LifeBridge controversy
Re: Let annexation for church stand (9/2/07) There is a fine line between the “free exercise of religion” and government facilitation of religion. Scott Weiser in his essay on Speakout has crossed it.
Government is under no constitutional obligation to subsidize a specific religion. The LifeBridge effort to annex it’s property to Longmont is asking for just such subsidies.
Weiser’s argument says religion trumps all other concerns. There is no right in the U.S. Constitution that is absolute. Weiser’s premise is the foundation of a movement by Dominionists, a branch of “Christianity” that claims the Bible gives it the right — indeed the duty — to take “dominion” over all social and political activity to further its interpretation of the Bible and facilitate the “literal” truth of the Bible.
He rests his argument on legislation passed by a religiously “conservative” Congress in 2000 and very unfortunately signed by President Clinton, The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). Promoted as a means to guarantee primarily prisoners the right to exercise their religion, the real purpose of this act largely flew in under the radar. The law was conceived to facilitate the supremacy of religion. It has not yet withstood a constitutional test. But the lower courts have found it necessary to allow virtually tax-free and unrestricted activity of all projects engaged in by a church, simply because it is a church.
If this isn’t the “establishment of a state-sponsored religion", then God help us, I don’t know what is.
This letter has not been edited.
"...take “dominion” over all social and political activity to further its interpretation of the Bible and facilitate the “literal” truth of the Bible".
Hmmmmm...sounds a bit like ISLAM.
Posted by RickyLee on September 11, 2007 02:15 PMsure does rickylee
Posted by on September 11, 2007 03:02 PMWell, the only difference between Pat Robertson and Osama Bin Laden is that Osama is smarter and has an army.
Posted by Edmond on September 11, 2007 03:07 PMMs. Fissinger states:
"There is no right in the U.S. Constitution that is absolute."
I would say that you messed that one up. As the Supreme Court has ruled, no right in the Constitution guaranteeing personal liberties is absolute, but the Constitution itself provides us our absolute right of self government.
Faulted on a technicality, yes, but faulted all the same.
I don't have the time right now to explain the difference between state sponsored religion and RLUIPA, but here is the link to the Federal Code on this act:
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/casecode/uscodes/42/chapters/21c/toc.html
If I get an opportunity a little later, I may return to address your concern.
Posted by Dan2 on September 11, 2007 03:30 PMIf my religion says, "I should have the right and the obligation, to convert everyone to my belief.", then the right of "freedom of religion" is meaningless.
Posted by Stan Broyles on September 11, 2007 08:33 PMDan2,
Re: "There is no right in the U.S. Constitution that is absolute."
She was attributing that stance to Weiser as I read it.
Posted by Charles B on September 11, 2007 09:17 PMGet a load of the Fitzsimons redevelopment project. This project is warped version of Bush's "faith-based initiative". All of the jobs and contracts in this fedewral funded cash-cow were earmarked for construction companies, whose owners are members of the Mormon Church. K.Salazar, Owens, Ed Tauer, James Shore, BoPeep, and Dennis Brimhall, executed this federal funds fraud, waste, abuse, and RICO violations. Silly me! I thought trhe Mormons were getting enuff federal cash through our welfare program. BILLARY stripped all of the black folks off welfare, however, he left Mormons and Mexicans (legal and illegal) on this cash-cow.
Deniis Brimhall, former CEO, UCH and UCDHSC, was the point-man for this fraud. After taxpayers had been throughly fleeced in the Fitz project, Brimhall suddenly retired. The LDS "freak-a-zoids" decided they would reward Brimhall for his fraud and they appointed him as their new Director, International Mormon Missions. All of the corrupt contractors in this project, filled Mitt's prez campaign coffers with taxpayer funds. Mitt rewarded Owens and Allard for their fraud by giving them paid positions in hsi prez campaign.
America's 1st family, is America's worst. Silly me! I really had thought since Neil Bush, without a shot being fired, robbed Denver's Silverado Bank of $1 billion, the GOP and their draft-dodging evangelical goons, had ENUFF taxpayer money. GHW Bush piled on with his insider-stock trading in Global Crossings, Inc. where he stole $16 million.
Posted by 40acresandmymuleandNAMvetbennies on September 11, 2007 09:39 PM