Ray Suarez Pushed Out by PBS

After 14 years as a news anchor and senior correspondent at Public Broadcasting Service, Ray Suarez has left the building.

Linda Winslow Executive Producer of the NewsHour, informed the staff via memo that Suarez was leaving to "pursue other ventures." In her memo, Winslow praised Suarez for the years he worked at PBS. "At the 'NewsHour' Ray has been a member of the Senior Correspondent team that has helped us cover an enormous array of topics and story developments over the years."

Winslow claimed that Suarez was a respected news person whose work was universally accepted at PBS. "My inbox is filled with rave reviews of his performances written by delighted station executives around the PBS universe."

While Winslow tried to put a positive spin on the fact that Suarez had resigned on his own, in a frank and open interview with Fox News Latino, Suarez left no doubt as to why he left PBS. "I felt like I didn't have much of a future with the broadcast. (They) didn't have much of a plan for me."

For many of his following at PBS, he was recognized as a very competent and experienced news anchor and reporter. He did not have to pretend to be flashy or over bearing in his presentation. He was able to connect with his audience with his on-air confidence and knowledge of the stories he covered. Viewers felt comfortable with Ray Suarez.

In the Fox News Latino interview, Suarez claimed his contributions to the 'NewsHour' were heavily minimized and that he did see much of a future for himself at PBS in the near future.

Suarez who appeared to be very disenchanted with his future, openly discussed why he felt it was the right time to go. He claimed he felt his contributions to the broadcast over the last couple of years were not appreciated. In the interview, Suarez was very candid in his answers and felt "his contributions were passed over and marginalized many times."

Perhaps the most single and most significant reason for leaving PBS was his opinion of not having the responsibility to contribute to the overall news content of the broadcast. He believes it is important for public television to have a strong news broadcast, but Suarez felt "the responsibility, the high responsibility...had all been gradually taken away." 

As I analyze the reasons for Suarez leaving PBS after 14 years, leaving a highly visible news position on a national news broadcast, and then slowly over the years have his contributions passed over or marginalized, in my opinion, it left Suarez being cast as the lone token Latino on the broadcast.

Suarez is respected and recognized as a very competent news person, particularly in the Latino community, and I can understand why he could not stand to be marginalized as the token Latino. "It was the right "time to go, that was a choice that I made."

It is a disgrace and shameful that PBS would simply allow Suarez to leave, without acknowledging the responsibility of marginalizing his contributions to NewsHour, and informing the staff with cliches, that he was "leaving to pursue other ventures."

In an open letter to Executive Producer Linda Winslow, I expressed our anger over the perceived reasons we felt Ray Suarez left the NewsHour.

Ms Winslow:

As a Latino faith initiative and alliance, we are extremely outraged by the treatment by PBS toward one of the best news anchors and reporters on television and cable today. In your memo to the staff, you insinuated that Ray Suarez was “leaving to pursue other ventures.”  We cannot accept your attempt to make this move as simply a professional moving on to another challenge and opportunity.

Ray Suarez has indicated that slowly his work has been minimized and as a member of the Senior Correspondent team for the NewsHour, he was not treated with the respect and professionalism warranted a news anchor with impeccable credentials and history of outstanding work.  In your memo, you clearly stated that Suarez was well respected within the “PBS universe.” “My inbox is filled with rave reviews of his performances written by delighted station executives around the PBS universe." 

Yet, Suarez in spite of those rave reviews of his performances, knew “the responsibility, the high responsibility…had gradually been taken away.”

Let there be no doubt that as faith leaders in the Latino universe, we too were delighted that Suarez was considered a very valued representative of his community on the NewsHour. It is simply a disgrace to pan across the television and cable spectrum and not see any Latino anchors on any national television news and information programs. Suarez was able to be that role model for 14 years to aspiring Latino young people seeking a career in television news.

