Saints Continue Battle Against Porn in Connecticut

 
Churches are rising up against the destructive evil of pornography as OSA-CT takes the Gospel to the streets, City Hall and back to the streets where the rubber meets the road. The wicked are whining praise Jesus. Porn video storeowner Michael Friend said, "I’ve got to make a living. They’re taking my livelihood away. They’re supposed to be Christians." Al Capone made the same argument... "I'm just a businessman..." Going to hell for eternity and taking as many souls with you is not much of a livelihood Mr. Friend. But you can repent and have Jesus!

Here are some recent news stories involving the saints in Bridgeport. "Behold, the same people that plunder the kingdom of darkness at the abortion clinics have now come here also."

Saints Continue Battle Against Porn in Connecticut 

http://www.newhavenregister.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=9885282&BRD=1281&PAG=461&dept_id=517515&rfi=6   

Milford church buys out sex store lease
Brian McCready , Assistant Milford Bureau Chief
07/23/2003

MILFORD — In a move touted as a step toward exorcising pornography from the city, Kingdom Life Christian Church announced Tuesday it would buy a Bridgeport Avenue building leased to an adult video store and try to drive the business out.

The store, Video Pleasures, has a lease that ends in December and an option to renew for three years. But church officials say their $245,000 purchase is the beginning of the end for the store and only the beginning of their campaign to buy out adults-only stores here.

Kingdom Life Bishop Ray Ramirez said church leaders are already in talks to buy out other pornography-related shops the city.

Mayor James Richetelli Jr.; State House Majority Leader James Amann, D-Milford; and State Sen. Win Smith, R-Milford, joined Ramirez Tuesday in announcing the purchase of the building.

The officials said the announcement — two days before the opening of a major new adults-only store here — is the first step towards ridding the city of moral blight. For the past six months, city officials have led a crusade to restrict and drive out adult businesses.

Ramirez said his 2,000-member congregation already raised through donations half the money in less than week, and he plans to close on the property this week. Frichele Realtors of Norwalk owns the parcel, and Ramirez said the owner of Video Pleasures is a New York State resident whose name he did not know.

Ramirez said the idea for buying the store came one day as he walked past the store with his daughters.

"I decided that day it had to go," Ramirez said.

Richetelli said Ramirez and the congregation made great financial sacrifices to close the deal, including church members’ forgoing vacations, selling second cars and donating a month’s pay.

Ramirez said the store’s operator could decide in December whether to exercise a three-year option to remain, but he hopes to persuade the owner to leave Milford.

"This is a great day for Devon and the city of Milford," Richetelli said. "The porn shop has a lease, which the church has vowed not to renew when it is up. In short, Video Pleasures’ days in Devon are numbered."

The city has four other adult bookstores along Route 1 and a strip club on Woodmont Road called Keepers. A new adult bookstore called Penthouse Boutique is slated to open Thursday, and is expected to draw protest from residents.

Ramirez said he contacted several other adult establishments to gauge whether they’d be interested in selling. Ramirez also said a business is in discussions to purchase another adult establishment in the city, though he declined to elaborate.

"We’re going to keep moving on; we’re hoping to inspire others to do what we’ve done," Ramirez said. "I’m not under the delusion that we can do it ourselves."

However, Daniel Quinn, owner of Penthouse Boutique and numerous other adults-only retail stores in the state, said there is no amount of money that would make him sell.

"I’m going to have to buy the church and reopen the store," Quinn said.

Quinn said the city’s current adult ordinance is fair, but he said a proposed new ordinance might be too restrictive. He also questioned why the city would waste so much energy and taxpayer money to oversee adult shops, when they all follow the law.

"Could I really exist here if people didn’t want it?" Quinn asked. "Wake up, it’s 2003."

Richetelli said the city is powerless to drive out adult businesses by ordinance because state statutes give them protection under grandfather clauses, meaning shops don’t have to comply with local zoning laws.

Amann and Smith pledged to reintroduce legislation that would eliminate protection for adult businesses and would result in them either going out of business or relocating away from homes, schools or churches.

Democratic Mayoral Candidate Linda Stephenson said Ramirez and his congregation deserves tremendous praise. She said ridding the city of an adult establishment is akin to the city reclaiming its high moral ground.

Brian McCready can be reached at bmccready@nhregister.com, or 876-6800.

