Ralph Ovadal
Encyclopedia
Ralph Ovadal is the pastor
of Pilgrims Covenant Church in Monroe, Wisconsin
. He is a Reformed Baptist, although his church is not part of any formally recognized denomination. He is noted for impassioned street preaching and picketing in various cities. Ovadal is highly opposed to abortion
, public nudity, homosexuality
, and ecumenism
; his vigorous public actions against them have resulted in frequent scrapes with the law. Vehemently anti-Catholic
, he openly calls the pope
"antichrist
," and led protests in front of movie theaters showing Mel Gibson
's 2004 film
The Passion of the Christ
.
, but opposes some of the teachings of such individuals as Peter Ruckman
and Gail Riplinger. He has produced numerous sermons against modern Bible translations, including The NIV and God's Word
translation.
Fred Phelps
, pastor of the Westboro Baptist Church
, due to similarities in their targets and their practice of picketing with signs bearing incendiary or accusatory messages. However, Ovadal's groups' signs customarily stop short of the vulgarity shown in the Phelps pickets (e.g. "homosexual" vs. Phelps' "fag"). Ovadal has criticized Phelps' behavior in the past http://www.wisconsinchristiannews.com/letter.php and labeled Phelps' female family members as "profanity-spewing, angry Amazons" http://www.wcuweb.com/Documents/NEWSLETTERS/2003,9-13.htm http://web.archive.org/web/20050218111308/http://www.wcuweb.com/Documents/NEWSLETTERS/2003,9-13.htm whom he says physically attacked one of his church members.
In spite of his disputes with Phelps, Ovadal makes frequent use of similar terminology (such as "homo-fascist") in his flyers and sermons.
In August 2000, Ovadal was convicted of disorderly conduct and fined by a Wisconsin court stemming from an incident in which he and a group of followers blocked access to Mazo Beach
, a legal nude beach west of Madison, Wisconsin. He was convicted again on similar charges in February, 2002 for harassment and intimidation of a beachgoer during a protest and fined the maximum allowed by law, and lost on appeal in October 2003.
However, Ovadal has prevailed in some of his legal battles. A challenge mounted by Ovadal against the city of Monroe, WI over ordinances restricting public demonstration eventually resulted in an out-of-court settlement in Ovadal's favor and the repeal of the disputed ordinances. http://www.pccmonroe.org/Updates/1-8-02.htm
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of Pilgrims Covenant Church in Monroe, Wisconsin
Monroe, Wisconsin
Monroe, known as "the Swiss Cheese Capital of the USA", is a city in and the county seat of Green County, Wisconsin, United States. The population, was 10,843 at the 2000 census. The city is located partially within the Town of Monroe and partially in the Town of Clarno.-Geography:Monroe is located...
. He is a Reformed Baptist, although his church is not part of any formally recognized denomination. He is noted for impassioned street preaching and picketing in various cities. Ovadal is highly opposed to abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
, public nudity, homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
, and ecumenism
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
; his vigorous public actions against them have resulted in frequent scrapes with the law. Vehemently anti-Catholic
Anti-Catholicism
Anti-Catholicism is a generic term for discrimination, hostility or prejudice directed against Catholicism, and especially against the Catholic Church, its clergy or its adherents...
, he openly calls the pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
"antichrist
Antichrist
The term or title antichrist, in Christian theology, refers to a leader who fulfills Biblical prophecies concerning an adversary of Christ, while resembling him in a deceptive manner...
," and led protests in front of movie theaters showing Mel Gibson
Mel Gibson
Mel Colm-Cille Gerard Gibson, AO is an American actor, film director, producer and screenwriter. Born in Peekskill, New York, Gibson moved with his parents to Sydney, Australia when he was 12 years old and later studied acting at the Australian National Institute of Dramatic Art.After appearing in...
's 2004 film
2004 in film
The year 2004 in film involved some significant events. Major releases of sequels took place. It included blockbuster films like Shrek 2, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Passion of the Christ, Meet the Fockers, Blade: Trinity, Spider-Man 2, Alien vs. Predator, Kill Bill Vol...
