Louis P. Sheldon

{{infobox person

| name = Louis Philip Sheldon

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1934|06|11}}

| birth_place = Washington, DC, US

| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|05|29|1934|06|11}}

| death_place = Orange County, California, US

| occupation = {{plainlist|

Presbyterian pastor {{efn|served as Presbyterian pastor from 1960 - March 2012 (52 years)}}
Anglican priest {{efn|served as Anglican priest from March 2012 - May 2020 (8 years)}}

}}

| years_active =

| known_for = founder
Traditional Values Coalition{{efn|Traditional Values Coalition founded in 1980}}

| notable_works =

| title = {{indented plainlist|

President
Traditional Values Coalition{{efn|served as president 1980–2011}}
Chairman
Traditional Values Coalition

}}

| education = {{indented plainlist|

Michigan State University
BS History (1957)
Princeton Theological Seminary
MDiv Ministry (1960)

}}

| television = {{plainlist|

Fox News Channel
C-SPAN{{efn|C-SPAN appearances spanning years 1991–2003}}

}}

| father = Rex Sheldon

| mother = Gertrude Sheldon

| spouse = {{marriage|Beverly Sheldon|August 24, 1957}}

| children = 4

| relatives = Andrea Sheldon Lafferty (daughter)

}}

Louis Philip Sheldon (June 11, 1934 – May 29, 2020) was an American Presbyterian pastor, and then Anglican priest, and chairman of the social conservative organization, the Traditional Values Coalition.

He principally spoke and wrote about controversial social issues such as abortion, religious liberty, censorship, and public acceptance of homosexuality and same-sex marriage.{{cite news |last=Parachini |first=Allan |date=March 24, 1990 |title=Bush Says Let NEA Decide What's Art: Arts: President expresses position on 'filth' but supports bill. Orange County's Rev. Louis P. Sheldon said conservatives are outraged by the action |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-03-24-ca-663-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=May 30, 2019 }}{{cite news |last=Weiner |first=Rebecca |date=October 12, 1995 |title=Coming Out Day Draws Proponents, Foes: Gays: Activist Candace Gingrich addresses one rally, which was countered by Rev. Louis P. Sheldon, of Traditional Values Coalition in Anaheim |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-10-12-mn-56287-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=May 30, 2019 }}{{cite news |last1=Eng |first1=Lily |last2=Zonana |first2=Victor |date=November 9, 1989 |title=O.C. Preacher Pledges New Anti-Gay Drives : Gay Rights: The Rev. Louis P. Sheldon says he will turn his energies to the public schools |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-11-09-mn-1538-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=May 30, 2019 }}{{cite news |last=Meyer |first=Josh |date=August 3, 1990 |title=Ministers Square Off Over Provocative Art Exhibit, Role of NEA : Censorship: They concur that a "struggle for the soul of America" is under way but disagree about where the "evil" lies. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-08-03-me-1282-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=May 30, 2019 }}{{cite news |last=Martinez |first=Gebe |date=April 24, 1995 |title=Rev. Sheldon Basks in GOP's Successes: Politics: The Anaheim activist prepares for 'religious freedom' amendment to be submitted to the Congress |work=Los Angeles Times}} He appeared as a guest commentator on the Fox News Channel, on programs such as Cavuto on Business, Hannity & Colmes, and The O'Reilly Factor. He appeared on C-SPAN,{{cite web

|title=C-SPAN - Louis Sheldon

|url=https://www.c-span.org/person/?17035/LouisSheldon

|website=C-SPAN

|access-date=May 4, 2023

}} CNBC, MSNBC, CNN, and PBS. He was also featured in newspapers such as The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, as well as on numerous national radio talk shows.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

