The values that we cherish as a nation, values that are according to the constitution protected, are under attack and have been since the early sixties.  The attacks are coming from the very government that is charged with protecting our freedoms.  There are several very confusing aspects in this fight.  

The basis for discord is found in the pandering of our government to the abortion and the homosexual crowd.  These two special interest groups, truly represent a very small percentage of the American citizenry, under three percent of the population in total.  The vast majority of the American people can’t identify with either group. Given the live and let live attitude of most American people, even though they don’t support the groups, they will not actively resist the movements.

Both of the movements have their roots in sexual activity making public, objective discussion of the issues somewhat unacceptable.  The liberal proponents use these to wedge issue like a battering ram.  They describe those that would oppose the issues in terms that are basically hate speech.  If you would wish to discuss either issue from a moral or religious perspective you are labeled.   Labeled as intolerant, bigoted, right wing radical, etc.  All of these labels are intended to divide the groups and polarize the discussion.  People who would not actively participate in either of these activities, to avoid the negative labels, find themselves reluctant to oppose these issues publicly.

You would think, given the overtones of immorality, that our churches would vocally object to any government action that conflicted with the sanctity of life or attacked marriage, the cornerstone of the conventional family structure.  Church leadership has the same problem with labels as their members.    There is an additional intrusion into the area of religious freedom dating back to a law that was quietly passed in 1954.  This law is known as the Johnson Amendment after then senator Lyndon Johnson who authored it.  The law bars churches from accepting tax deductible donations if they actively endorse a candidate for office.  The act muzzles churches from commenting on political activity of an individual candidate.   

Churches have enjoyed tax exempt status since the founding of the country.  This was no accident as our Founding Fathers understood that the ability to tax a religious organization was the ability to limit the institutions freedom of speech.  Churches were free to endorse candidates from the ratification of the constitution until the Johnson Amendment was passed in 1954.  The Supreme Court has ruled that Congress has the power to restrict the use of tax deductible contributions to endorse or support political candidates.  

The government has passed laws, Obama Care, mandating services that churches historically opposed on a religious basis.   These services must now be provided by religious organizations.  The threat of using the tax law to silence a discussion of morality would appear to be a clear violation of our religious freedom.

There are a group of ministers that have been encouraged to speak out on issues such as the use of federal tax dollars for abortion, forced payment of insurance benefits for birth control or abortion services, federal regulations that would force religious institutions to recognize same sex marriages. Churches and religious organizations would be forced to provide benefits to same sex couples under the same conditions as conventional marriages and families.

This is just one more indication of how committed the liberal Democrats are to eliminating from our society any influence or restrictions imposed by morality, religion or God.  If the issue were not so serious it would have been comical watching the Democratic delegates take three attempts to sustain the inclusion of “God” in their platform.  The patriots that bore the names we respect, honored as our Founding Fathers, put their wealth, their family well being and their lives on the line to provide us with a country that constitutionally guaranteed religious freedoms.  This fall we need to cast our votes in support and memory of that special gift from our Founding Fathers, the constitutional protection of “religious freedom.”  Our votes should proclaim that we cherish and respect the freedoms bought with the lives and blood shed of those that have fought and died to protect our rights.

Ed Tyler lives in Pell City. He may be reached at ed@edtylerinc.com