We've often heard of churches conducting a "Blessing of the Bikes," so that local motorcycle enthusiasts will have a safe riding season. Muscular Harleys growl and snort as their often bearded and black leather-clad drivers pull them up to draw round the minister giving the blessing.
Other churchs have held special services encouraging congregants to bring canned food for local food banks and soup kitchens. Some have even held Gay Pride church services.
Well, then, it should not come as a shock that a Kentucky church held an "Open Carry Celebration" encouraging gun-owning congregants to bring their unloaded weapons with them to Sunday services.
Rev. Kenneth Pagano of New Bethel Church in Louisville, KY told a reporter the service had three purposes: To promote firearms safety and responsibility; to promote Americans' Second Amendment rights; and "as Christians, we wanted to create a venue to share our faith with people."
The church also took donations and raffled off a gun, with proceeds in excess of the gun's cost being donated to charities.
The Louisville Courier-Journal's account is right here.
I guess you could say Rev. Pagano was shooting for some good publicity, and worshipers aiming for their salvation got a little more bang for their buck.
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