Biography

Louis Philip Sheldon was born in 1934 in Washington, D.C., the son of Rex and Gertrude Sheldon. His father was raised in the English Protestant tradition, his mother as an Orthodox Jew.{{cite news |last=Schudel |first=Matt |date=June 6, 2020 |title=Louis P. Sheldon, inflammatory anti-gay crusader of 'traditional values,' dies at 85 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/louis-p-sheldon-inflammatory-anti-gay-crusader-of-traditional-values-dies-at-85/2020/06/06/20fcb81a-a80d-11ea-bb20-ebf0921f3bbd_story.html |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=June 6, 2020 }}{{cite news |last=Genzlinger |first=Neil |date=June 5, 2020 |title=Louis Sheldon, Anti-Gay Minister With Political Clout, Dies at 85 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/05/us/politics/louis-sheldon-anti-gay-dead.html |work=New York Times |access-date=June 6, 2020 }}{{cite news |last=Needham |first=John |date=October 14, 1985 |title=Foe of Gay Rights, Abortion Takes Fight Beyond Pulpit |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-10-14-me-14701-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=May 30, 2019 }} He became a Christian in his teens. He earned a B.S. in history from Michigan State University in 1957.{{cite news|last=Dunlap|first=David W|title=Minister Brings Anti-Gay Message to the Spotlight|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/19/us/minister-brings-anti-gay-message-to-the-spotlight.html|accessdate=July 14, 2015|work=New York Times|date=December 19, 1994}} Sheldon and his wife, Beverly, married on August 24, 1957, and had four children.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbn.com/images4/cbnnews/PDFfiles/bio_rev_lou_sheldon.pdf |title=Rev. Louis P. Sheldon |website=CBN.com |publisher=The Christian Broadcasting Network |access-date=April 26, 2020 }}{{cite news |last=Lichtblau |first=Eric |date=November 26, 1989 |title=COLUMN ONE : A Savvy 'Free Agent for God' : The Rev. Louis Sheldon is part fiery preacher, part cool-headed lobbyist. Opponents question his religious support but don't deny his political clout |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-11-26-mn-348-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=April 26, 2020 }}

He received a M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1960, the year he was also ordained a Presbyterian minister. He served as a pastor for churches in North Dakota and California, including Melodyland Christian Center in Anaheim, before striking out on his own as a lobbyist.

Sheldon founded the Traditional Values Coalition (TVC) in 1980 as a non-denominational, grassroots movement.{{cite web

|url=https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2018/03/30/rise-and-fall-traditional-values-coalition

|title=The rise and fall of the Traditional Values Coalition

|website=Southern Poverty Law Center

|date=March 30, 2018

|access-date=April 23, 2023

}} In the 1980s and 1990s he wielded influence first in California and then in Washington, DC as a lobbyist for conservative causes, once considered among the ten most influential figures in conservative evangelical politics. TVC has been designated an anti-gay hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), citing TVC's use of "known falsehoods — claims about LGBT people that have been thoroughly discredited by scientific authorities — and repeated, groundless name-calling."{{cite news|last=Waddington|first=Lynda|title=Groups that Helped Oust Iowa Judges Earn 'Hate Group' Designation; SPLC Adds American Family Association, Family Research Council to List|url=http://iowaindependent.com/47947/groups-that-helped-oust-iowa-judges-earn-hate-group-designation|accessdate=November 25, 2010|newspaper=Iowa Independent|date=November 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202172049/http://iowaindependent.com/47947/groups-that-helped-oust-iowa-judges-earn-hate-group-designation|archive-date=December 2, 2010|url-status=live}} Sheldon served as president of the organization from its founding (1980) until 2011.{{cite web |url=https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2020/06/05/louis-sheldon-founder-anti-lgbtq-traditional-values-coalition-dead-85

|title=Louis Sheldon, Founder of Anti-LGBTQ Traditional Values Coalition, Dead at 85

|author=Hatewatch Staff

|date=June 5, 2020

|website=Southern Poverty Law Center

|access-date=May 8, 2023

}}

Sheldon left the Presbyterian ministry after 52 years and was ordained an Anglican priest in March 2012 at St. James Anglican Church (Newport Beach) California, which is part of the Anglican Church in North America.{{cite news|title=Anglican Chaplains|url=http://anglicanchaplains.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/0512newsletter.pdf}} Sheldon was a 2013 delegate representing the Anglican Diocese of The Armed Forces and Chaplaincy to GAFCON II, the Global Anglican Future Conference, in Nairobi, Kenya.{{cite news|title=Anglican Chaplains to Staff GAFCON II|url=http://www.virtueonline.org/anglican-chaplains-staff-gafcon-ii|accessdate=July 14, 2015|date=October 11, 2013}}

He died May 29, 2020, in Orange County, California, aged 85.{{Cite web|title=Louis Sheldon, anti-gay Christian group founder, dies at 85|url=https://www.ocregister.com/louis-sheldon-anti-gay-christian-group-founder-dies-at-85|date=May 30, 2020|website=Orange County Register|language=en-US|access-date=May 30, 2020}}