Still don’t think new GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is not a
threat to our democracy and way of life – think again as you ponder this pretty
big battle coming soon – or so it seems – reported on from THE TEXAS TRIBUNE with this
article headline:
“Texas
activist David Barton wants to end separation of church and state. He has the ear of the new House
speaker.”
Barton has been a staple of Texas’ Christian conservative movement,
offering crucial support to politicians and frequently being cited or called on
to testify in favor of bills that critics say would erode church-state
separations.
Highlights from the
article:
For nearly four decades,
Texas activist David Barton has barnstormed statehouses and pulpits across the
nation, arguing that the separation between church and state is a myth and
that America should be run as a Christian nation. Now, he’s closer to power
than perhaps ever before.
One day after little-known Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson
of Louisiana was elected as the new GOP House speaker, Barton said on a podcast that
he was already discussing staffing with Johnson, his longtime ally in deeply
conservative, Christian causes, with Barton saying: “We have some
tools at our disposal now (that) we haven't had in a long time.”
Johnson recently spoke at an event hosted by
Barton’s nonprofit, “Wall Builders as he praised Barton
and his profound influence on me, and my work, and my life and everything
I do.”
FYI: Before his career as a lawmaker, Johnson worked for “Alliance
Defending Freedom”— a legal advocacy group that has helped infuse more Christianity
into public schools and government, a key goal of Barton’s movement.
Barton, who lives in Aledo, has been a staple of Texas’ own
Christian conservative movement, offering crucial public support to politicians
and frequently being cited or called on to testify in favor of bills that
critics say would erode church-state separations — including in front of
the Texas Legislature this year.
Johnson’s election — and
his proximity to Barton — is a massive victory for a growing Christian
nationalist movement that claims the United States’ foundation was ordained by
God, and therefore its laws and institutions should favor their brand of
Christianity.
David Brockman, a non-resident scholar in religion and
public policy at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy said about
that: “Johnson's rise means that Barton and his fellow Christian nationalists
now have unprecedented access to the levers of power on the national stage,
paralleling the access they already have here in Texas, and in some other
states.”
Barton and Johnson did not respond to requests for comment
this week.
My 2 Cents: As clearly as I can
state it – any person the U.S. under our laws and constitution have the freedom
to worship and practice any religion they choose, or not to choose. I strongly
believe most others feel that Barton’s and Johnson’s beliefs and practices MUST
not be shoved down our throat the way this, their so-called movement advocates
as discussed above.
Worship how you want to
whom you choose or believe in, but as I said, do not try to force that on
others with difference views or no views at all.
That is original intent of
the freedom of worship and religion and speech in our country, period. Hardnose
and yes, even somewhat radical evangelicals like Barton and Johnson, et al
should advocate all they want – just not those of us who believe differently
than their side advocates – our choice NOT theirs. Period. Thanks for stopping
by.
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