is representing Stephen Bennett on this threat or any future action by Fox. Michael DePrimo, senior litigation counsel for the CLP says the tape is legal because it uses excerpts from the interview for the purpose of commentary.

Vowing to vigorously defend Stephen Bennett, DePrimo told WorldNetDaily, the tape is legal under copyright law's allowance of fair use and comment. DePrimo emphasized, "Certainly Mr. O'Reilly put it at issue when he called Mr. Bennett a religious fanatic and did not give him a chance to respond."

Stephen Bennett called Fox's demands to cease distributing the audio tape and turn all existing copies over to Fox for copyright infringement "ridiculous" in the WND article.

"Of course I can comment on that interview," he told WND. "If the heart of the interview was on cats and dogs, that means I can't talk about cats and dogs?"

Stephen writes in a press release, "Friend, Christianity, God and the Bible are under FULL attack today in America - as well as anyone who takes a biblical, moral stand against the militant homosexual agenda." We stand in complete agreement with our brother Stephen. Anyone can be set free through the Lord Jesus Christ! Stephen is living proof.

For the headline story in WorldNetDaily.com go to:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=30300

No retreat, No defeat - Only victory in serving King Jesus!

Steve Mashburn