Perhaps far more importantly, a trait you are unable to understand, or as the Executive Producer chose to ignore, is the fact that Suarez was able to bring an understanding of the issues and concerns facing the Latino community. Suarez as an objective and unbiased anchor, was able to relate to many of the injustices of an industry which fails to value diversity in thought and appearance.  It is unfortunate that unless one is able to fit the “standardized role”, it is very easy to point out to staff that Suarez is merely “leaving to pursue other ventures.” 

In fact, Suarez has made it clear that the PBS NewsHour was slowly pushing him out. As a former Vice President/News Director of one of the top news stations in the country, I understand far too well the treacherous and deceptive attempts by those in upper management to discredit and attribute professional liabilities to employees who in the minds of management should “leave to pursue other ventures.”   

It is disgraceful and outrageous that management of television news programs which continue to use the public’s airwaves and resources, cannot find the accountability necessary to ensure that fairness, justice, and diversity are valued characteristics sought after in the news industry. All clearly defined characteristics displayed in the work and professionalism of Ray Suarez.

Extremely disappointed,

Fidel "Butch" Montoya 

To express your feelings how PBS has marginalized Ray Suarez and his contributions to NewsHour, please write to:

Paula Kerger

PBS President and CEO

pakerger@pbs.org  

(703) 739-5015

and

Linda Winslow

PBS NewsHour Executive Producer

lwinslow@newshour.org

(703) 998.2175

PUTTING THE PRESSURE ON OBAMA

Putting the Pressure on Obama
By Fidel "Butch" Montoya

Finally, the stage in Washington, D. C. is set to move forward on comprehensive immigration reform in the House of Representatives. In speech outlining the need to push for comprehensive immigration reform, President Barack Obama boldly declared it was time. "It doesn't get easier to just put it off, let's do it now. Let's not delay. Let's get this done."

The Senate passed their bipartisan version of reform, which is similar to the bill introduced by Democratic leaders in the House.  In the Senate, it was a bipartisan effort with Republicans voting to pass the reform. In the House, the question remains if the Republican leadership will support moving the bill forward.

One of the most positive and significant signals that Republicans may be willing to support the bill in the House, was made by Rep. Jeff Denham (CA-10).  Denham is the first Republican to become a cosponsor H.R. 15. While several Republican House members have indicated support for immigration reform, Rep. Denham’s support may convince other members of the GOP to cosponsor H.R. 15, or vote for the bill.

President Obama has promised over and over that immigration reform would move forward. Yet, it seems like Obama was always willing to switch his priorities to other issues sacrificing immigration reform.  Obama admitted that immigration reform has been delayed. “This is not just an idea whose time has come; this is an idea whose time has been around for years now." 

Congress has struggled to reach consensus on immigration reform knowing full well that our immigration system is broken and that reform is necessary.  With the American public tired of hearing excuses from Congress on not being able to work together, Obama called on both parties to work together to pass immigration reform.

Bipartisanship was the major theme of Obama’s speech, calling on both parties to make the effort to pass immigration reform now. “You know, rather than create problems, let's prove to the American people that Washington can actually solve some problems. This reform comes as close to anything we've got to a law that will benefit everybody now and far into the future, so let's see if we can get this done and let's see if we can get it done this year”.

The Republican House leadership has been accused of holding up the vote on immigration and using stalling tactics to prevent a vote on immigration reform. Republican members of the House who support reform must pressure their leadership to allow a vote to take place.

This time around, the President seems determined to work to ensure a bipartisan effort to pass immigration reform. Obama directed his comments to the naysayers and to those bent on delaying a vote on reform.

“Everybody wins here if we work together to get this done. In fact, if there's a good reason not to pass this common-sense reform, I haven't heard it. So anyone still standing in the way of this bipartisan reform should at least have to explain why. A clear majority of the American people think it's the right thing to do”.

We all know it is time for immigration reform to move forward.  The system has been an injustice to millions of families in this country, and it must be fixed by this Congress. 

The President admitted as much. "Everybody knows that our current immigration system is broken. Across the political spectrum, people understand this. We've known it for years...It's not smart; it's not fair; it doesn't make sense. We have kicked this particular can down the road for too long...We've got the time to do it. Republicans in the House, including the speaker, have said we should act, so let's not wait". 

