What Future Will YOUR Vote Promote?

Religious liberty battles are often fought in courtrooms. Where the actions of individuals and/or government officials are brought under the scrutiny of judges charged with interpreting and administering the laws of the land.

Judges are human beings, of course. With their own worldview.

We all have one. It’s the lens through which we see and understand (or seek to shape) the world around us. For judges, it’s the lens through which they evaluate evidence and draw precedent-setting conclusions.

Is their worldview — and, consequently, any judicial opinion — driven by their politics? Their own perception of social justice? Their desire to not just interpret the law, but to make it?

Or something… deeper?

Such are the questions we should all ask when voting to elect or retain judges, even at the local level. Yet how many of us do?

More than one judge throughout our nation in recent years has been accused of (or heralded for) shaping existing laws. To promote an agenda hostile to religious liberty. It’s called judicial activism.

But what about activist legislators who seek to do the same by changing the laws themselves?

Enter Senate bill S.2918. Introducted on May 22, 2018 by 13 Senators (sponsor Kamala Harris, plus Messrs. Leahy, Hirono, Feinstein, Durbin, Markey, Whitehouse, Sanders, Merkley, Gillibrand, Smith, Wyden and Warren).

Their agenda? Amend the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 “to protect civil rights and otherwise prevent meaningful harm to third parties, and for other purposes.”   https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/2918/text

I am not a rocket scientist. But it doesn’t take one to discern the real objective here. It can be seen clearly in the language of the bill itself. It’s called the “Do No Harm Act.” And it asserts…

“It is the sense of Congress that…

… (1) the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) should not be interpreted to authorize an exemption from generally applicable law that imposes the religious views, habits, or practices of one party upon another;

… (2) the RFRA should not be interpreted to authorize an exemption from generally applicable law that imposes meaningful harm, including dignitary harm [i.e., harm to human dignity], on a third party; and

… (3) the RFRA should not be interpreted to authorize an exemption for one party that permits discrimination against others, including persons who do not belong to the religion or adhere to the beliefs of that party.”   https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/2918/text

This bill’s identical counterpart — H.R. 3222 — was introduced in the House on July 13, 2017 by 53 Representatives.   https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/3222

If these bills were to become the law of the land, whose actions would be quashed? Anyone, in any realm of society, who expresses (and/or acts upon) a deeply-held religious conviction contradicting prevailing political correctness?

The Hannibal Courier-Post published this editorial letter:

“It will render the RFRA of 1993 inapplicable to federal law, and the prosecution of people of faith will become commonplace. It will be the start of churches and faith-based organizations being dismantled and ruined by litigation.”   http://www.hannibal.net/opinion/20180704/letter-to-editor-freedom-comes-from-god

See also https://iycoalition.org/religious-liberty-vs-civil-rights-victor/  AND  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_Freedom_Restoration_Act

What implications do you see?

How will you make your vote count in November?

Please post your comments below.

Diana Furr, a.k.a. Abba’s Girl

This blog may have raised questions for you. If you’d like to connect, engage, or get further help from me, you can… EMAIL me at [email protected]; CALL me at 863-446-1660; or request a complimentary initial CONSULT with me at https://calendly.com/diana-furr.

2 Comments

  • Debbie L says:

    We are seeing how our religious freedom of speech for one is being hammered away – or should I say bullied! It is amazing how hypocritical it all is as they are denying Christians some freedoms but granting those same freedoms to those of the Muslim faith. And they aren’t thinking about that aspect, the Muslims will be hurt just as much – unless the double standard is allowed by default….It all tells me how much more we need the LORD to return and in the meantime how much we need Him to REIGN in our hearts!

    • Diana Furr says:

      Amen! Consider Supreme Court Justice Thomas’ opinion in the recent Masterpiece Cakeshop opinion: “States cannot punish protected speech because some group finds it offensive, hurtful, stigmatic, unreasonable, or undignified…. A contrary rule would allow the government to stamp out virtually any speech at will. (‘After all, much political and religious speech might be perceived as offensive to some.’)” (https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/17pdf/16-111_j4el.pdf). Governments will do much more in the days to come (Matthew 24). Will Christians in the USA be exempt? You speak truth, Debbie. We need to allow (invite) the Lord to REIGN in our hearts, so we will reflect His Light in the darkness… come what may.

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