I assume this regards the assaults from the “religious right” on the rest of us? Amazing how much legislation they’re trying to pass to take away rights, while claiming to “protect” only their own.
Relgions are fine when they stay on their side of the wall, but amazing how many folks who want to kill all Muslims, would gladly throw the rest of us under the bus as well. A “good Christian” theocracy, like well, the Inquistion, or the Salem witch trials is actually no different than Iran.
Pollitics from the pulpit, Hiram? Nah, that would never happened. I would say social commentary is rightfully the place of “the church”, actually, but that does not, in this country, cross over into campaigning for candidates. But then again one must consider that constant effort to legislate their own “morality”.
As well as the 1st Amendment, in the body of the Constitution itself — Article VI, Paragraph 3:
“The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.”
Amendment OneCongress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof etc etc etc. However, technically, you’re correct. It isn’t in the constitution, it’s the first amendment.
There is NO WALL in the Constitution.That is an invention of centralized Big Government to try to gag citizens of faith in God.-The First Amendment is a prohibition of the STATE interfering in church matters. It guarantees citizens of Faith the right to exercise their beliefs without interference of government.-The Bill of Rights is to protect citizen rights from people who want Government to replace God as the object of Faith, and protect citizens from laws that try to control the Church and individual beliefs that the State tries to suppress.-Free Speech is for every citizen in the home, in the church and in the public square. Every printing press and every means of communication are for Free Speech so long as it does not incite crimes or riots for harming selected “undesirables” like Hitler’s Germany did to the Jews.We know what those Nazi programs resulted in, and we ought not follow that evil path of giving government the power and status to control speech and all activities of citizens.-Our Rights are given by God, not the State.
As I understand it, the subpeona is because of a lawsuit. I don’t know the specifics but I think the sermons are really outside the scope of the suit. If I have that wrong, please correct me. I’m not sure why you would think they are violating their tax exempt status. Also, I don’t follow why you think religous figures aren’t allowed to have and express a political opinion. The Constitution prohibits the government from instituting a state relgon and guarantees teh right of people to worship (or not worship) as they wish. It does not forbid anyone from having or expressing an opinion. ( http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/10/17/357022015/houston-narrows-the-scope-of-controversial-subpoena-of-pastors-sermons )
2. The “wall” in Article Vi, the body of the Constitution as well as in the first amendment is to keep religion OUT of government, as the founding fathers had seen the horror of that, both before and after Henry VIII made his “adjustments” among other histories.
Hiram Bingham…to reply to your statement about keeping religion out of government….What on earth does that mean?the USA Government is We the People, and that includes Christians.-The Houston pastors are not running political campaigns for election out of their churches. That is the only thing that could threaten a tax-exempt status, is it not?-The Mayor and Council used a subpoena to demand sermons and 17 other types of personal communications and filed a lawsuit against the pastors.-Sermons are public as soon as they are spoken.The city government has no right to personal communications of any citizen. -This is a leftist anti-Christian bullying by empty threats…I thank God the pastors have good legal representation to protect their First Amendment rights.-Just as we Christians must pay our taxes to the government, we have a right to participate in how the government operates and just as much right to express opinions as all other citizens. Maybe the Houston Christian community should petition the city to acknowledge equal rights to Christians????
Dtroutma over 9 years ago
I assume this regards the assaults from the “religious right” on the rest of us? Amazing how much legislation they’re trying to pass to take away rights, while claiming to “protect” only their own.
Relgions are fine when they stay on their side of the wall, but amazing how many folks who want to kill all Muslims, would gladly throw the rest of us under the bus as well. A “good Christian” theocracy, like well, the Inquistion, or the Salem witch trials is actually no different than Iran.
Dtroutma over 9 years ago
Pollitics from the pulpit, Hiram? Nah, that would never happened. I would say social commentary is rightfully the place of “the church”, actually, but that does not, in this country, cross over into campaigning for candidates. But then again one must consider that constant effort to legislate their own “morality”.
lbatik over 9 years ago
As well as the 1st Amendment, in the body of the Constitution itself — Article VI, Paragraph 3:
“The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.”
Diane Lee Premium Member over 9 years ago
Amendment OneCongress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof etc etc etc. However, technically, you’re correct. It isn’t in the constitution, it’s the first amendment.
kline0800 over 9 years ago
There is NO WALL in the Constitution.That is an invention of centralized Big Government to try to gag citizens of faith in God.-The First Amendment is a prohibition of the STATE interfering in church matters. It guarantees citizens of Faith the right to exercise their beliefs without interference of government.-The Bill of Rights is to protect citizen rights from people who want Government to replace God as the object of Faith, and protect citizens from laws that try to control the Church and individual beliefs that the State tries to suppress.-Free Speech is for every citizen in the home, in the church and in the public square. Every printing press and every means of communication are for Free Speech so long as it does not incite crimes or riots for harming selected “undesirables” like Hitler’s Germany did to the Jews.We know what those Nazi programs resulted in, and we ought not follow that evil path of giving government the power and status to control speech and all activities of citizens.-Our Rights are given by God, not the State.
warjoski Premium Member over 9 years ago
As I understand it, the subpeona is because of a lawsuit. I don’t know the specifics but I think the sermons are really outside the scope of the suit. If I have that wrong, please correct me. I’m not sure why you would think they are violating their tax exempt status. Also, I don’t follow why you think religous figures aren’t allowed to have and express a political opinion. The Constitution prohibits the government from instituting a state relgon and guarantees teh right of people to worship (or not worship) as they wish. It does not forbid anyone from having or expressing an opinion. ( http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/10/17/357022015/houston-narrows-the-scope-of-controversial-subpoena-of-pastors-sermons )
oneoldhat over 9 years ago
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/oct/20/idaho-citys-ordinance-tells-pastors-to-marry-gays-/
Dtroutma over 9 years ago
Hmm,
1. Adolph HItler was a Roman Catholic.
2. The “wall” in Article Vi, the body of the Constitution as well as in the first amendment is to keep religion OUT of government, as the founding fathers had seen the horror of that, both before and after Henry VIII made his “adjustments” among other histories.
kline0800 over 9 years ago
Hiram Bingham…to reply to your statement about keeping religion out of government….What on earth does that mean?the USA Government is We the People, and that includes Christians.-The Houston pastors are not running political campaigns for election out of their churches. That is the only thing that could threaten a tax-exempt status, is it not?-The Mayor and Council used a subpoena to demand sermons and 17 other types of personal communications and filed a lawsuit against the pastors.-Sermons are public as soon as they are spoken.The city government has no right to personal communications of any citizen. -This is a leftist anti-Christian bullying by empty threats…I thank God the pastors have good legal representation to protect their First Amendment rights.-Just as we Christians must pay our taxes to the government, we have a right to participate in how the government operates and just as much right to express opinions as all other citizens. Maybe the Houston Christian community should petition the city to acknowledge equal rights to Christians????