The Church/State Wall of Separation Is Crumbling Down

Two news items in the HT on June 29 th caught our attention (“Religious Liberty
Panel Report” and “Bible Stories in Texas School Curriculum”). Each indicated a
move towards increasing religion throughout society through government
mandates.

There are two parts of the constitution related to Church and State. One is the
free exercise clause and the other clause is the prohibition of the establishment of
religion or favoring one religion over another. Current efforts, as indicated in the
articles, promote free access to religion but raise concerns regarding efforts to
establish (expand) governmental promotion of religion from a particular Christian
perspective.

There are many different Christian denominations, as well as other
religions in our society, that hold beliefs that are different from those proposed.
The first amendment to the Constitution was meant to ensure freedom of religion
but also to prohibit government entanglement with religion.

Here are some of the recommendations issued by the Department of Justice
Religious Liberty Commission as noted in the article.
– Guarantees for faith-based institutions to have equal access to government
funding
– Promotion of School Choice
– Order the Department of Defense to provide religious liberty training to
military leaders
– Reverse any restrictions on religious practice and expression in the military
– Enforce against religious discrimination

If the recommendations are implemented, it could mean churches, synagogues
and mosques may be able to access government funds? Will the government
provide direct funding to parochial schools, as well as to Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish,
Islamic and other religious organizations? The National Interfaith Alliance
described the draft report as partisan and reflective of a “narrow, Christian
Nationalist worldview…a betrayal of the original promise of religious freedom
guaranteed in the first amendment.”

In the same issue of the HT was an article about required texts in Texas schools
including teachings from the Book of Luke, Book of Matthew, Book of Genesis,
and the King James Bible. Texas is the first state to require religious teaching as
part of their school curriculum.

Will Christian Nationalists now impose their religious beliefs in Florida and in
Sarasota/Manatee? We should all be concerned. Will certain denominations
control religion in our society and the freedom or lack of freedom of those with
different religious beliefs? Is this an effort to address perceived problems or a
political movement that intends to legislate their version of religion onto the rest
of us.

The wall of separation between church and state has not just cracked… it is being
demolished.