The mainstream media has launched an assault against the Christian beauty queen who backs traditional marriage, as affection for her grows in the public.
Scroll down for the video of the church interview.
UPDATE 5/5/09: The smear heats up - Prejean responds to Internet topless photos
-- From "Pageant PR rep accuses Miss California of lying" by Lisa Leff, Associated Press 4/27/09
A spokesman for the Miss California pageant on Monday denied that contest officials told the reigning beauty queen to publicly apologize for her statement opposing same-sex marriage during the Miss USA pageant.
Carrie Prejean, 21, claimed during Sunday services at her San Diego church that producers of the state pageant told her to apologize to the gay community and to avoid mentioning religion when she appeared last week on the "Today" show and other national programs.
But San Diego public relations representative Roger Neal, who said he was one of the people advising her, called those claims lies. Contest officials urged Prejean only to reiterate that she didn't mean to offend anyone and to use the national spotlight "to heal some wounds," he said.
Keith Lewis, a Los Angeles talent agent and gay activist who runs the Miss California pageant, also issued a statement expressing dismay with Prejean and concern about her ability to carry out her duties during the remainder of her rein.
"Given the fact that Carrie Prejean's first act upon returning to California was to headline five services at a church that promotes homosexuality as both unnatural and abnormal, we stand by our concern for her individual image and look forward to a time in the near future when she can put down her personal agenda" and resume her responsibilities as Miss California, Jenkins wrote.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Miss California told 'not to talk about your faith'" by Drew Zahn © 2009 WorldNetDaily 4/27/09
Miss California Carrie Prejean, who finished runner-up in the Miss USA pageant after affirming on air that "marriage should be between a man and a woman," claims that her state sponsors urged her afterwards to apologize for the statement and keep quiet about her Christian faith.
Prejean appeared yesterday at The Rock Church in San Diego, the Associated Press reports, and told the congregation what she remembers being told following the pageant.
"'You need to apologize to the gay community. You need to not talk about your faith," Prejean recalled being instructed. "This has everything to do with you representing California and saving the brand.'"
Prejean, however, defended her statement by alluding to California's Proposition 8 ballot initiative, in which the state's voters added language to the California Constitution defining marriage as only between one man and one woman.
"I was representing California," Prejean declared yesterday. "I was representing the majority of people in California."
Keith Lewis, executive director of Miss California USA/Teen USA, also wrote a letter condemning Prejean that echoed what she says she was told following the pageant.
"As co-executive director of Miss CA USA and one of the leaders of the Miss CA family, I am personally saddened and hurt that Miss CA USA 2009 believes marriage rights belong only to a man and a woman," he wrote. "Although I believe all religions should be able to ordain what unions they see fit, I do not believe our government should be able to discriminate against anyone. Religious beliefs have no place in politics in the Miss CA family."
Prejean nonetheless refused to apologize for the answer she gave.
"I don't take back what I said," Prejean told the church, according to a San Diego Union-Tribune report. "No way I wasn't going to stand up for what I believe in."
At church yesterday, she added, "I learned that God has a bigger crown than any man can give you."
To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.
The below is an excerpt from a 50-minute interview/sermon of Prejean with The Rock Church Pastor Miles McPherson, God's will for both the pastor and Miss Prejean is praised! Click here to the church website for the full video along with sermon notes and more.
