PJM:
As we all know by now, last Tuesday was a big night. The GOP took back the governor’s seat in Virginia and, as the next day wore on, a Republican truck driver who spent the bulk of his $153 campaign war chest on donuts unseated a Democratic incumbent in New Jersey (although as of Friday, the incumbent was apparently still refusing to concede and demanding a recount). But amidst the sound and fury that was Election Night 2021, which included the victorious trumpeting of elephants and the braying of donkeys in defeat, was a ballot measure in Texas.
Proposition 3, which passed in the Lone Star State 925,447 to 557,093, is an amendment to that state’s constitution that reads: “This state or a political subdivision of this state may not enact, adopt, or issue a statute, order proclamation, decision, or rule that prohibits or limits religious services, including those conducted in churches, congregations, and places of worship in this state by a religious organization established to support and serve the propagation of a sincerely held religious belief.”
According to the Texas Values website, the proposal, which was passed by the legislature as Senate Joint Resolution 27, simply prohibits the government from closing churches or other places of worship. Texas Values cited the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of government closures. more
“…a sincerely held religious belief”.
…aaaand, there’s the rub.
Who gets to decide this?
The State?
Congress?
The President?
The Federal Fucking Government?
Based on WHAT?
Who died and gave YOU, or ANYONE, the right to tell ME if I’m lying about my religious beliefs or not.
BY WHAT RIGHT DO YOU BECOME THE ARBEITER OF MY FAITH???!?
NO man may judge my faith, only God may.
I will NOT conceed that right to ANY man, for ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALLEN SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD, and therefore are NO BETTER THAN ME AT ALL at determining who’s belief is ‘sincere’.
If I tell you I worship Jesus, or Allah, or Yaweh, or Ganeesh, or Astoreth, or Kali, or Damballah, or The Flying Spaghetti Monster, YOU are not worthy to judge whether I REALLY mean it or not.
I will kneel to no MAN in this.
My Lord says in His Word I’m not to do it, then I do not do it.
It’s not open for YOUR judgment, Government Man.
ANY Government Man
You got between me and my doctor. You did this with licenses and permissions, bought them with Obamacare, threatened them with jail until he complied.
But you CAN’T get between me and my LORD. HE needs no permission from you, cannot be bought, and you CERTAINLY can’t threaten HIM.
You can threaten ME, of course. You can starve me, deny me medical care, shoot me if I don’t comply.
But as long as I have my ‘sincerely held belief’ you csn only kill this body, which is old and failing anyway.
As for my soul, you threaten me only with Heaven.
Do your worst, tiny, judgy men.
I will not comply.
I owe that to my Lord.
NOT to any collective of Men
Thank you, SNS. Nothing else need be said on this matter.
I’m a little surprised pastors and priests didn’t stand up more for the right of religious congregation considering what Jesus did for mankind.
Once again, in what way is my personal relationship with the Almighty any business of lowly bureaucrats?
First of all (no pun intended) it’s already in the First Amendment.
First Amendment. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
So I have to ask, if they are going to ignore the 1st Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, what makes anyone think they will adhere to this??
I see no problem backing up the US Constitution with the support of a State Constitution.
I don’t see it a problem either, I just don’t know how effective it will be.
“First Amendment. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;”
…doesn’t say the States can’t…
@TRF –
“…First of all (no pun intended) it’s already in the First Amendment.
First Amendment. Congress shall make no law…”
My take on that clause is that it was directed at the federal congress, not the state. In most if not every case, closures, lock-downs, etc. were implemented by state governors and health boards, etc. Therefore a state constitutional amendment addressing this abuse of power would necessary and appropriate.
Yes, but my point is that the democRAT communists are already ignoring the Supreme Court and their rulings. They don’t don’t give a fig about the law!!
Better to have it in place and ignored, than not at all and abused.
TRF
NOVEMBER 7, 2021 AT 10:53 AM
“Yes, but my point is that the democRAT communists are already ignoring the Supreme Court and their rulings. They don’t don’t give a fig about the law!!”
You’re right.
And our founders already told us how to address that.
It is WE who are not doing our duty…
No, YOU F-ING IDIOTS. The Bill Of Rights does not restrain only the Feds, It is a list of absolutes that restrain all of Government be it National or State or Local. The thing that sets the USA apart from the rest of the World is specifically the Bill Of Rights which protects the One from the Many.
I voted for this amendment even though it just seemed like a re-iteration of the 1A in regards to religion. But I guess lawmakers are like bad painters. They just keep adding new coats of the same paint, thinking it will close the gaps. We shouldn’t have to have three laws in succession to make the original law hold true.
I voted for it, too. Glad I did. We all need to speak out in every way that we can.
All the arguments about this legislation can be boiled down to: It’s better to have to have “law” codified at the state level in addition to the federal.
When this is challenged, which it surly will, it’s always better to have “more ammo” than you think you need.
@ I Am The Evil White Man –
As a fucking idiot, please educate me – and I say this in all sincerity – where it is written or interpreted that the US Constitution, and the Bill of Rights apply to the States’ power.
I am not a constitutional scholar by any stretch, and I quote this being uncertain that I am interpreting it correctly:
“…The Tenth Amendment specifically states that “the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people…”
I read that to mean that the Sates determine those powers that the Constitution does not allow the federal government to enforce are delegated to the states.
Now I may be wrong, and I will gladly admit my ignorance, but as an aside note, if you are going to call people fucking idiots, you might want to polish your social skills. Until then, go fuck yourself.
question: if the Federal Gov’t. has no power over the States, then why even bother w/ the Bill of Rights?
btw, the Supremes have had many, many rulings about the ‘absolute power’ of the States. today, they are mere vassals … probably have been since the Whiskey Rebellion, w/ the results of the Civil War ending all speculation
question: why did every State feel the need to also write a Constitution (or some form thereof)?
question: isn’t the problem, so succinctly expressed by SNS, a matter of unclear, indistinct phrasing of legal writings?
And, this is surely a major flaw of the Constitution, as today’s legal minds try to twist the Original Intent to their nefarious goals. The Founders did not count on the obtuseness of future generations.
If the States can nullify in part or wholly the Bill of Rights then there is no point in having the bill of rights.
So then the usual retort is “if you don’t like it move to another state.”. As with the idea that the USA is the only place left on Earth to seek when escaping tyranny so it will be when there are no States left worth moving to.
Just because States have and do usurp power a little at a time don’t make it right. Power is taken a little at a time and if there is no push back, one day your freedom is gone.
If a majority of elected megalomaniac narcissists in some State or another decide that Infringe doesn’t apply to themselves, that they can Infringe all they want then that’s what happens and a precedent is set and there’s no going back.
I remember when every church in the country was shuttered on the whim of a few so called experts.
P.S. I have no social skills, I don’t give a rats ass about your feelings.
So basically, it’s your interpretation.
“…Just because States have and do usurp power a little at a time don’t make it right. Power is taken a little at a time and if there is no push back, one day your freedom is gone…”
You just made my point. Thus the need to codify it into the state’s constitution. That is what this underlying article and thread are all about.
p.s. who said anything about my feelings? Not me. I told you to go fuck yourself.
So your 5th amendment rights only apply in Federal court, or your 4th amendment rights only apply when the Feds are after you?
C’mon man.