2006 Losses of Religious Freedom Should Make American Christians Wake Up

Christians Wake Up Christians must push back or they will succumb to the anti-Christ proselytization of the dictatorship of relativism

Editorial By LifeSiteNews.com Editor John-Henry Westen

http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/jan/07011504.html

From the Target and K-Mart pharmacists fired for refusing to dispense the morning-after-pill because they considered them to be abortifacient, to the Boston Archdiocese ending 100 years of adoption services after Massachusetts insisted they must permit homosexual adoptions, Christian freedoms deteriorated in 2006.

January 16 is religious freedom day in the United States of America.  It commemorates the passage of the 1786 Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, authored by Thomas Jefferson.  It celebrates the First Amendment's protection of religious freedom.

President Bush commemorates the day this year noting, "Across the centuries, people have come to America seeking to worship the Almighty freely. Yet people in many countries live without the freedom to worship as they choose and some face persecution for their beliefs."

The loss of religious freedom is becoming more pronounced in America.  A short look at the losses on the religious front in America last year should serve as a wake up call to Christians in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

One would think that the case of the pharmacists and that of the archdiocese mentioned above would be quickly solved by having the court rule against such curbs on religious freedom, but the opposite is true.  U.S. District Judge John Shabaz ruled that K-Mart was in the clear for firing the pharmacist despite his objections that he did not want to dispense the abortifacient drugs due to his religious beliefs.

Apart from refusing appeals, it is the courts which in many cases are handing down decisions which encroach on freedom of religion.  For instance the 6th Court of Appeals in Cincinnati ruled in May that Rev. William Akridge, a Baptist prison chaplain, was required to permit a practicing homosexual to direct his chaplaincy choir. Akridge argued that while practicing homosexuals could take part in chaplaincy activities he felt it violated his faith to place them into leadership roles as it seemed an endorsement of their behaviour.

In October, the New York Court of Appeals ordered Catholic institutions in the state to provide contraception coverage for female employees in health insurance plans. Since contraception contravenes the Catholic faith, and the decision ruled on specifically Catholic institutions, it is being seen as part of a dangerous trend where courts decide for religious organizations how they must conduct their internal affairs.

The courts even approved official Catholic bashing by the San Francisco city government.  In March the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve a non-binding resolution blasting the Catholic Church for its opposition to homosexual adoption.  Insulting thousands of Catholic city residents, the resolution described Catholic teaching as "hateful", "discriminatory", "insulting" and "ignorant".  A lawsuit launched by concerned Catholics was rebuffed when, incredulously, the resolution was been deemed "constitutional" by Federal Judge Marily Hall Patel.

One would think to call the police to stop the insanity.  However even the good men and women in blue have been compromised on religious freedom.  Christian psychologist Michael Campion, who was first suspended (and then cleared) by the Minneapolis Police Department after city officials learned that he was once a board member of the Illinois Family Institute - a group which (gasp) opposes same-sex 'marriage' and abortion, lost his job with the Department.

The situation even affects our children in grade school as a Rochester, New York Mom found out.  The mother was outraged to find out that her 13-year-old daughter was secretly given a prescription for the controversial morning after pill by a school nurse.

Students in high school also feel the pinch of repression. In Nevada, Clark County School District officials cut off the microphone during the valedictorian address of the top student graduating from Foothill High.  Brittany McComb had her speech vetted and was ordered to remove the single reference to "Jesus Christ".  She decided to go ahead and mention Christ but officials cut the mike as she was about to voice the name.  She reasoned, "I went through four years of school at Foothill and they taught me logic and they taught me freedom of speech, God's the biggest part of my life. Just like other valedictorians thank their parents, I wanted to thank my Lord and Savior."

We'd do well to hearken to President Bush's recommendation.  "I call on all Americans to reflect on the great blessing of religious liberty, endeavor to preserve this freedom for future generations," he said in his proclamation.

We have to follow Brittany's example and stand up for what we believe in, and press for our right to freedom of religion.  Secular atheists are pressing with religious fervor for the removal of any mention of Christ or God in any public forum.  Christians must push back or they will succumb to the anti-Christ proselytization of the dictatorship of relativism.