Is Freedom of Religion next?

[Martinius]

With more and more Catholic bishops standing up for the rights and lives of immigrants and undocumented workers, and opposing Trump's plans for a wall and deportations, it may not be long before the American Catholic Church is in his crosshairs. Trump already considers the Press (a pillar of our republic) to be "the enemy", and he already has issues with a Pope who speaks truth from the Gospel. He is already going after Muslims, so I don't think it would take much for him to go after Catholics or any religious group that opposes these plans and policies.

So be prepared for the onslaught of verbal and other kinds of attacks. As Catholic bishops, religious, laity and organizations appear in the spotlight and in the news, I would not be surprised to see increased vandalism and bombings of churches. At our parish, in an area that is mostly Trump supporters, the pastor has added security, in the building and in the parking lot, on weekends and when activities are happening. He didn't say exactly why and some people thought we might be a target of Islamic terrorists. I said that it was more likely the home grown punks and alt-right loonies he was concerned about.

What do you think? Could our Church and religious freedoms be threatened? Are we next?

 

[John Hyperspace]

the Press (a pillar of our republic)

 

[Biblewriter]

Actually, the protection of freedom of religion was one of the pillars of Trump's campaign.

 

[Fish and Bread]

The press is absolutely a pillar of our democracy, protected by the 1st amendment to the constitution. It's an important institution that helps inform the public, protect our freedoms, and root out what the powers that be want to hide from us.

 

[Fish and Bread]

 

[Fish and Bread]

Trump is already discriminating against Muslim refugees and legal Muslim immigrants who hold green cards, discriminating on the basis of their religion- in his very first week in office. I wouldn't assume that Catholics are safe. I wouldn't assume that anyone is safe.

 

[Biblewriter]

As he retreated behind his 90foot high walls surrounding the Vatican City.

 

[Fish and Bread]

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.


Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.


Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.


Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

-Pastor Martin Niemöller

 

[Biblewriter]

Trump is already discriminating against Muslim refugees and legal Muslim immigrants who hold green cards, discriminating on the basis of their religion- in his very first week in office. I wouldn't assume that Catholics are safe. I wouldn't assume that anyone is safe.

This is a false accusation. He did not stop Muslims coming from many peaceful places. He only stopped EVERYONE, not just Muslims, coming from violent places.

 

[Martinius]

Actually, the protection of freedom of religion was one of the pillars of Trump's campaign.

And I have a beautiful lake resort in the Sahara desert you can buy time shares for. he has already cracked that pillar, and it may tumble quite soon. He said that to curry votes from certain religious groups, and some fell for it. Trump has no pillars, except profits for himself and his family. It has been that way for decades, and he isn't changing horses now. He is just saying what he thinks his supporters want to hear.

So let's see what happens. I could be wrong, but if leaders of any religion defend their faith and their core beliefs loud enough, he will turn on them.

 

[Martinius]

This is a false accusation. He did not stop Muslims coming from many peaceful places. He only stopped EVERYONE, not just Muslims, coming from violent places.

Let's see. He did not stop Saudi's from coming here, even though Saudi's were the main people involved in 9-11 and have been the biggest financial backers of terrorism. Yeah, Saudi Arabia is such a nice, peaceful place. And they have lots of oil.

I suppose the next places Trump will want to build a wall around or keep people leaving from is Detroit, Chicago, and St. Louis.

 

[Biblewriter]

The press is absolutely a pillar of our democracy, protected by the 1st amendment to the constitution. It's an important institution that helps inform the public, protect our freedoms, and root out what the powers that be want to hide from us.

Trump called the mainstream media out on their blatant dishonesty. And their PROVEN collusion with the Hillary campaign. But he made zero attempt to silence them. The ONLY recent politician who actually attempted to silence ANY media figures, was OBAMA.

 

[Fish and Bread]

This is a false accusation. He did not stop Muslims coming from many peaceful places. He only stopped EVERYONE, not just Muslims, coming from violent places.

