Religious Liberty

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 Issues 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.

Today, secular governments often see the Church not as a light in an ever-darkening culture, but as a source of income to support their secular efforts. In direct opposition to the beliefs held by Washington and other Founders, many make laws that are intended to limit the ability of churches to worship and to grow and expand their presence in the community. 

Unfortunately, political correctness has turned the Founders’ intent on its head. “Sexual orientation” and “gender identity” (SOGI) laws have elevated the “rights” of people who choose to have sex with someone of the same sex, or who choose to “identify” with a gender other than the one they actually are, above our Constitutionally protected right to freely live out our faith.

CIC is committed to identifying and helping elect individuals who will protect the Religious Freedom enshrined in the 1st Amendment.