A new petition urges lawmakers to fight a “perverse” wave of anti-religion moves that effectively are outlawing “the faith that formed the moral foundation of our nation.”
The new petition follows a series of recent developments that range from a new state law in Indiana that could be used to compel Christian business owners to violate their deeply held faith on the whim of a potential customer to a court order in Washington state that threatens financial ruin on a Christian florist who declined to use her artistry to support same-sex marriage.
Sign the petition here and now!
The WND petition is addressed to governors, members of Congress and state legislators.
It protests the crushing of religious freedom “by rigid imposition of ‘non-discrimination’ laws based on sexual behavior and sexual identification.”
The petition cites recent headlines:
Whereas, the spectacle of an innocent 21-year-old Christian girl, who, for honestly replying to a TV reporter’s hypothetical question and saying her family’s pizza parlor wouldn’t cater a homosexual wedding, was the recipient of a mountain of obscene abuse and death threats, including threats and incitement to burn down the family’s business;
Whereas, dozens of similar cases abound, where Christian business people, just wishing to live true to their faith, are being sued, criminally indicted, prosecuted, fined, forced to violate their deepest morals or close their business, and to undergo forced re-education (“sensitivity training”) strikingly reminiscent of communist totalitarian countries like Mao-era China;
Whereas, rigid and inflexible enforcement of the LGBT movement’s core legal dogma – namely, that “gay” is the new black – means that well-intentioned, law-abiding Americans who harbor religious reservations about homosexuality or same-sex marriage may well find themselves regarded as comparable to the most detestable racists such as Ku Klux Klansmen and neo-Nazis, and prosecuted and legally driven out of their homes and businesses;
Whereas, the “crisis” over Indiana’s “Religious Freedom Restoration Act” (RFRA) – a crisis orchestrated entirely by the left (just as its previous media crisis, “Hands up, don’t shoot,” which fomented an orgy of racial demonstrations, riots, crime and murder of police officers, was based on something that never happened) – started simply as a good-faith attempt in Indiana, like many other states with similar legislation, to balance the rights of all citizens with the free exercise of religious conscience;
Whereas, America was founded, above all else, on the principle of religious liberty – and the religion on which America was founded was biblical Christianity, the very same faith now being effectively demonized as “intolerant” and, increasingly, illegal;
Whereas, “same-sex marriage,” which no country, culture, political establishment, ideology, religion or historical era has ever endorsed, let alone practiced, in the entire history of mankind, is suddenly now an urgent social experiment being forced down the throats of a once-Christian nation by activist judges, tireless gay activists and their enablers and fellow travelers in the news and entertainment media;
Whereas, if current trends continue, within a short time the practice of traditional Christianity – the faith that guided virtually all of America’s founding fathers, as well as most major Western leaders for the past 2,000 years – will be rendered effectively illegal, forcing faithful believers underground – just as faithful believers are forced underground in many parts of the world under the cruel dominance of totalitarian ideologies;
Whereas, the growing totalitarianism of the LGBT movement has become so extreme in recent times that courageous voices of ALL political and cultural persuasions are openly condemning it, from those on the right – like Charles Krauthammer (“totalitarian”) and Patrick Buchanan (“the new blacklist”) – to the left, including comedian Bill Maher (“the gay mafia”) – and even well-known “gay” media personalities Andrew Sullivan (“it disgusts me”), radio talker Tammy Bruce (“the gay gestapo”), and gay writer Brandon Ambrosino, who asks in Time magazine: “Why is our go-to political strategy for beating our opponents to silence them?”
In is in Washington state where florist Barronelle Stutzman of Arlene’s Flowers is facing untold fines and penalties for declining to promote a “gay wedding.” The judge has ruled that her personal possessions, savings, and even home are at risk to pay “damages” to two homosexuals.
The petitioners urge state and federal governments restore religious freedom and not give in to the “naked totalitarianism” of the LGBT movement.
Sign the petition here and now!
“Do you really believe it is good to effectively outlaw practice of the faith that formed the moral and spiritual foundation of our nation from its birth?” the petition asks lawmakers. “If not, we urge you to demonstrate some genuine courage in the face of a nationwide campaign to stamp out America’s most foundational liberty – freedom of religion – just to eliminate even the most respectful and conscience-driven dissent by Christians who don’t want to be forced to participate in activities their faith tells them are immoral and wrong.”
Commentator Pat Buchanan has urged Christians to fight the “LGBT fanatics” who are demanding they betray their faith, including through civil disobedience.
In an interview with WND, Buchanan, the author of “Suicide of a Superpower: Will America Survive to 2025?” and other bestsellers, spoke on the controversy over the Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Buchanan forcefully condemned defeatism among social conservatives and rejected retreat or even compromise. Instead, the one-time presidential contender and Reagan White House aide urged Christians to put the laws of God above the laws of man.
“This battle can be won, but it cannot be won if we do not stand our ground and fight against this moral onslaught from the left,” he said. “The hill to stand on and fight on is the God-given natural right and the constitutional principle that people of faith may choose not to associate with those whose actions are abhorrent and whose lifestyle is insulting and offensive to that faith.”
Buchanan dismissed arguments that “gay”-rights activists are simply asking for political freedom or the same rights as any other citizen.
“The LGBT militants are not asking to be left alone,” he said. “They are demanding that we accept the morality of homosexuality and same-sex marriages, and manifest that acceptance, under pain of law and sanctions, in our daily lives.”
Buchanan added: “As the Romans demanded of the Christians, the LGBT fanatics want us to burn incense to their gods. The answer is no. If it comes to civil disobedience, so be it.”
It was not the first time civil disobedience has been mentioned in the context of looming mandates regarding same-sex marriage.
WND recently reported a team of prominent Christian leaders worked on a statement to inform the public – including justices on the U.S. Supreme Court who soon will hear arguments on the issue – that they will engage in civil disobedience rather than follow a ruling that establishes homosexual marriage in the United States.
Two justices, Elena Kagan and Ruth Ginsburg, already have made public statements in support of gay marriage by performing ceremonies.
Among those leading the charge are James Dobson of Family Talk Radio, Rick Scarborough of Vision America Action, Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel and James Robison of Life Today, whose new publication called The Stream reported on a telephone conference call discussing the issue.
Stream Executive Editor Jay Richards told WND there were about 20 other Christian leaders on the call. He said members of Congress have expressed an interest in the plan.
“We’re taking a very adamant stand,” he said. “If the court declares same-sex marriage to be on the same par as a civil right, that’s a bridge too far. We won’t obey. We’ll go to jail.”
Dobson, who publicly warned Obama he would not submit to mandatory payments for abortion – said Christians must stand together against the clearly unbiblical same-sex marriage.
“We will be attacked from every direction,” Dobson said in the report in the the Stream, “and critics will do all they can to weaken and embarrass us, but so what?”
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“Are we going to sit on our reputations and go to our graves without having played a role? This is Roe v. Wade all over again. I am standing shoulder to shoulder with all who will stand up for God’s Word concerning marriage. We don’t know all of the steps that must be taken, but God will reveal His will. To the extent that I am able to influence anybody, I will do it with passion,” Dobson said.
