RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

 It’s not by accident that the first freedom protected in the 1st Amendment to the US Constitution is Religious Freedom. Nearly all of the original settlers in America were people escaping religious persecution in their home countries. Those who wrote our founding documents wanted to ensure that people would never have to leave the United States for that reason.

 The second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence demonstrates their understanding that our rights are given by God. God chose to give us freedom to select our faith – not without consequence but without coercion – and so did those who founded America.

 At the same time, the Founders based the establishment of this great country on Biblical principles. In his Farewell Address, George Washington named Religion and Morality are “two indispensable supports” that lead to “political prosperity”. In that address, Washington said that the person who would attempt to undermine them could not be considered a patriot. John Jay, who was the first Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court said, "Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers."

 Community Issue Council (CIC) follows the lead of these faithful, God-fearing leaders who risked everything so that we might have the freedom we have today. In order to continue the original guarantee of Religious Freedom proffered by our forefathers, CIC’s preference would be to see people who hold a Biblical Worldview elected to office. If the people who are making the decisions about laws that govern our day-to-day lives have a solid foundation based upon the Word of God, then the laws made would be more likely to benefit all people. Even if elected officials don’t hold to any faith, if their decisions are based upon Biblical principles then the outcomes will be preferable to what we’re now seeing in many jurisdictions.