The state of Connecticut’s attempts to silence the Church is not just a Catholic problem. And the sooner all Christians stand up to the bullying tactics of the state, the safer every religious organization in this country will be.
As we all know, the Office of State Ethics in Connecticut is investigating a Catholic diocese for allegedly lobbying state lawmakers. The diocese was simply trying to fend off an unprecedented power grab from the state which was trying to take the power of the Church away from bishops and forcibly hand it over to elected lay boards.
In response, the Diocese of Bridgeport appropriately arranged for busloads of people show up at the state capitol to protest the bill.
But because the Church attempted to influence legislation, the state’s OSE is saying that the Church must register as a lobbyist organization.
But oddly the blogosphere and many Christian organizations have been strangely silent on this issue. But surely we must all understand that if succesful the state will not content itself with silencing only one religious organization. Power obtained rarely rusts in the hands of the government. This tactic will be repeated until it is stopped or religious organizations are too afraid to speak their mind.
But thankfully, some are becoming aware enough of this awful situation and understand that if this move is successful it could lead to silencing every congregation of every religion in the country.
According to One News Now:
Mat Staver, dean of the Liberty University School of Law in Lynchburg, Virginia, believes a constitutional right is under attack.
“If a church has to register with the state before it can take a position on a particular piece of legislation or an initiative, that is a significant violation and intrusion on the rights of the church’s mission,” he argues. “It’s certainly a violation, I believe, of the First Amendment.”
Staver believes it is an attempt by some who are opposed to the church’s position on morality and sexual behavior, wanting to intimidate the church into silence by saying it did not register to lobby.
“If anything, the church-state provision of the First Amendment means that the government cannot come in and direct the internal operation and mission of the church,” the attorney emphasizes.
But that is, in fact, what is being attempted on the Connecticut diocese, says Staver.
This is a good thing. We, as Christians must all stand together or the state will pick off each denomination one at a time seeking to encourage silence from all others.
June 16, 2009 at 1:54 am
You are in-tune with these unlike many in the Church. I remember how you foresaw the tragedy of reconciling with the SSPX with that Holocaust denying bishop unchecked. But it is deja vu all over again. I think the USCCB needs to be more responsive to these and take the lead, but it appears that they're asleep at the wheel again.
June 16, 2009 at 4:40 am
Rick there was no "tragedy" there. The reconciliation of the bishops ocurred. And it is moving ahead with the entire organization. It was never going to be an overnight thing.
I don't think you are hearing too much noise about this because it is nonsensical. The petty CT faction is simply trying to save face since they lost before they got to the start gate. This would never pass any court in the land. Which is why no one is really caring too much in or out of CT.
June 16, 2009 at 5:06 am
well, if anonymous says everything's going to be alright then we can all just stop worrying.
June 16, 2009 at 7:00 am
Well, how about if I'm right and the case never reaches the CT Supreme court then you shut down this blog and dedicate the rest of your days to prayers of forgiveness. And if you're right and all churches in CT are shuttered and we are all forced into gulags to have Obama's face tatooed on our pectorals, then I owe you a coke.
June 16, 2009 at 8:18 pm
It seems reminiscent of Martin Niemöller's poem about the nazis, "First they came…"
June 16, 2009 at 10:51 pm
I have to confess it seems more reminiscent of Chicken Little.
Keep in mind the root of this was a few priests mismanaging parish money and parishioners not getting a sensible response from a bishop. There's no way anyone can make the clergy responsible to the laity. None, really, at all.
Organized religion is in no more danger now than it was during the Reagan administration when operatives penetrated the Sanctuary movement, bugged phones, and the like.
June 19, 2009 at 6:28 pm
The parishioners can stop donating to the archdiocese until the bishop becomes sensible or the Church can apply sweeping financial controls to prevent thievery. I've read recently how another priest has been accussed of financial "improprieties". And it will repeat until there are more controls.