©New Haven Register 2003

This story was followed by another in the Connecticut Post praising the action of the churches.

http://www.connpost.com/Stories/0,1413,96~3750~1528024,00.html

Wednesday, July 23, 2003

Milford-church partnership praised
Church joins Milford porn attack Buys building, will seek to oust adult store
By GREG SHULAS

MILFORD - City and church officials on Tuesday unveiled a partnership centered on ending Milford's reputation as a hot spot for adult retailers.

To kick off the public campaign, Bishop Jay Ramirez of the Kingdom Life Christian Church announced that his congregation will purchase the 116 Bridgeport Ave. property where adult merchant Video Pleasures is a tenant.

While the controversial business has a three-year renewal option on a lease expiring in December, Ramirez vowed that its days in Milford are numbered.

"I want us to stand together [so the public knows] more is being done than meets the eye," Ramirez said, adding that there are many behind-the-scenes talks under way to rid the city of porn shops.

The bishop said he received assurances from representatives of Video Hut on the Boston Post Road and Quick Stop Convenience on Bridgeport Avenue that their businesses would no longer sell adult products. He is urging more business to do the same.

Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. said the city is working with Kingdom Life and other churches to solve a serious quality-of-life problem.

"It is a huge financial commitment," Richetelli said of the church congregation funding the transaction.

"Church members are foregoing vacations, selling cars and donating a month's pay to show how strongly they believe in the importance of the purchase," Richetelli said.

The mayor said the city's community development housing rehabilitation program will help Kingdom Life make improvements to the building.

The church will acquire the building in the city's Devon section for $245,000 from Fischel Properties of Fairfield. A family also lives in the building, which will remain on the city's tax rolls, Ramirez said.

State Rep. James Amann, D-Milford, and state Sen. Win Smith Jr., R-Milford, linked the church's purchase to a broader $1.2 million Devon revitalization project.

taking over the Video Pleasures property, Kingdom Life Church is continuing its effort to improve a section of Milford hurt by blight, the lawmakers said.

"It is more than a home run, it is a grand slam," Amann said of the plans.

Representatives of Video Pleasures were unavailable for comment Tuesday.

Richetelli said while the city passed laws in 1996 that keep adult businesses away from residential zones, churches and schools, Video Pleasures operated before the ordinance was passed.

"The good people of Milford have been waiting, hoping and praying since 1996 that establishments like Video Pleasures would fall victim to the economy and go out of business," Richetelli said. "This has not happened."

Greg Shulas, who covers Milford, can be reached at 878-2130.

©1999-2003 MediaNews Group, Inc.

Satan does not roll over without a fight and those lost souls he holds captive to do his evil will war against the saints and decency, opposing themselves. The next day, Thursday, July 24 saw the porn pushers respond. This action was reported in the New Haven Register. Read the comments by the porn store carefully and you will hear the voice of the Serpent speaking. Notice the attempt to entice Christians to sin. Surely this slave of the evil one has no idea how he is being used as a puppet.

"In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." 2 Timothy 2:25-26

http://www.newhavenregister.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=9892967&BRD=1281&PAG=461&dept_id=517515&rfi=6

MILFORD PORN MERCHANT BALKS
Church buys building, but it’ll take $200,000 for him to leave
Brian McCready , Assistant Milford Bureau Chief
07/24/2003

MILFORD — The owner of an adults-only video store had this message Wednesday for the church that bought its building in an effort to close the shop: "Everyone has a price."

The price to close Video Pleasures would be about $200,000, said storeowner Michael Friend.

Otherwise, Friend said, he intends to exercise the option to extend his lease for three years.

The plan is not what members of Kingdom Life Christian Church were hoping for, as the congregation has already agreed to pay $245,000 for the Bridgeport Avenue building that houses the adult video store.

Kingdom Life Bishop Jay Ramirez announced Tuesday that his church bought the property at 116 Bridgeport Ave. in an effort to drive out the video store. The church bought the building knowing that Friend has an option to extend the lease for three years.

Friend said he would absolutely exercise the option for the simple reason that he wants "to make money."

Friend said his video business is very profitable or "I wouldn’t be there," but if church leaders offered him a buyout in the neighborhood of $200,000 he would consider leaving.

"Everyone has their price," Friend said.

Ramirez said he refuses to buy Friend out at the price named and reward the humiliation and degradation of women. He said the church might consider a smaller amount but nothing even close to $200,000.

