JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A formerly anonymous blogger who criticized his prominent Southern Baptist pastor has sued police and state prosecutors for revealing his identity to the church even though an investigation showed he had done nothing illegal.
Tom Rich and his wife, Yvette, until recently members of First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Fla., for about 20 years, filed a lawsuit April 27 claiming that involvement by government officials violated his rights under the First Amendment of the Constitution.
Rich started his blog after noticing differences in preaching style, fund raising and church administration between Mac Brunson, who became pastor of the Southern Baptist megachurch in 2006, and his predecessor, Jerry Vines, who retired in 2005.
Rich created the blog anonymously, he said, to encourage open and honest dialogue without getting into personalities.
Last fall, Robert Hinson, a police officer and First, Jacksonville, Fla., member who also serves as a member of Brunson’s security detail, opened a criminal investigation into the blog at the request of church leaders. He subpoenaed Google and Comcast to find out who owned the blog. After closing the investigation, Hinson told the church that Rich was the author. The church then issued trespass warnings against the Riches. Rich claims the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office investigation and subpoena issued by Assistant State Attorney Steven Siegel violated his right to free speech, which includes the right to speak anonymously. (TAB)
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