For all the worthwhile endeavors the Religious Right has championed over the last two decades, it has foolishly ignored issues relating to civil liberties. This is very curious indeed. In fact, it is more than curious; it is downright dangerous!
It seems that the Religious Right has a huge blind spot when it comes to the importance of constitutional government and personal liberties. And that is a monumental understatement! Civil liberties issues do not even appear on the Religious Right's radar screen. Why is this true?
America's Founding Fathers (most of whom were Christians) were strong proponents of personal freedoms. In fact, our entire system of law is predicated upon the belief that rights come from God and that it is the responsibility of government to protect those rights.
So strong was the support for individual liberties that without the trenchant prohibitions against governmental abridgement of personal freedoms contained in the Bill of Rights, the original colonies would never have adopted the U.S. Constitution. Even with those safeguards, there was still sizeable opposition to ratification of the Constitution within the sundry states of Colonial America.
By today's standards, the fear of governmental abuse of power by America's founders would be considered paranoia. However, it was the founders' distrust of government that gave this nation the legal underpinnings to produce the freest country on earth.
However, it seems that if the Religious Right has its way, civil liberties would cease to exist in America. To the detriment of our freedoms and even to our very way of life, the sacred principles contained in the Bill of Rights are repeatedly and routinely ignored by the Religious Right! Why is this true?
Why did we not hear conservative Christian leaders speak out against the federal government's massacre of Branch Davidians outside Waco, Texas, or the murder of Randy Weaver's wife by federal agents near Ruby Ridge, Idaho?
Why is it that we never hear national spokesmen for the Religious Right speaking out against an egregiously unconstitutional Patriot Act, or the Orwellian Department of Homeland Security, or the creation of a SS-style position of National Intelligence Director?
The sad truth is, Americans have lost more constitutional protections of personal freedoms under President George W. Bush than under any president in modern memory. And the Religious Right is either totally oblivious to this reality or party to it. How can this be?
Does not the Religious Right understand that without allegiance to our Constitution and Bill of Rights, all politicians, even those that profess to be Christians, become tyrants? Do our national Christian leaders not comprehend that when freedoms are lost to some, they are lost to all? Do they really not understand that when they allow politicians to dismantle constitutional government, they are forging the chains that will be placed around their own necks?
For the life of me, I cannot understand why the Religious Right ignores civil liberties issues! However, I do understand this: Americans are quickly losing their liberties, and, by its silence and inaction, the Religious Right is equally to blame.
© Chuck Baldwin
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