LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY sunfell)

Here's what the ACLU has to say about the Workplace Religious Freedom Act which is in the US Senate:

Defend Civil Rights and Health Services


The next time you go to the hospital, you should not have to worry that a nurse might not treat you because it against his religion to provide the service you need. You also should not have to worry that police officers might not enforce certain laws designed to protect you because to do so would offend their religious beliefs.

Yet legislation soon to be introduced in the U.S. Senate would greatly increase the chances of such scenarios actually occurring. One of your Senators co-sponsored this legislation in the last session of Congress; please act now to help ensure that neither of your Senators co-sponsors the bill this year.

Many people came to America to flee religious intolerance and our religious freedom and religious plurality are one of the cornerstones of American society. Because of this freedom, each of us has the right to practice -- or not practice -- the religion of our choice. However, if you are police officer or doctor, you should not be able to refuse to fulfill your duty in a particular situation on religious grounds if it would result in harm to someone else's civil rights or healthcare. ( Read more... )

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY hummingwolf)

Cal Thomas takes on evangelicals who dare to address global warming.

Do evangelicals have time on their hands because they've finished the mission to "go and make disciples of all nations"? Is this not a great enough commission that "global warming" and a host of other "issues" must be added to make evangelicals contemporary and relevant?

The Rev. Rich Cizik, vice president of governmental affairs for the National Association of Evangelicals, a Washington lobbying group, was quoted in The New York Times as saying, "I don't think God is going to ask us how he created the earth, but he will ask us what we did with what he created."

Rev. Cizik offers no biblical citation for his view. There is no biblical expectation that a "fallen" world can, should or will be improved prior to the return of the One to whom evangelicals are supposed to owe their complete allegiance.

Funny how you never hear this argument used against people who argue against gay marriage, abortion availability, or welfare. To be fair, Cal Thomas does say that "Those on the left and right who misuse Jesus think they can have the best of both worlds," as well as admitting that the Moral Majority wasn't the best of all ideas.

Got the link to this from the Christian conservative World Magazine Blog, where there might be some interesting discussion in the comments.