No Government Favoritism Towards Christianity = Intolerance

Should government officials, when conducting official government business, single out Christianity for favoritism and endorsement? Some people in Indiana think so. Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma claims that it is 'intolerant' for a federal judge to halt the Legislature from holding opening prayers that praise Jesus Christ.

The Detroit Free Press reports:

Some pastors are refusing to lead invocation prayers to a generic God in the legislature...

Well, then, they should just stick to saying prayers in their churches. If they can’t perform the job in a manner that is appropriate for the entire public, not just a few Christians, then they are unfit for the job in the first place.

“The forces that want to take religious faith out of our government and our society are nibbling away at our liberty,” Bosma, a Republican, said of the Nov. 30 ruling by U.S. District Judge David Hamilton in Indianapolis. “They got a big bite with this one. We have done nothing different here than what’s happened for 188 years.”

Notice how Brian Bosma dishonestly complains about people taking “religious faith” out of government. Yes, dishonestly — Brian Bosma is deceiving people because the federal judge ruled against Christian-specific prayers, not prayers in general. Since prayers in general are still allowed, religion will still be supported and endorsed by the government.

That religion will not, however, be Christianity in particular and that’s what upsets Brian Bosma. He is actually just complaining about people taking the endorsement of Christianity out of the government, even as the government continues to endorse religion generally. If he said this, however, it would be making it obvious that he’s a bigot who is seeking to have Christianity granted special privileges that are denied to other religions. Then where would his public support go?

Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels said of the ruling: “It’s regrettable.”

No, what’s regrettable is the fact that Indiana has Republican politicians like Mitch Daniels and Brian Bosma who are trying to abuse their civil authority to promote their personal religious beliefs. The citizens of Indiana need to start electing new representatives.

 

Read More:

• Separation of Church and State 101
• Church and State News
• Government Chaplains