Onward Christian Soldiers

In Attorney General Gonzales Deputizes the Southern Baptist Convention in New Initiative, Talk to Action reports on a new "First Freedom Project" that the Department of Justice "announced earlier this week by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, [in] an effort to tout and enhance the Department's pursuit of religious discrimination claims through the Civil Rights Division."

Don Bird of Talk to Action also observed that Gonzales has enlisted the Christian right to help the DOJ protect religious freedom:

US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales sought out a meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee as his venue to unveil the new religious liberty initiative of the Department of Justice during a speech in Nashville on Tuesday. The "First Freedom Project" touts the Administration's record arguing religious freedom claims through its Civil Rights Division, provides resources on free exercise rights, and a new "Report on Enforcement of Laws Protecting Religious Freedom." The project also invites tips on potential discrimination the DOJ might investigate. Gonzales made special mention of this near the end of his talk:

[M]ake no mistake, I am here to ask the Southern Baptist Convention, and all of you in this room, for your help. The Department of Justice has many tools to protect religious freedoms in this country, and we are using them. But even with all of our passion and our dedication to this cause, we cannot do it alone.

This has been part of the "mission" of DOJ for some time. Last summer I cited several articles noting a trend in the Department of Justice away from traditional employment related claims alleging discrimination on the basis of race, instead focusing on reverse discrimination claims against whites and religious discrimination against Christians, see Civil Rights & Estate Taxes.

Of course, now that we've eradicated discrimination on the basis of race and sex, it's time to turn our efforts elsewhere. Gays have no rights, so that leaves religion. Of course, we're not talking about freedom from bias against religions such as Islam, or even for non-believers, such as Atheists (Agnostics, who can't decide, probably don't deserve protection). No, the focus is on those long suffering Christians.

As a born & bred Catholic, I can't tell you how often I have felt the burden of discrimination because of my faith!! Any discrimination on the basis of sex that I may have experienced over my career pales in comparison. Thank god the DOJ is finally taking action.

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Whenever I read about this issue, I am reminded of this quote by Jon Stewart:

"Is there an expiration date on this Christian Persecution Complex? Because last time I checked, you guys have pretty much controlled everything since Constantine was in power. Can we move on, please? And he converted in, ahhh, what was it, 312 AD? I'm just saying, enjoy your success."

- Jon Stewart

Tags: Religion, Civil Liberties, Quote of the Day