This is the moment we have prayed for years; praying for Congress to pass immigration reform for families. This what we have worked for over the years seeking an immigration system that will treat workers with respect and protect their rights as workers, and keep families from being separated by detention and deportation, so let's not wait.

While we have been disappointed in the past by what many evangelicals have considered a lack of commitment and focus on immigration reform by the President, his speech in the White House once again must be embraced.  We cannot lose hope and faith now, understanding that finally our leaders are moving ahead and together pledging to pass immigration reform.

Meanwhile as immigration reform moves forward, we cannot allow the Obama Administration to continue to deport record numbers of undocumented immigrants who are only trying to help their families enjoy the American Dream. The President claims ICE and Homeland Security are only deporting dangerous felons and violent criminals, but the statistics and stories tell us otherwise.

For example, in New Orleans, Gustavo has been detained since his arrest on September 23. 2014 when police stopped him for a simple traffic citation. He was arrested and taken to the Jefferson Parish Jail, and waited for ICE to pick him up. A simple traffic ticket does not meet the President’s definition of dangerous felons or violent criminals.

Gustavo’s family faces an uncertain future if he is deported. His children will suffer the absence of their father and face hardship and despair. 

We must continue to pressure the President to stop these deportations while there is hope immigration reform will soon pass. We must not allow people like Gustavo to be sacrificed simply for the support of some Republicans who will never support immigration reform.

The story of Gustavo can be told over and over from almost every village, town, and city in the USA. So while the President calls for immigration reform, he adamantly refuses to stop the deportation of fathers, mothers, children, and families who are stopped by local police for cracked windshields, broken tail lights, failure to signal, broken head lamps, and other simple traffic violations.

While a clear majority of Americans want immigration reform, we must continue to work for passage of this landmark legislation, and call upon the President to stop the deportation of fathers and mothers – stop separating and dividing families because of broken tail lights and delays in the passage of immigration reform.

The President has encouraged all of us to continue to push for immigration reform. “I want to thank you for your persistence, I want to thank you for your activism, I want to thank you for your passion and your heart when it comes to this issue. And I want to tell you, you've got to keep it up. Keep putting the pressure on all of us to get this done”.

President Obama, we want to tell you, we will keep it up. We will keep putting the pressure on you to get this done, and to stop deporting and dividing families who only seek a better life.

CHARISMATIC HERETICS OF STRANGE FIRE?

Charismatic Heretics of Strange Fire?

By Fidel "Butch" Montoya

In an awkward three day conference, promoted as “Strange Fire,” sponsored by John MacArthur, pastor of Grace Community Church in Southern California,  MacArthur scornfully condemned the Charismatic movement as false theology and strange fire which constitutes in his mind the “most serious crime of false worship.” 

MacArthur attempted to make his case by referring to Leviticus 10, where the sons of Aaron offered a sacrifice of strange fire, and because of their false teachings, “Fire blazed out from God and consumed them.”

MacArthur and several other speakers, including Joni Eareckson Tada, best known as a quadriplegic for over forty-five years, who ministers to the disabled, but unfortunately by her presence as a main speaker, bound herself to MacArthur’s vicious and unchristian-like attack on 500 million Charismatics. 

During the "Strange Fire" conference, MacArthur called the Charismatic message, “lies, who offer up a “dangerous, corrupt, and false worship, dishonoring the Holy Spirit.” 

MacArthur claims the Charismatic movement “has brought nothing to sound doctrine, but distortion, confusion, error, carnal emotionalism” which caters to man’s sinful nature. 

Many of God's people know throughout his years of ministry, MacArthur has condemned the Charismatic movement, but during his three day conference, he lost his ability to discern the validity of the Charismatic movement, and his selfish empowerment by other preachers at the conference, and from the pulpit, MacArthur failed to exhibit Christ-like and graceful behavior. 

MacArthur made scurrilous, insulting, and defamatory statements from the pulpit, even claiming that if the Charismatic movement has been successful, the Kingdom of Darkness was responsible.  

