U.S. Supreme Court Issues Good Ruling, Sides with Religious Liberty

Since 1999, the New York town of Greece has opened its monthly city meetings with prayer offered by a volunteer.

In 2007 two of the local residents, Linda Stephens and Susan Galloway, attended one of the town’s meetings, which was opened with a Christian prayer. The two ladies later sued the town, alleging that “continued Christian prayer at the opening of town meetings is unconstitutional.”

The lawsuit progressed through federal court before finally being appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Today the court ruled–once again–that it is permissible to open public meetings with prayer.

Alliance Defending Freedom, who argued successfully before the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of Greece, stated that “the practice of town councils to acknowledge America’s religious heritage and invoke divine guidance and blessings upon their work has always been constitutional.”

We have written before about calls to prayer and prayer at public meetings during the early days of our nation. To read more about this story by our friends at Alliance Defending Freedom, click here.

Common Careers Christians May No Longer Hold in America

American Family Association has published a list of 7 common careers Christians may no longer hold in America.

This change is due to mounting pressure to prevent Christians from operating their business-life in a manner congruous with their faith-life.

American Family Association writes:

  • Photography – A Christian photographer in New Mexico was fined $6700 for politely declining to photograph a lesbian commitment ceremony. The Supreme Court allowed this fine to stand.
  • Baker – A Christian baker in Oregon is facing both civil and criminal penalties, including jail time, for politely declining to bake a cake for a gay wedding ceremony. Her business has closed. (more…)

Obamacare, Nebuchadnezzar, and Religious Liberty

What does the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego have to do with the Obamacare mandate that forces religious employers to pay for contraception, sterilization, and abortifacients? John Stonestreet with the Chuck Colson Center makes the connection.

Listen:

[audio:http://www.breakpoint.org/images/content/breakpoint/audio/point/2014/TPT504092014.mp3|titles=John Stonestreet – A Choice from Justice Nebuchadnezzar]

“A freedom that comes with a tax or punishment isn’t freedom at all,” Stonestreet says. “Inalienable rights aren’t bought.”

When the government tries to tax or penalize someone for exercising a fundamental right, the government is encroaching on liberty. In the case of religious employers who find contraception, sterilization, and abortion morally objectionable, the government is issuing a clear ultimatum: Either compromise your deeply-held religious convictions, or pay a stiff fine.

To put it another way, employers are free to operate their businesses according to their moral convictions if they’re willing to pay the government. In the case of Hobby Lobby–one of the companies suing over the contraception mandate–this “conscience tax” would amount to millions of dollars per year.

Courts have ruled private corporations enjoy constitutional liberties such as free speech and freedom of the press. Why shouldn’t they also have religious liberty? And why should religious business owners be taxed for obeying their convictions?

There simply is no sensible way to justify it.