|
For Tyranny, Dial 501(c)(3) by Roger Young Since 1954, non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations (including churches) have not been allowed to participate in political activity. This wonderful patriotic gift was presented to the American people courtesy of a homely, corrupt U.S. Senator by the name of Lyndon Johnson, one of Texas’ favorite (shameful) sons. Since then, any church that made even remote mention of what the courts may perceive as a “political message” have risked a courtesy call from the benevolent, compassionate folks at the IRS. A church could thus be bankrupted and its mission destroyed, its voice silenced. It took nearly 50 years, but finally there appears to be some serious, though arguably misdirected, resistance to this injustice. A bill has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives (H.R.2357) titled, “The Houses of Worship Political Speech Protection Act," introduced by Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C. The bill’s sponsors claim it will revoke LBJ’s sanctions against such political activity by non-profits and restore their First Amendment protections. Here before us is a prime example of well-meaning people “hacking at the branches of evil” rather than “striking at the root.” The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states in part, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech.” Sounds pretty clear to me. Nowhere does it say that Congress shall determine what my religion shall be, what defines a religion, whether or not a church may endorse a candidate or what is allowed to be said in the context of religious speech. Speech is speech! Politics, to some, is a religion. Obviously, the holy sovereigns who hold preeminence over America’s court system do not share this view. We have witnessed decades of assault upon, and contorted, deranged interpretations of, the First Amendment. Is it not blatantly outrageous and unconstitutional that the extent of an organization’s free speech rights is now determined by its tax status? The U.S. Constitution, I and others will argue, is the most brilliant legal document ever written by man; divinely inspired and brilliantly executed. The framers were well educated in history and were quite familiar with the various devices cultures had invented to restrain governmental powers and guard their precious individual liberties. They drew upon this vast knowledge base culled from ancient history, as well as more than seven centuries of British experience. The result was a masterful instrument of liberty; magnificent in both its completeness and its simplicity. The U.S. Constitution, since its creation, has been marveled at by millions of people around the world who appreciate freedom. But has this marvelous document been able to stop the steady encroachment of The State on the lives and fortunes of those it was designed to protect? Absolutely not. If there is a flaw in the Constitution, it is that the government, watched closely by its citizenry, is responsible for, in a sense, self-regulation. The separation of powers, represented by the three branches of government, was meant to be a check on the inevitable infringement of The State on the life, liberty and property of the people that created it. However, history has shown, that when government becomes corrupt and the citizenry is slothful and negligent in its position of responsible overseer, the Constitution merely becomes a colorfully worded manuscript that means whatever those in power say it means. Hence, we find ourselves dealing with outrageous laws and court decisions that are constitutionally indefensible and morally outrageous. What’s to keep the courts from claiming this legislation, if it passes, to be unconstitutional? In the case of religious free speech, the approach of HR 2357 is a legal Band-Aid to cover the wound (hacking at the branches). Rather, we should be stitching and repairing the gash by defending our inalienable, God-given right spelled out so clearly in that framework composed 215 years ago (striking at the root). The people, themselves, using whatever means necessary, are the final “check” on government oppression. How many churches are there in the U.S.--thousands? Imagine the resistance potential of just 100 of those churches standing up and removing this tyrannical gag upon their thoughts and beliefs; placed there by the self-serving, power-hungry, autocrats who make up the American political ruling class. The turmoil created would tie up the government hoodlums for some time. So what if all 100 of those churches lost; their treasuries depleted, their property confiscated. The Bodies of those churches would still exist; to be merged with those remaining to carry on the fight. Leviathan wouldn’t stand a chance! Though its pockets are deep and its depravity limitless (unlike The Body) its moral argument is weak and its righteousness lacking (unlike The Body). John C. Calhoun said, “A defeat on principle is not an overthrow, while a victory by compromise is a defeat.” The Houses of Worship Political Speech Protection Act, to be frank, is nothing but cowardly groveling before your earthly rulers to restore something that was God-given. Why ask permission for something that already belongs to you?
discuss this column in the forum Roger Young is a freelance photographer in Texas and maintains a website called PixelPrairie.com. He believes that being a Christian, creationist and anarchist are three of the most rational decisions a person can make. |
