Blog Against Theocracy: Emasculating the Establishment Clause

Although there are innumerable reasons to hate what the Bush crime syndicate has done to America over the last six-and-a-half years, I have been affected most personally by their attempts to turn this country into a theocracy. This administration has forced me, a recovering attorney and longtime practicing, church-going Christian, to reevaluate my values and philosophy in light of what the current regime has abetted, if not created: a rhetorical, symbolic war between Christianity and the U.S. Constitution.

Under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, the government cannot "establish" an official religion. Yet in raising Christianity to a de facto prerequisite for pursuing public office, the Religious Right and their allies in government have essentially done exactly that.

Over at her fine blog last week, Hecate detailed the battle that a hypocritical "Christian" group in Maine is fighting to attack the character and, indeed, the livelihood, of a Democratic official there who happens to be Pagan:

Jason, at the Wild Hunt, has a disturbing story of a Pagan politician being singled-out for harassment and intimidation by a group of Christianists.

Rita Moran is the Chair of the Kennebec County Democratic Committee in Maine. She runs a local bookstore, Apple Valley Books, that sells Pagan books, including books related to Pagan parenting, a popular topic among Pagans, most of whom converted to Paganism as adults and are now having families that they want to raise in their religion. Moran is also a member of the Immanent Grove, a gnostic circle.

A group that goes by what I consider to be the unAmerican name The Christian Civic League has put up a web page with information about Moran's political postition and her religious beliefs, including the terrifying fact that she sells books for Pagan parents. The Christian Civic League helpfully provides lots of contact informaton, including Moran's address, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses. We all know the purpose of that.

Moran reports that: My primary concerns are financial. When this happened, I "zeroed out" the donation total on our county Dems website (http://www.kennebecdems.org). There has not been a single donation since I've been "outed". I'm even more concerned about the loss of business here at our bookshop as Michael Hein's attack turns to even more vicious rumors. I guess what I'd ask from the community is whatever support they can offer. Tranquil energy, book orders, donations to our county committee if you wish to recognize that aspect of my community service. Thanks all..."

Voltaire once said, "Not only is it extremely cruel to persecute in this brief life those who do not think the way we do, but I do not know if it might be too presumptuous to declare their eternal damnation." This was paraphrased a century ago by a Voltaire scholar as "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

However you say it, the point is that you don't have to be a Pagan, you don't even have to approve of Paganism ... but the Constitution and indeed every canon of ethics and government for centuries require that Pagans -- and every other religion -- be allowed the opportunity, the freedom, to practice their religion and engage in society and, yes, run for office, the same as anyone else.