The controversy in Belen, NM over a permanent nativity scene in a public park continues to roil with City Officials spending time and money on fighting the US Constitution and Supreme Court decisions. This makes the danger of mixing religion and government self evident.
The city will expend money to hold a public auction to sell off the part of a city park that contains the permanent installation of the birth of Christ. The Freedom From Religion Foundation, who sued Belen, says that is a good idea, but then they start acting silly by saying they will bid for the property too. That is as stupid as locating religious preferences on public property. I am a member of FRFF and have told them to knock it off. They are wasting money just as badly as the city officials in Belen. What is with the sophomoric retaliation?
It is surprising to see a politician like Senate Leader Michael Sanchez defend having the religious installation on public property. But, he is probably under great political pressure from the predominantly catholic community there. He is in a very tough spot. It shows the dangers of letting religion into politics for sure.
The city will expend money to hold a public auction to sell off the part of a city park that contains the permanent installation of the birth of Christ. The Freedom From Religion Foundation, who sued Belen, says that is a good idea, but then they start acting silly by saying they will bid for the property too. That is as stupid as locating religious preferences on public property. I am a member of FRFF and have told them to knock it off. They are wasting money just as badly as the city officials in Belen. What is with the sophomoric retaliation?
It is surprising to see a politician like Senate Leader Michael Sanchez defend having the religious installation on public property. But, he is probably under great political pressure from the predominantly catholic community there. He is in a very tough spot. It shows the dangers of letting religion into politics for sure.
7 comments:
Has the city asked all its residents what they think of shrinking instead of increasing public parks? Probably not. Bad precedent all around.
The mayor of Belen told KOB last week the auction was far from a done deal. I don't believe it. The people there think this display has been up since Belen was created. in fact it has only been there the last 25 years. All Belen has to do is provide a part of the park for other religions or for no religion. That is such an easy fix and they would not have to take down their display or sell the park. Why can't the mayor of Belen figure this out?
Not sure why this is such a big deal. The founders of this country believed in God.Religion has always been a guiding force in this country.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
(reasons for declaring Independence)
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
They certainly believed in god, and mostly different versions of god. That is why separation of church and state is so important....different gods.
Not necessarily. They believed in a Creator. This country would not exist were it not for Men of Faith.
They certainly believed in god, and mostly different versions of god. That is why separation of church and state is so important....different gods.
WEAK ARGUMENT JIM!!
most people who came in the early years of this country came to escape religious intolerance. And all of the religions brought their hatred for other religions with them. We would all be better off with out any religious dogma of any kind.
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