Spiritual leaders in the Barnett Shale use God
to excuse their greed.
The Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary leased their minerals to Chesapeake who plans to drill up to 14 natural gas wells--closer than the recommended setback distance--next to an elementary school where children from low income households attend. A SBTS alumni wrote the seminary president requesting Environmental Justice for the low-income, multi-ethnic neighborhood near the seminary. The response from Paige Patterson, President, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, is sickeningly manipulative and heartbreaking.
And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
- Matthew 21:12-13
Crossposted from http://arlingtontexa...
On the agenda for the Arlington City Council meeting Tuesday, July 24 are proposed changes to the gas drilling ordinance. Arlington is situated over the Barnett Shale. This is seen as some as a blessing. To others it could prove to be a curse.
The United States Geologic Survey states that "the Barnett Shale may have 26+ TCF in recoverable gas reserves, which gives it the potential to become one of the largest onshore gas fields in the country."
Texas state law only requires a 300 foot setback from residences and gas wells. Many feel this is "too close for comfort." I grew up in East Texas. It was common to see blue flames in pastures when gas wells blew. The wells would burn for days, sometimes weeks until the gas well "burned itself out".
In densely populated urban areas which have poor air quality, one well "burning itself out" will adversely impact air quality.
The 
