Many Christian organization hold their baptism in bodies of water. But it seems the National Park Service got a little tired of it. They reportedly began requesting that religious organizations apply for a permit to perform baptisms in a waterway in a park in Missouri. They wanted 48 hour notice.
The NPS does not, however, require people to apply for a permit to do things like fishing or swimming. Just baptism.
Thankfully, Missouri Congressman Jason Smith questioned the requirement, saying, “I am very troubled by any federal rule that requires churches to apply for a permit for the purpose of baptism especially when these traditional activities have been done in the rivers and streams of this nation since its founding.”
Well, the NPS started backtracking fast and pretty much immediately reversed the policy. They said they didn’t mean nothing by it.
Consider this one a trial balloon folks. It didn’t get much air under it this time. But next time and the time after that…
The federal government isn’t just going to wake up one day and call out the Brute squad on Christians. It’ll be much easier than that. They’ll just demand permits and hold hearings and then hire lawyers. That’s how they’ll make those Christians go away. Paperwork and lawyers. They might be more expensive than the brute squad but they’re more ruthless and effective.
September 4, 2013 at 1:04 pm
Here are links to some relevant material:
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/08/30/btodd-american-dispatchb-feds-forced-churches-to-get-baptism-permits/?test=latestnews
http://jasonsmith.house.gov/media-center/weekly-capitol-report/capitol-report-permits-for-baptisms
http://www.wnd.com/2013/08/feds-drop-demand-for-baptism-permits/
Elaine
September 4, 2013 at 4:30 pm
You can't hold a wedding in Central Park without a permit. Seems reasonable to me. Same deal here.
September 4, 2013 at 4:32 pm
You can't hold a wedding in Central Park without a permit. Seems reasonable to me. Same deal here.
September 5, 2013 at 12:02 am
Except that other functions of comparable size and impact do not require permits. If weddings, only, required permits in Central Park, but not lectures or performances, it would be like this.
I'm guessing you approve of the decision to take the analogy section off of the SATs.
September 5, 2013 at 3:43 am
All public places are held in joint and common tenancy by each and every citizen. All public places belong to each and every one of us. The state has been trying to get control of these lands and soon to add private property to their list. See "indwellers"; people who live in national parks won in court to remain while the NPS tried to evict them. As far as permits for Baptism. The state has no business militating against religion. Separation of church and state. If the state is going to redefine the virtues, it cannot be done. Only a free person, a sovereign person,can have religion. The government cannot practice religion, because the government is a single entity, not capable of practicing religion. and if the state did practice religon, will it be Pelosism, or Clintonism. or maybe Obamaism?
September 5, 2013 at 3:51 am
Sophie I think you're wrong about that, but if you're right, then sure I could see a reason for requiring a permit for a religious group to conduct a religious ritual in a public place.
September 5, 2013 at 6:26 am
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