| Written By Corine Gatti-Santillo |
Many of us never thought the day would come when praying would lead to arrests and jail time. When pursuing Christian beliefs wouldn’t put a person in court. Or how about small businesses following employment laws, becoming targets for lawsuits because of the “gender identity” agenda? Assuredly not in America, right?
Prayer warrior and businessman Richard Patten, a Washington, D.C. resident didn’t believe so. The Secret Service arrested him for anointing the White House gates with holy oil.
“They took me off to jail for the most uncomfortable night I’ve ever had in my life,” said Patten who has prayed over the White House for a decade.
He was later exonerated by a judge.
In Washington state, the State Supreme Court (Washington v. Arlene’s Flowers), ruled against florist Barronelle. Stutzman turned away a gay couple requesting a floral arrangement for their wedding and declined because of her relationship with Jesus Christ.
Tom Rost, the owner of R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes in Michigan, is fighting for freedom at the Supreme Court. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a lawsuit against Harris Funeral Homes in 2013. His male funeral director at the time agreed to abide by the company’s sex-specific dress code but demanded to dress as a woman during working hours. Small businesses are permitted by law to have sex-specific dress codes. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a lawsuit anyway and a sex discrimination lawsuit.
Alliance Defending Freedom | Facebook Photo
Alliance Defending Freedom explained the motives of the EEOC. “To achieve these political goals, the EEOC decided that the definition of “sex” in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act should be rewritten to mean “gender identity.” But neither government agencies nor courts have the authority to rewrite federal law. That’s a blatant and unconstitutional overreach.”
The EEOC reversed their initial position.
We are beyond the act of tolerance in society. We’re frightened to defend ourselves in fear of lawsuits and threats by antagonists. Where are the rights of the people in the cases and situations mentioned? Where is the tolerance towards them?
Dr. Rice Broocks, author of God’s Not Dead and The Human Right revealed people can’t differentiate between truth and tolerance in today’s culture.
“By saying something is true, it logically follows that there is something false. If telling others, the truth is surveyed as intolerant then society would cease to function. If we aren’t certain that Christianity is true, then we will be hesitant to engage others of different religions or beliefs. Complacency is rooted in confusion and uncertainty in regard to what is true.”
Christian activists gather outside of the Supreme Court in support of Colorado cake baker Jack Phillips on Dec. 5, 2017. RNS photo by Chris Mathews
What is true? The truth is we’re in a society that selects what laws to follow or not to follow, despite the law or what the Constitution has lined out. As long as choices don’t undermine those of opposing views, it’s fine. The Constitution applies to all people — a paradigm for governance other countries model. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects the freedom of speech, religion and the press. This includes peaceful protest and “petitioning the government.”
We can remain respectful but adhere to our rights as written in the Constitution. We respect the law, still pray for the White House with physical barriers, regard EEO laws and choose what flower arrangements jobs to not accept if it collides with personal religious beliefs. America is a place where all people can live out their faith freely. This what makes us great.
Corine Gatti-Santillo has spent two decades as an editor, investigative reporter and web content strategist; her work has appeared in The Christian Post, LifeZette and CBN, among other outlets. She is host of the program “Mom on the Right” on The Liberty Beacon TV. She and her husband, Rocky, live in Virginia with their infant daughter and yellow lab Maggie.