Religious freedom

(name withheld),

Thank you for your note.

Actually this country was founded  on the principles  of civil and religious plurality as guaranteed  by our premier founding document, the US Constitution. The accurate description of America is that it is a secular nation in which all religions may flourish but none dominate.

The right to free exercise of religion is guaranteed in the First Amendment but this guarantee is subject to the restrictions set forth in the decisions, rulings and writings of the US Supreme Court  over time which have been made part and parcel of the First Amendment

Christianity has no more power or standing under law than any other religion  and wherein Christian practitioners attempt to establish Christianity as the dominant religion to the exclusion or denigration of other beliefs, it has abrogated its own rights. Likewise, government or any of its subordinate agencies, such as the US Military,  may not favor, elevate, prefer, advance or  promote a particular religion over others.  The decision to hold a unilateral Christian service at the Pentagon was unconstitutional on its face.

Sadly, the National Day of Prayer was originally about all religions joining hands in national prayer. Unfortunately the NDP Committee which is  comprised of Christians only, has gradually eliminated the attendance of  other faiths and their leaders and made the NPD an exclusive Christian event.

By his public condemnation of Islam, Mr. Graham forfeited his right to represent Christianity  in a forum sponsored by government or taking place in a government venue.

MRFF has no intent to silence the voice of law-abiding religious practitioners nor the voice of God. We mean only to exercise our oath to uphold and support the US Constitution by confronting those who have forgotten its provisions and who violate its precepts. Ours is the often thankless job  of defending the minority against the tyranny of the majority. Not an easy or particularly popular endeavor, given the many thousands of death threats, vile and demonic e-mails and  vandalism of MRFF property that we have endured.

We are currently addressing over 17,000 client case complaints from our young men and women in the armed forces regarding continuing  coercive and overt Christian proselytizing. Over 96% of these complainants are non-Evangelical Christians who have been told they are not “Christian enough.”  This is a chilling scenario which gives new meaning to the word “fear.”

This is a country based on religious freedom, freedom of speech and religion. When you made a decision to rescind Franklin Grahams invitation you attack God himself and grieve his heart. It takes courage to take a stand for God and not make a decision based on fear. You are looking at the circumstances and He looks at the heart and the motivation of man.

I pray the Lord will enlighten the eyes of your understanding and reveal His truth. You did univite Franklin Graham to the event however you cannot silence the voice of God, he will raise up another.

Kind Regards,

(name withheld)

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