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Journal News Commentary

All private schooling endangered by the Justice Department’s arguments

I never thought I would see the sad day when the US government argued against both educational and religious freedom.  But it has just happened.  It sounds more and more like they are borrowing pages from totalitarian rulers of the 20th century.  The article below details a frightening argument advanced by the Justice dept. against the German homeschoolers who were seeking asylum.   The hidden agenda is obvious.  Use a low profile case to set a precedent against homeschoolers and religious schools in general.  If the arguments against the rights of parents to choose the education of their children that are advanced here were to become case law, it would soon endanger Catholic schools, Jewish schools, Amish schools, etc, as well as homeschooling.  This is unconscionable, un-American and even devilish as it represses religion too.   

I do not overstate the case as there are several fundamental freedoms disregarded and violated by the Justice department’s arguments.   First, the government serves and acts as an agent for the parents when it creates schools, not vice-versa.   The fundamental rights belong to the parents, not the government.   Second, if the schools created in a local area violate the religious or educational values of a family, it is the parent’s duty to seek or provide proper schooling for their children apart from the inadequate school.  If the reasons for change are religious, to force the family to attend the public school in violation of their religious principles is to violate their religious freedom.   If the reasons are educational, to force the children to attend the inadequate school is likely to suppress their achievement—their right to seek their own best welfare or happiness as the Declaration of Independence put it.   Either way, to deny the validity of such choices in America is unheard of until now. 

http://www.christianpost.com/news/banning-homeschools-teaches-tolerance-of-diverse-views-justice-dept-argues-99354/

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Americana News Commentary

Applause for President Obama’s decision not to deport young illegal immigrants

A symbol of our welcome to immigrants

I commend President Obama for his decision not to allow our government to deport the children of illegal immigrants.  It is a decision long overdue.    I have long held that such deportations are gravely unjust, and violations of the golden rule.  They are also opposed to the principle of the Scripture that teaches us to treat aliens among us the same as the native born.   Thirdly, such deportations are an insult to the spirit of our country represented by the Statue of Liberty.    President Obama’s decision is a courageous strike on behalf of justice, compassion and liberty.    Never mind that the timing of it was certainly politically motivated.   Let’s rise above partisan politics and address the issue.  It was still the right decision, finally being made, and should be strongly supported both by all Bible-reading Christians and also by all Americans who are in touch with our great American history which shows the U.S. to be a place where immigrants are welcome.

 

http://nbcpolitics.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/15/12238794-obama-administration-wont-seek-deportation-of-young-illegal-immigrants?lite

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News Commentary

I support Bishop Cunningham

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2012/02/bishop_takes_up_catholics_chur.html

I wholeheartedly support the noncompliance stance of Bishop Robert J. Cunningham of the Syracuse Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church as he takes a firm stand against the Obama administration’s continuing assault upon religious liberty.   Obama’s move is a blatant attempt by pro-choice forces to expand their agenda and force people of faith to do things exactly counter to their conscience and beliefs.  Preventing such overreaches of power from treading down religious liberty is precisely why the first amendment was written. This Obama proposal is both unconscionable and unconstitutional.    It should be opposed by all people of any faith and party who value the first amendment.    It makes no difference whether the employer is the church directly or the hospital controlled by the church or a college directed by the church, such issues are still a matter of conscience protected by the first amendment and not to be trampled upon by the government.   Bishop Cunningham’s position is courageous and praiseworthy.   I call on evangelicals to stand behind him for the sake of freedom of religion and because we also are certainly targeted by such attacks from the current administration.