His initial ban stops everyone coming from those particular countries, ultimately he has talked about prioritizing Christians over Muslims when 120 days are up:

Donald Trump Says He Would Prioritize Resettling Christians Over Other Refugees | The Huffington Post

And we talk about violent places as though the refugees are somehow at fault or part of the violence. Refugees are by definition people fleeing the violence and hoping to avoid violence, imprisonment, or death. I think we have a moral obligation to these people, regardless of their religious background.

Our moral obligation would exist even if this were not the case, but is strengthened by the fact that we toppled the old regime in Iraq and installed a new one that was weaker and discriminated against Sunni Muslims, which opened the door for ISIS to gain the approval of the Sunni tribal leaders, and come flooding in from Syria. Many of Iraq's troops dropped their American provided weapons, changed into civilian clothes, and ran. ISIS is now using those weapons against residents of both Iraq and Syria.

We broke it, we bought it. These refugees exist in part because of Bush's war. We owe them.

 

[Shiloh Raven]

Let's see. He did not stop Saudi's from coming here, even though Saudi's were the main people involved in 9-11 and have been the biggest financial backers of terrorism. Yeah, Saudi Arabia is such a nice, peaceful place. And they have lots of oil.

I suppose the next places Trump will want to build a wall around or keep people leaving from is Detroit, Chicago, and St. Louis.

And there is also this problem with Trump's jingoism and xenophobic Muslim ban.

Trump’s Immigration Ban Excludes Countries With Business Ties

Trump's Muslim ban excludes countries linked to his businesses

Countries where Trump does business are not hit by new travel restrictions

 

[Fish and Bread]

Trump called the mainstream media out on their blatant dishonesty.

You mean he called them out for not transcribing the alternate reality going on in his head and selling it to the American people as the truth.

But he made zero attempt to silence them.

Opinion | New York Times lawyer responds to Trump’s lawsuit threat

He also discussed suing the Washington Post and "tightening" libel laws in general so that no one could criticize him, essentially. These are authoritarian acts and absolutely constitute attempting to silence the media. He's learned a few tricks from his pal Putin.

 

[RaymondG]

With more and more Catholic bishops standing up for the rights and lives of immigrants and undocumented workers, and opposing Trump's plans for a wall and deportations, it may not be long before the American Catholic Church is in his crosshairs. Trump already considers the Press (a pillar of our republic) to be "the enemy", and he already has issues with a Pope who speaks truth from the Gospel. He is already going after Muslims, so I don't think it would take much for him to go after Catholics or any religious group that opposes these plans and policies.

So be prepared for the onslaught of verbal and other kinds of attacks. As Catholic bishops, religious, laity and organizations appear in the spotlight and in the news, I would not be surprised to see increased vandalism and bombings of churches. At our parish, in an area that is mostly Trump supporters, the pastor has added security, in the building and in the parking lot, on weekends and when activities are happening. He didn't say exactly why and some people thought we might be a target of Islamic terrorists. I said that it was more likely the home grown punks and alt-right loonies he was concerned about.

What do you think? Could our Church and religious freedoms be threatened? Are we next?

Is freedom of religion what we really want? Dont we really want for everyone to be forced to be Christian and all laws to be based on Christian and biblical rules?

 

[Shiloh Raven]

But wait... it gets better. Check out this little gem tweeted by his vice president in December 2015.

 

[Fish and Bread]

Trump’s Plan to Neuter the White House Press Corps, and Neuter Our Democracy

 

[Fish and Bread]

Is freedom of religion what we really want? Dont we really want for everyone to be forced to be Christian and all laws to be based on Christian and biblical rules?

That sounds like a theocratic dystopian nightmare to me.

 

[Shiloh Raven]

What do you think? Could our Church and religious freedoms be threatened? Are we next?

I hope not because Native Americans did not have religious freedom until the American Indian Freedom of Religion Act of 1978. That was less than 40 years ago. It took 202 years after America was founded for Indians to finally be given this freedom.