 MacArthur’s behavior reminded me of the advice Paul gave to Timothy regarding the old Egyptian frauds Jannes and Jambres who challenged Moses. 

“They were rejects from the faith, twisted in their thinking, defying truth itself. But nothing will come of these latest imposters. Everyone will see through them, just as people saw through that Egyptian hoax.” 2 Timothy 8-9 The Message.

I have attached The Christian Post article and a link to the video where MacArthur “preaches” his reprehensible sermon on how Charismatics have insulted and defied the Holy Spirit with a false and strange fire.

 Alex Murashko, writer of the article was much too nice to refer to the outrageous charges made from the pulpit as “MacArthur’s thrown punches during the three day conference.”  There is no question that MacArthur crossed the line in his shameful attempt to discredit the Charismatic movement.

Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, the President of the influential National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, was quick to call out MacArthur for his disgraceful bid to destroy faith in one of the most spiritually powerful Christian movements in the world.

In a statement emailed to The Christian Post, Rodriguez stated; 

“Correspondingly, with great due deference of course, he must be made aware that the optics of the criticism also imply a cultural naiveté." The epicenter of the world's Pentecostal and Charismatic demographic stems not from North America but from the continents south of the equator.

"In essence, he is condemning the very Christian narrative responsible for shining the light of Christ to God's children in Africa, South America, the Caribbean and elsewhere. As a result, this movement is one of the few non-white led and arguably the most ethnically diverse Christian movements in the globe today."

Rodriguez is to be commended for reprimanding MacArthur and his three day Strange Fire conference. Knowing that Rodriguez is not only a national leader on comprehensive immigration reform, but as a man recognized for his courage to defend the Gospel, and who understands Christ’s instructions given to the 120, to tarry and wait for the Holy Fire that would descend on those in the Aposento Alto – the Upper Room.

Christ instructed his disciples “To go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the three-fold name, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”. Matthew 28:19.  He assured them a Helper, the Holy Spirit would come to direct their paths. It is because of that promise, we know the Holy Spirit has empowered our message that Jesus Saves!

I cannot express in words how excruciating and piercing his embellishment of his false teaching on the Holy Spirit was for me to hear. Yet, I must encourage you to read the following article and follow the link and watch MacArthur “preach from the pulpit” and engage in such a hateful attack on the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

MacArthur claims in The Christian Post article, "The true people of God have always had to battle the false prophets and the liars. It is a strange irony to me, in the Charismatic movement, that if you criticize them, if you endeavor to be vigilant and discerning, and if you endeavor to contend for the truth and hold them to Scripture and expose their error, they will condemn you as the sinner … How do I know that? I have lived that."

Pastor John MacArthur, I will not condemn or judge your soul. God reserves that right for Himself. "Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living or dead." 2 Timothy 4: 1.

The Apostle Paul knew his time was near, so in his letter to Timothy, his words were essentially "dying words". These are the words of our beloved who utter advice and counsel to us before they die; are words of lasting care and love for us. Words that we always hang on to as final advice from a loved one.

Likewise, Paul wrote to Timothy, "You're going to find that will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching. They'll fill up on spiritual junk food, catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They'll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. BUT you, keep your eye on what you're doing, accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God's servant. 2 Timothy 4: 3-5. The Message.

I will agree with Rev. Samuel Rodriguez when he said, "In a world full of relativism, decadence, strife and apathy, John MacArthur should focus on preaching the Word: Christ crucified, resurrected and coming back again."

Fidel “Butch” Montoya

H. S. Power & Light Ministries

Latino Faith Initiative

hspowerlightministries@outcome.com

John MacArthur Continues Case Against Charismatic Movement at 'Strange Fire'; Backlash Includes Stern Words by Samuel Rodriguez

BY ALEX MURASHKO , CHRISTIAN POST REPORTER

October 18, 2013|5:59 am

Pastor John MacArthur continued to lay out his case against the Charismatic movement on Thursday, the second day of the Strange Fire conference hosted at his California church. However, a backlash of criticism, in full swing since the beginning of the event, included a stern statement from the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, a Pentecostal minister and president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.