Ramirez said he is obviously disappointed by Friend’s decision on the lease.

Friend bashed city and church officials saying a press conference on the church purchase was a publicity stunt.

"I think it’s all a sham and politically motivated as the mayor is seeking votes in Devon, and the bishop’s congregation is seeking more members," Friend said.

Mayor James Richetelli Jr. said what Friend says doesn’t matter because "his days in Milford are numbered."

Friend also said Frichele Realtors of Stamford, the owner of his building, had said he could buy the property for $390,000, or $145,000 more than what the church paid. The realty company could not be reached late Wednesday.

"The building is run down, it’s not even worth that (lower) amount of money," Friend said.

He said he expects to be harassed by churchgoers who will try to drive him from Devon, but on Wednesday he "hung up a sign saying Christians are welcome." Friend did say he had offers to relocate in Milford and he would consider them.

Ramirez said the church is exploring whether it can legally raise Friend’s rent and plans to renovate the building.

"We’ll do renovations and I hope (Friend’s) clients don’t mind being seen," said Ramirez, adding parishioners will not harass the store employees.

Friend said he takes solace from his loyal customers who told him they empathize and say the sale was purely political.

Friend said he’s been in business for nine years, selling adult videos and DVDs, lingerie, and novelty items. He said nothing illegal has ever occurred at the store nor has anyone been arrested.

"It seems to me city officials are preoccupied with sex," Friend said. "I don’t know what that is all about. The problem isn’t about sex … sex only makes people feel good."

City officials for six months have been working on a new ordinance that would ban nudity and restrict partial nudity in adult businesses. Also, the city recently closed several allegedly illegal massage parlors.

Friend says he feel targeted by the city as he has to pay a $500 annual fee for his adult license on top of his $2,000 monthly rent, which he said is above fair-market value.

Friend said he’s also been a good taxpayer.

"I’ve got to make a living," Friend said. "They’re taking my livelihood away. They’re supposed to be Christians."

Brian McCready can be reached at bmccready@nhregister.com, or 876-6800.

©New Haven Register 2003

Notice that Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is not giving up for victory is assured in Christ if we persevere and do not give up. This next article from the CT Post is about the saints response to the sin club that the owners of Penthouse plans to open in Milford.

http://www.connpost.com/Stories/0,1413,96~3750~1530300,00.html

Thursday, July 24, 2003

Adult mega-store ready to open
Milford pornography opponents plan to picket Penthouse Boutique
By GREG SHULAS

MILFORD - A controversial adult mega-store passed its final regulatory hurdle, and will open as planned today, according to the business' president.

While city officials could not immediately verify Penthouse Boutique President Dan Quinn's claim late Wednesday afternoon, the confidence in the adult retailer's voice was clear.

"We are ready to rock 'n' roll," he said, adding that the 9 Banner Drive business is set for a 5 to 8 p.m. open house.

The store, already a very public target of anti-porn protesters, gained more publicity last month when Quinn struck a licensing agreement with Penthouse magazine founder Bob Guccione.

Under the deal, the store became the first retail enterprise in the country to use the adult magazine's name. The boutique is marketing itself as the perfect place for couples and women to go to have fun and spice up their love life.

But conservative city residents claim that it will deteriorate Milford's quality of life, and attract mainly single, male customers.

"We are firmly against pornography. We are looking forward to expressing our constitutional rights tomorrow," said a local mother who declined to be identified.

While Penthouse magazine is reportedly suffering financial problems, such difficulties would not have an impact on the boutique, which is run separately by Quinn.

Anti-porn protesters plan to picket Penthouse Boutique between noon and 1 p.m. today.

Lalia Perna, a porn opponent who plans on being at the protest, has said the business gives Milford a bad name, and is just another sign of how the city is getting overrun with "cheesy" adult bookstore and video outlets.

Assistant City Planner Peter Crabtree was unavailable for comment late Wednesday afternoon about whether the store received its zoning certificate.

Earlier in the day, Crabtree said he was on his way to inspect the store and that the building passed its initial inspection.

Greg Shulas, who covers Milford, can be reached at 878-2130.

©1999-2003 MediaNews Group, Inc.

Read the accompanying article & What happens when Connecticut Christians storm new gates to Hell in their city here to find out how this battle is progressing. All is not going as the porn pushers planned as the saints keep taking King Jesus to the gates. When the Church of Jesus Christ storm the gates, the gates of hell can never prevail!