Shorter version: Focus on the Family wants conservative Christian churches and individuals to be able to do whatever the hell they damn want — hire, fire, build, tear down, discriminate, slander, isolate, bully, whatever — and use their "sincerely held religious belief" as a shield to be allowed to do so.
I'll note that the Colorado Constitution already says:
"Section 4. Religious freedom. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination, shall forever hereafter be guaranteed; and no person shall be denied any civil or political right, privilege or capacity, on account of his opinions concerning religion; but the liberty of conscience hereby secured shall not be construed to dispense with oaths or affirmations, excuse acts of licentiousness or justify practices inconsistent with the good order, peace or safety of the state. No person shall be required to attend or support any ministry or place of worship, religious sect or denomination against his consent. Nor shall any preference be given by law to any religious denomination or mode of worship."
So until FoF et al. can tell me precisely how their religious freedoms are being currently violated under the Colorado and US Constitutions, so that we can see precisely what "religious freedom" they have in mind, they can go pound sand. #ddtb
Embedded Link
Groups propose religious freedom amendment – The Denver Post
Focus on the Family leads a coalition seeking a constitutional amendment prohibiting state government from burdening the religious freedom of a person or religious organization.
Good luck with that amendment–I think it’ll be harder to pass than they believe.
Also: “Nor shall any preference be given by law to any religious denomination or mode of worship”. Let’s see how that works when a Native or minority religion comes to play. I’m willing to believe there’ll be some backpedalling and “but that’s not what we meant”/”not a real religion” going on.
@Marina – Given that this is the same sort of group that think it’s incredibly keen that the Air Force Academy has a gorgeous Christian chapel onsite (which they grudgingly allow Catholics, Jews, and even a few Muslims to use), but pitched a fit that while doing some work on erosion control they spent about $40K to create a stone circle for pagan cadets — yeah, I’d say that’s a safe bet.
As a general rule, I tend not to trust anything that comes from an organization with “Family” in its title — unless “Family” is followed by “Planning.” Most of them have little to do with being supportive of a family. This goes double for this organization founded by James (Beat Your Dog Into Submission and Shower With Your Small Son) Dobson. He stepped down in 2009, but his influence lives on. I see comments at the link claiming persecution. I guess when I attend church and Bible study freely, and talk about my faith which is so much a part of who I am, and am not persecuted it means….what?
@Ellie – You are clearly being persecuted if you don’t have taxpayers funding your Bible group, which should be held at school during school hours with school kids, because to prevent that from happening is a clear infringement of your religious freedom.
All this assumes, of course, that we’re talking about Good Old-Time Conservative Christianity (with, perhaps, if we’re being charitable, token acknowledgement and accommodation of the Jews). To provide such taxpayer support for other faiths and sects and denominations would not only be against the state’s compelling interest, but would itself constitute an attack on these poor, persecuted Christians religious freedoms.
Colo. Const. art. 5, § 34: “No appropriation shall be made for charitable, industrial, educational or benevolent purposes to any person, corporation or community not under the absolute control of the state, nor to any denominational or sectarian institution or association.”
Colo. Const. art. 2, § 4: “The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination, shall forever hereafter be guaranteed; and no person shall be denied any civil or political right, privilege or capacity, on account of his opinions concerning religion; but the liberty of conscience hereby secured shall not be construed to dispense with oaths or affirmations, excuse acts of licentiousness or justify practices inconsistent with the good order, peace or safety of the state. No person shall be required to attend or support any ministry or place of worship, religious sect or denomination against his consent. Nor shall any preference be given by law to any religious denomination or mode of worship.”
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I am sure there are several targets that the christianist in the Springs are going after, one of which is Colorado’s Blaine Amendments, a major pain in their sides currently.
The other would be to force puplic schools to quit teaching most science.
Sorry for the near-dupe reply here, @BD — I was responding to your Tweet about this on my Google Plus entry, knowing that would get autocopied into my blog, where I didn’t realize you’d already commented … 😉
And good call on “science” (also “social studies” and “literary arts” and “sex education” and anything else that someone decides is controversial and hurts their children’s religious freedoms and their parental religious freedom, too). And, no doubt, even allowing an “opt out” opportunity will be seen as too traumatizing, unless, of course, they are allowed to opt out into an alternative religious lesson that teaches about Young Earth Creationism by the Heavenly Father — to not let them do so being an obvious attack on their religious freedom.
And if that shuts down the whole public school system, then all the better, of course, since it means that they can apply for private and parochial school funding from the state and teach what they damned want at the taxpayers’ expense.
It’s win-win-ariffic!
Stan noted that what they are targeting are Art. 5:34 & Art. 9:7:
5 – Section 34. Appropriations to private institutions forbidden. No appropriation shall be made for charitable, industrial, educational or benevolent purposes to any person, corporation or community not under the absolute control of the state, nor to any denominational or sectarian institution or association.
9 – Section 7. Aid to private schools, churches, sectarian purpose, forbidden. Neither the general assembly, nor any county, city, town, township, school district or other public corporation, shall ever make any appropriation, or pay from any public fund or moneys whatever, anything in aid of any church or sectarian society, or for any sectarian purpose, or to help support or sustain any school, academy, seminary, college, university or other literary or scientific institution, controlled by any church or sectarian denomination whatsoever; nor shall any grant or donation of land, money or other personal property, ever be made by the state, or any such public corporation to any church, or for any sectarian purpose.
Ah. Religious Freedom = Public Funding for Religious Purposes with No Strings Attached. That makes it much clearer. Obviously we are infringing on RELIGIOUS FREEDOM by not giving them taxpayer dollars for whatever purpose they choose.
And, of course, once they have the money, then they have an even more emotionally solid course to argue that taking it away again would be discrimination.
To that end, though, I'm sure Focus on the Family will be pleased as punch to see public funding for a pagan worship park down the street, or for a new Islamic Law Center downtown …