'Strange Fire' Conference: John MacArthur Calls Out Charismatic Movement as 'Unfaithful'

MacArthur's punches thrown during the three-day conference included calling out mainline, Pentecostal-influenced pastors such as T.D. Jakes and Joel Osteen, and congregations that he says focus on "spirit-filled" services rather than Christ-centered doctrine.

"If the Charismatic movement was being produced by the Holy Spirit, the glory of Christ would prevail everywhere," said MacArthur during the morning session Thursday. "It would be Christ dominated and everyone in the movement would be bowing the knee to the true Christ in belief of the true Gospel."

He continued, "The people would be humble. They would be joyful. They would be sacrificial. They would be confessional. They would be declaring Jesus as Lord and themselves His slaves. They would be denying themselves, taking up their cross and following Him wherever He led."

MacArthur called the Charismatic movement a "long war on truth."

"The true people of God have always had to battle the false prophets and the liars," he said. "What makes them effective is the deceptiveness of it. It is a strange irony to me, in the Charismatic movement, that if you criticize them, if you endeavor to be vigilant and discerning, and if you endeavor to contend for the truth and hold them to Scripture and expose their error, they will condemn you as the sinner … How do I know that? I have lived that."

Rodriguez, who is considered the leading spokesperson for the Hispanic evangelical community, much of which is a part of or has a background in the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement, said in a statement sent to The Christian Post via email that MacArthur misses the mark by a wide margin. Rodriguez has been an Assemblies of God ordained minister since the age of 23. His bio includes the statement that in 2010, he was called to start a multi-ethnic, Christ-centered, spirit-filled, Bible-based church in Sacramento, Calif.

"John MacArthur suffers from spiritual, cultural and theological myopia," stated Rodriguez to CP. "With great due deference to a Christian leader many of us admire, his conclusions regarding the largest and fastest growing of global Christendom, the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement, speaks to a man ignorant of the community's unbridled commitment to biblical orthodoxy.

"Unfortunately, this blessed Christian leader cannot differentiate between substance and style, or engaging a biblical metaphor, between Christianity's 'wine' and the varied 'wineskins.' In other words, Mr. MacArthur should be focusing on the fact that while many in the church continue to abandon our Christian faith, the Pentecostal/Charismatic community continues to offer the church a legitimate growth mechanism."

Rodriguez went on to imply that MacArthur's arguments lack an understanding of the movement's Christian influence around the world.

"Correspondingly, with great due deference of course, he must be made aware that the optics of the criticism also imply a cultural naiveté," Rodriguez states. "The epicenter of the world's Pentecostal and Charismatic demographic stems not from North America but from the continents south of the equator.

"In essence, he is condemning the very Christian narrative responsible for shining the light of Christ to God's children in Africa, South America, the Caribbean and elsewhere. As a result, this movement is one of the few non-white led and arguably the most ethnically diverse Christian movements in the globe today."

Rodriguez concludes by stating he encourages "this gracious preacher to preach the Word."

"In a world full of relativism, decadence, strife and apathy, John MacArthur should focus on preaching the Word: Christ crucified, resurrected and coming back again," he recommended.

MacArthur has long been an outspoken advocate of weighing the claims and activities of those in the Charismatic movement against Scripture. The conference is tied to next month's release of his book, Strange Fire: The Danger of Offending the Holy Spirit With Counterfeit Worship.

On the Web: http://www.tmstrangefire.org/

The following video link is John MacArthur scornfully criticizing the Charismatic movement as a false worship to the Lord, as a Golden Calf which we know was a false worship representation of the Lord.  MacArthur uses as his Biblical basis Leviticus 10 when the sons of Aaron in their sacrifice to the Lord, offered a strange fire. The video segment is 1 ½ hour long, but by listening one will discern his anti-Biblical bias toward the Charismatic movement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PWgrEHvJ078