Posted by:
left4good
(
)
Date: December 28, 2013 05:59PM
An on-line newspaper in our area runs every TSCC media release that’s pushed. One today talks about TSCC “publish[ing] new resources to help people understand the importance of protecting religious freedom.”
Here it is:
http://www.baxterbulletin.com/article/20131228/LIFESTYLE/312280007/LDS-Church-shares-resources-freedom-religion?nclick_check=1I am genuinely confused about what the brouhaha about religious freedom being threatened is about.
This is from a link (to TSCC’s website) provided in the article:
“Leaders of many faiths, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have expressed deep concern that religious liberty is eroding in the United States and around the world.”
How exactly is religious freedom being eroded? I’m just not seeing it.
The one (and only) reference in the link that describes the threats to religious freedom is this:
“Although his address on religious freedom was not written in response to the Proposition 8 battle over same- sex marriage in California, Elder Oaks likened the incidents of outrage against those who prevailed in establishing marriage between a man and a woman to the ‘widely condemned voter-intimidation of blacks in the South.’”
So if I understand, Oaks is saying pushback against those who advocated for Prop 8 is like voter intimidation of Blacks in the South? You have got to be kidding me!
And get this: “Elder Oaks also said religious freedom is being jeopardized by claims of newly alleged human rights. As an example, he referred to a set of principles published by an international human rights group which calls for governments to assure that all persons have the right to practice their religious beliefs regardless of sexual orientation or identity. Elder Oaks said, ‘This apparently proposes that governments require church practices to ignore gender differences. Any such effort to have governments invade religion to override religious doctrines should be resisted by all believers.’”
So he sees guaranteeing the right to practice religion is a THREAT to religious freedom? That makes no sense.
Please, someone, enlighten me. What threats are there in the United States to religious freedom nowadays?
Because I'll tell you what it looks like to me. It looks to me like TSCC is trying to build up panic, and then lay claim to leadership of some cross-faith coalition as it strives to look normal.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/28/2013 06:00PM by left4good.