State v. Church

This essay is based on this recent article in the Chicago tribune: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/religion/ct-met-joliet-diocese-foster-parents-20110603,0,1507362.story

The article describes the withdrawal of Catholic charities agencies in Joliet and Peoria Illinois from licensing families for either foster or adoptive care under state licensing guidelines. Previously Catholic charities in Rockford and Chicago Illinois had taken similar action. What is behind this withdrawal? Illinois passed legislation creating civil unions for gay people. Legal civil unions would be eligible for foster and adoptive parenting and Catholic charities does not permit foster or adoptive parenting for cohabiting but unmarried couples regardless of sex. Catholic charities follow their own belief system which requires a traditional marriage home for foster parenting and adoption. In the past these four (Chicago, Joliet, Peoria and Rockford) agencies would have licensed several thousands of homes that provided a loving, healthy family environment for children without homes.

So, why can’t the agencies just go on with their practice even with the new civil union legalization you may ask? Well, the agencies anticipate that it is only a short matter of time before they are accused, threatened and most likely indicted for discriminating against the civil union legislation based “families.” State v. Church. Guess who wins?

By the way, in case you are wondering, it is not just Catholic charities that follow a married family policy for foster care and adoptive parenting. Lutherans do it. Evangelicals do it. Many Jews and Muslims do it.

Who doesn’t care? Mostly, those who belong to the church of Obama. Those folk wave in the winds of change; usually accepting the ministration decrees of whatever the progressive leadership folk deem necessary to keep pulling the vote from the fringe groups. The church of Obama says the he** with the kids. We need the gay vote. We’ll call it progress. No one can oppose progress. Soon gays will be able to marry and then we’ll show up the Catholics for their anti gay discriminatory ways. Well, that last sentence is our take obviously; heaven forbid that the real intentions of the church of Obama would ever be so clearly described.

So all the families that the Catholic charity folks and the Lutherans and others have identified and carefully screened and followed now leave or go get qualified with the church of Obama if they wish to remain as either foster or adoptive parents. And this is progress? Who will suffer? We’ll see. It can’t be good news for the kids who need a family. But so what? Progress does have its victims.

Why do we at TheFundamentals write about this stuff? There is no apparent connection to financial matters or fiscal responsibility. This “civil unions” monkey business just appears to be one more step on the path to a drastically changed society in which a so-called progressive agenda replaces a traditional agenda. The legislative process has been on this course for decades. The courts support and sometimes lead this progressive agenda. Marriage used to be a matter for private decision making and now it is mostly a matter of the state. No different from education; from health care; from welfare; from any involvement with authority or licensing or state operated TV and radio. The state is involved in all. They oversee your paycheck; your purchases; your bank account; your education and health decisions; your involvement in helping out needy kids; what drugs you can buy and when; what medical procedures they will authorize; how your kids must be seated when you drive to grandma’s house (see this article http://www.statesman.com/news/local/10-year-old-boy-gets-ticket-for-not-1515754.html  ); how your car operates and how your lawn mower operates. When you can fish; if you can fish; what you can keep; what you must release. Right to bear arms? C’mon. They let you have pea shooters compared to what they arm their agents with. Freedom of speech? Sure. As long as you don’t exercise it with their agents. Limited government? C’mon. The only limits on government are what the government agents self impose. They don’t work you. You work for them.

Freedom of religion? Meaningless today because the government is now a religion; all encompassing; just like Islam dominates every aspect of the life of a Muslim; the church of Obama (or, if you prefer the church of the state) dominates every aspect of your life. You worship at its altar every moment of the waking day and the better part of the night. You genuflect upon command. They tithe you and you pay. You are a member in good standing of the church of Obama. You have been saved!

Thank God for the few who say no. The ones who tell the state to keep your agendas and your progressive nonsense. We applaud the Catholic agencies in four big Illinois towns that just told the state to shove it. Next time you see your local PBS station attacking the Catholic Church, remember this essay. PBS and NPR don’t like groups that listen to their own conscience; that follow their traditions; their beliefs; their fundamentals. They want us all to attend services at Obama’s church.

The constitution tells government to leave religion alone and prohibits a state religion or church.  The government bypasses the constitution by supplanting the activities of churches and religions with their own dogma, liturgy, charitable activities, tithing and rules.  And the courts go along to get along.

Who wins in State v. Church?  It's not even a contest!