Dear MRFF
Please reconsider your possibly canceling Mr. Graham’s scheduled address at the Pentagon this National Day of Prayer. There are many views held by just as many people that can be perceived as offensive and sometimes rightfully so, but of recent history it seems that a Christians view is most offensive, even if expressed in light of current events and in sincerity. Please do not cancel his address merely because one seems to someone else to be offensive, in reality the concept of offense is a matter of opinion and honestly our Nation, our Military and our people need God, our warriors need God and it is no offense to call on Jesus Christ or to hear from one who strives to glorify Christ alone. In Mr. Graham’s address, many may be moved to acknowledge God’s hand in our history, in our Military and in our affairs as a Nation. To have such a ones voice silenced who simply desires to call upon Almighty God on behalf of a Nation so desperately in need of His mercy; appealing to Him to heal our hearts, to heal our minds and to heal our land, would be offensive to all Americans who belief and rely on our Religious Freedom. Please, no more apologies for the Lord OUR God, we’ve been apologized for all to often of late and need Him desperately.
Please Reconsider
with sincerity,
(name withheld)
Thank you for your E-Mail. My name is Rick Baker and I’m a regional coordinator for MRFF. Your message was forwarded to me for review and response.
Although Mr. Graham’s appearance at the NDP ceremony at the Pentagon has already been rescinded, I wanted to address your concerns.
It is not our intention to disrupt anyone’s opinion about religion or their personal beliefs. We are, however, honor bound to curtail, if possible, violations of our constitution in that regard.
If Mr. Graham were allowed to speak at the Pentagon and advance his negative views of Islam, which is a religion practiced by many American citizens, it would mean that government was improperly favoring, elevating, preferring and recommending Christianity over Islam. This would be in direct violation of the Lemon Test as put forward by the US Supreme Court and which was made into law in tandem to the First Amendment. (See below)
As a majority Christian nation, we occasionally forget that America is a secular country, in which all religions may flourish but none dominate. Christianity has no more position or power under law than any other religion. This includes Islam. Now this is pretty hard to take when there are Muslims who are attempting to kill our young men and women in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. But America views these wars as action against terrorists and their political motives, not their religion. Otherwise we would be fighting a crusade and they would be undertaking a Jihad. That would be a no-win situation for it would then involve over 4.5 billion Muslims and Christians and take decades if not centuries to finish.
Our motives do not deal with religious favoritism but rather how the constitution views the acts of religion in America. Mr. Franklin and others of the Dominion Christian belief system have demonstrated a disregard for America’s most erudite founding document and would sully that cherished writing by elevating their brand of Christianity ovefr those of other beliefs.
This in no way inhibits the free practice of Christianity within the guidelines established by the First Amendment.
Again thank you for your note and I invite you to join us on line at militaryreligiousfreedom.org where you can see for yourself what we are all about.
Rick Baker
MRFF
The Lemon Test
Based on the 1971 case of Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602, 612-13, the Court will rule a practice unconstitutional if:
1.It lacks any secular purpose. That is, if the practice lacks any non-religious purpose.
2. The practice either promotes or inhibits religion.
3. Or the practice excessively (in the Court’s opinion) involves government with a religion.
