Category Archives: Religious Freedom

August 31, 2018 Radio Commentary

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Christianity and Politics

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, August 31, 2018 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

We’ve been told that the United States is not a Christian nation and was not founded on Christian values.  So, I did a little research and learned that “God” or “the divine” is mentioned at least once in all 50 state constitutions.  Of the four state constitutions that do not mention God, three of them refer to a “Supreme Being” or “Supreme Ruler of the Universe,” and Hawaii’s constitution refers to “Divine Guidance,” instead of God.

Sixty-three percent of adults in Hawaii profess to be Christian, but Hawaii is the only state that has no Christian in its congressional delegation.  However, congressional delegations in 28 of the 50 states are 100-percent professing Christian.  Georgia that ranks number nine in Pew’s list of ten most populous states that are heavily Christian has a 94-percent professing Christian delegation.

Since Congress is filled with representatives and senators who profess to be Christian, it’s evident that non-Christians, as well as Christians, prefer to elect officials who present themselves as having Christian values. Continue reading →

August 24, 2018 Radio Commentary

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Muzzling Christian Chaplains

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, August 24, 2018 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Blatant persecution of Christians is very evident in the military. Case in point is the current threat to Army Chaplain Scott Squires who is endorsed by the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board. As such, he upholds SBC policy that says: “Endorsed chaplains will not conduct or attend a wedding ceremony for any same-sex couple, bless such a union or perform counseling in support of such a union, nor offer any kind of relationship training or retreat, on or off a military installation.”

Chaplain Squires’ observance of SBC policy is legally protected by the National Defense Authorization Act which says, “No member of the Armed Forces may require a chaplain to perform any rite, ritual or ceremony that is contrary to the conscience, moral principles or religious beliefs of the chaplain.”

Also, he is legally protected by four paragraphs in Army Regulation (AR) 165-1 which states: “No member of the Armed Forces may discriminate or take any adverse personnel action against a chaplain, including denial of promotion, schooling, training, or assignment, on the basis of the refusal by the chaplain to comply with a requirement prohibited by paragraph (1)” of the National Defense Authorization Act.

Again, he is legally protected by Department of Defense instructions that include sections of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act that prohibit the government from substantially burdening any person’s religious freedom without a compelling government interest. Continue reading →

August 17, 2018 Radio Commentary

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Churches and Politics

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, August 17, 2018 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

As long as a church is operating and functioning as an organized church body, it is automatically exempt from paying taxes to the IRS. But, in the past, many pastors and churches have assumed they could not be politically active and keep their tax-exempt status.

However, churches can conduct non-partisan voter registration, voter identification, and “get-out-the-vote” drives. Churches can provide church members with petitions and educational materials about legislation and critical issues. Churches can discuss church doctrine that applies to politics or legislation or candidates running for office.

Churches can introduce candidates and allow them to speak to the congregation, as long as all candidates for that office have the same opportunity. Churches can have candidate forums if they invite all of the candidates and they can lobby for or against specific legislation. Churches cansupport or oppose judges or cabinet officials. They can spend money on referendums and rent church member contact lists to lobbying groups that support or oppose local, state or federal legislation or constitutional amendments. Continue reading →

June 22, 2018 Radio Commentary

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Obfuscating the Issue

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, June 22, 2018 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Today’s word is “obfuscation,” which means “to cloud over, obscure, make dark or unclear, muddle, confuse, bewilder.” It would be easier to use a simpler word, but obfuscation is making a mockery of truth by belittling and changing the right way of handling issues.

Case in point is the reporting of S.B. 375 that failed to pass the General Assembly this year, although it would’ve been a “slam-dunk” a few years ago. Actually, S.B. 375 would not have been necessary years ago, because common sense and the Constitution settled such things.

Senator William Ligon introduced S.B. 375 on January 31 st . It passed the Senate 35 – 19 three weeks later, but died in a House committee when the session ended March 29th .

If S.B. 375 had passed, Georgia’s faith-based adoption agencies could have continued placing children with parents of the same faith and out-of-state faith-based adoption agencies could have expanded their services into Georgia. But the failure of the House to pass S.B. 375 may be laid at the feet of opponents who twisted the meaning of the bill, claiming it allowed adoption agencies to reject gay couples, but it, actually, upheld the religious rights of adoption agencies. Continue reading →