My great-grandfather times five, Walter Avery Buddington, fought in the Revolutionary War. He fought bravely to give his children — and all of us — the many freedoms that America grants us. In the midst of fighting the war, he was imprisoned on a British prison ship for over a year while his wife remained home raising their 11 children alone. He returned home from prison to continue America’s battle for freedom. The very first amendment of our constitution that was birthed in that war includes a quintessential freedom for all Americans: the freedom of speech.

Freedom of speech in America is slowly being whittled away in many areas of our lives. One such area is within the church. The First Amendment clearly protects the right of churches to speak out on moral issues and public policy. Yet, since 1954, the Internal Revenue Service has censored the First Amendment rights of religious institutions. Future legislation threatens to take away even more of those rights.

An earlier letter to the editor stated that a pastor is misusing his/her power in giving out political advice from the pulpit, implying that politics and spiritual matters should not mix. I say, God help us if we don’t inject spiritual insight into the governing forces of America! Political leaders and policy directly influence the spiritual path and well being of our country and its people. A pastor should no more withhold information and advice that will benefit the body of believers anymore than a doctor should withhold medical information or advice from patients. Both are using their training, experience, and background to advise the people they work with — doctors to the physical realm and pastors to the spiritual realm. In America, where free speech is an inherent right from the very birth of our nation, a pastor should not be forced to withhold that advice and information.

I think of the prophets of the Old Testament. Many of them spoke God’s word when the law of the day declared those subjects illegal, risking arrest, imprisonment and even death. I am proud that Albert Lea has a pastor who recognizes the importance of our country’s First Amendment right of free speech and is willing to take a stand on that matter. He is willing to take the risk of being labeled arrogant, self-serving, pompous and more in order to challenge a law that goes against the constitutional rights of Americans. If someone does not take a stand for our eroding free speech rights, you can guarantee that the future will hold even more censoring from the pulpit, and even from our very streets.

I thank God that I am an American. He has put me in a wonderful country. Let’s not lose sight of what our grandfathers fought for (with, by the way, great spiritual dependence and insight) at an enormous sacrifice. The very foundation, integrity, and well being of our country depend on our constitutional right of free speech.

Peggy Bennett

Albert Lea