Religious Freedom for All?

While many are defending the Muslims’ constitutional right to build an Islamic center close to Ground Zero in New York City, others are hard at work trying to eliminate all signs of Christianity from this country. It seems we have a double standard in this country: defend the Muslims but stamp out Christianity. Please read the following news item to see what I’m talking about:

Road Side Crosses are Unconstitutional

Since 1998, two members of the Utah Highway Patrol Association have organized the placement of monuments (12–foot crosses) on Utah roadsides to honor fallen troopers and had received permission of state authorities. So far, there are 14 crosses throughout the state, each bearing the name and badge number of deceased officers. Families of the troopers were asked if they have an objection to a cross or if they desired a different symbol. All chose crosses.

The American Atheists Inc. complained and won another battle last Wednesday in its ongoing "separation of church and state" legal crusade against Christianity. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals concurred with the atheist group that the crosses convey the message that the state prefers or endorses a certain religion and therefore is unconstitutional. Mathew Staver of Liberty Counsel commented, "If this ruling stands, then the crosses, Stars of David, or other religious symbols in cemeteries are placed in jeopardy. To rid the landscape of memorial crosses would run counter to the First Amendment and place the government on a collision course with religion." [CitizenLink.com, Liberty Counsel].

From “The Pastor’s Weekly Briefing”, Aug. 27, 2010; Copyright © 2010, Focus on the Family. All rights reserved. International copyright secured.

This is not an isolated incident, but this ruling is just one of many that are slowly eroding religious freedom in this country based on a misapplication of the First Amendment. You’ll rarely read about these in the mainstream media, but it’s happening all the time. Let’s start defending the rights of Christians and Jews in addition to those of Muslims.