Hatred toward religious people must stop
Published 10:18 am Tuesday, November 3, 2015
The First Amendment to the Constitution of the U.S. states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grivances.” The First Amendment guarantees freedoms of religion, speech, expression and assembly. Congress cannot promote one religion over another or restrict an individual’s religious expressions or verbalize practice. The 2005 U.S. Supreme Court case, Van Arden v. Perry, in which the court held that displaying a monument inscribed with the Ten Commandments on the grounds of the Texas State Capitol does not violate the First Amendment. Chief Justice Renquist, writing for the majority, stated, “Such acknowledgement of the role played by the Ten Commandments in our nation are common throughout America. And further citing Zarach v. Clauson, 1952: “We find no constitutional requirement which makes it necessary for government to be hostile to religion and to throw its weight against efforts to widen the effective scope of religious influence.”
So, yesterday, assistant coach Joe Kennedy was fired from Bremerton High School in Washington. Why? Because after the football game he went to the field and gave thanks to the Lord by kneeling and pointing towards heaven. He did not ask anyone to be with him. He did not do this during the game. He did this on his own time after the game. He individually motioned, all alone, silently. Some of his players and players from the other team gathered around him and they prayed. He did not ask them to; they merely of their own free will did the same. Be it religious statues or the Ten commandments pictured that have enhanced our courthouses for hundreds of years, or a football coach silently thanking God for his win, we as indiviuals in this nation are being persecuted for our faith.
While investigating this story, I found case after case since the establishment in 1976 of The Freedom From Religion Foundation (Atheist group), that have ever since been trying to silence those who believe in and love God.
“Take em to court” is their mantra. And they have, people, they have won many cases, and the legal landscape in this country is leaning toward their agenda: a Godless society.
I cited the two above cases that Justice Renquist found for religious liberty but hundreds more are against. At the Wisconsin State Capitol, this atheist group proudly displays a sign at Christmas: “At this season of the winter solstice may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is a myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.”
How very wrong. This hatred has got to be stopped. Only we can stop it. We have to be strong in our faith. We have to profess it. We have to live it. We have to shout it from the rooftops.
Vicki Pestorious
Albert Lea