As a follow-up to yesterday's rant-y post about the chairman's opening remarks, witness statements are now online from yesterday's House Constitution Subcommittee hearing on "The State of Religion in America." Bishop William Lori, Rev. Barry Lynn, and Colby May all testified. In addition, the Interfaith Alliance's Welton Gaddy submitted a statement for the record.
Associated Baptist Press' Bob Allen filed this report on the hearing.
Don't get me wrong: there are serious threats to religious liberty in America. We must be vigilant in preserving this precious freedom. But Chairman Franks' suggestion that it us "under attack as never before" is to lose sight of eras of significant religious persecution, violence and discrimination in our history. Even worse though is to suggest, as he did, that "the separation of church and state" is a major factor in this allegedly historic threat to our freedom.