The Passion of the Christ
The Passion of the Christ
The Passion of the Christ is a 2004 American drama film directed by Mel Gibson and starring Jim Caviezel as Jesus. It depicts the Passion of Jesus largely according to the New Testament Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John...
.
Opposition to Modern Bible Versions
Ovadal is a staunch defender of the Received TextTextus Receptus
Textus Receptus is the name subsequently given to the succession of printed Greek texts of the New Testament which constituted the translation base for the original German Luther Bible, the translation of the New Testament into English by William Tyndale, the King James Version, and for most other...
, but opposes some of the teachings of such individuals as Peter Ruckman
Peter Ruckman
Peter Sturges Ruckman is an Independent Baptist pastor, teacher, writer, and founder of Pensacola Bible Institute, an unaccredited school in Pensacola, Florida...
and Gail Riplinger. He has produced numerous sermons against modern Bible translations, including The NIV and God's Word
God's Word (bible translation)
The God's Word Translation is an English translation of the Bible translated by the God's Word to the Nations Society.-History:The God's Word Translation of the Bible was produced by the God's Word to the Nations Bible Mission Society in Cleveland, Ohio...
translation.
Comparison to Fred Phelps
Ovadal is compared by some of his detractors to Topeka'sTopeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
Fred Phelps
Fred Phelps
Fred Waldron Phelps, Sr. is an American pastor heading the Westboro Baptist Church , an independent Baptist church based in Topeka, Kansas...
, pastor of the Westboro Baptist Church
Westboro Baptist Church
The Westboro Baptist Church is an independent Baptist church known for its extreme stance against homosexuality and its protest activities, which include picketing funerals and desecrating the American flag. The church is widely described as a hate group and is monitored as such by the...
, due to similarities in their targets and their practice of picketing with signs bearing incendiary or accusatory messages. However, Ovadal's groups' signs customarily stop short of the vulgarity shown in the Phelps pickets (e.g. "homosexual" vs. Phelps' "fag"). Ovadal has criticized Phelps' behavior in the past http://www.wisconsinchristiannews.com/letter.php and labeled Phelps' female family members as "profanity-spewing, angry Amazons" http://www.wcuweb.com/Documents/NEWSLETTERS/2003,9-13.htm http://web.archive.org/web/20050218111308/http://www.wcuweb.com/Documents/NEWSLETTERS/2003,9-13.htm whom he says physically attacked one of his church members.
In spite of his disputes with Phelps, Ovadal makes frequent use of similar terminology (such as "homo-fascist") in his flyers and sermons.
Arrests and Convictions
Ovadal has been arrested more than 130 times for actions during various anti-abortion protest activities at family planning clinics, resulting in the loss of his drivers license for ten years, "a considerable amount of time in jail," and other punishments. This has led to accusations of being "a criminal with a rap sheet," according to biographical information on his ministry's website.In August 2000, Ovadal was convicted of disorderly conduct and fined by a Wisconsin court stemming from an incident in which he and a group of followers blocked access to Mazo Beach
Mazo Beach
Mazo Beach is the only legal public nude beach in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is located on the Wisconsin River between Mazomanie and Sauk City, Wisconsin. Because Mazomanie is in Dane County and Sauk City is in Sauk County, nudity is legal only on the beach. Nudity is also allowed on roughly...
, a legal nude beach west of Madison, Wisconsin. He was convicted again on similar charges in February, 2002 for harassment and intimidation of a beachgoer during a protest and fined the maximum allowed by law, and lost on appeal in October 2003.
However, Ovadal has prevailed in some of his legal battles. A challenge mounted by Ovadal against the city of Monroe, WI over ordinances restricting public demonstration eventually resulted in an out-of-court settlement in Ovadal's favor and the repeal of the disputed ordinances. http://www.pccmonroe.org/Updates/1-8-02.htm