Democrats: Religion Must be Subservient to Government - HB542 - Granite Grok

Democrats: Religion Must be Subservient to Government – HB542

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The Democrats’ religion of worshipping of Government must take primacy over the worship of God. NH Democrats proved it again by not only voting against HB542 but standing up during the debate and now saying it openly.

Related: NH Dem – Religious Liberty is Extremist!

We know that the Democrat Party doesn’t care for the Christian or Jewish religions. They took God out of their platform, BOOED the mention of God during another Convention, and then raised up the irreligious (or if you prefer, the “nones”) during their last Convention. And frankly, maybe not so much by word but certainly by deeds when NH Governor Chris Sununu took their side with his:

Public Health trumps EVERYTHING

and that could have just as easily been written as “Public Health trumps God” and closed houses of worship just as he would a hot dog stand at the beginning of the WuFlu pandemic. Yep, he showed, alongside the Democrats, that the US and NH Constitutions that both make the act of Worship an inviolable Right that SHALL not be abridged will be abridged by those that hold them in no account. Sununu believes that his Emergency Powers trump the Constitutions (I know, I’ve said it before a number of times but it CONTINUES to bear repeating!).

So, here’s the WMUR video of what the Democrats said (they don’t allow for embeds elsewhere). But here is the transcript (reformatted, emphasis mine):

Churches and other houses of worship will be exempt from emergency public health orders that prevent large gatherings under legislation passed Friday by the New Hampshire House.

NH State Rep. Keith Ammon:

“The state won’t be able to just outright close churches when other services, such as liquor stores, hardware stores, Target, Walmart, etc., are open and declared essential,” said Rep. Keith Ammon, R-New Boston.

House Bill 542 passed with Republican support Friday. Its sponsors said the government trampled on the free exercise of religion last year. They said the legislation would prevent that from happening again by preventing the state from enforcing any health, safety, or occupancy requirements that impose a “substantial burden” on religious services.

Democrats opposed the bill.  NH State Rep Alexis Simpson (R):

“I don’t believe we need a new law that prioritizes religious freedoms over public health and safety in a crisis.

NOTE: She was identified as a Republican; she really is a Democrat. WMUR’s Package chyron was wrong when it was broadcast yesterday during the News at 5pm program and is still wrong on site in the video.

She’s absolutely correct – NO law is needed – the Constitutions both make that plain but that’s not her point.  First Amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Article 5:

[Art.] 5. [Religious Freedom Recognized.] Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience, and reason; and no subject shall be hurt, molested, or restrained, in his person, liberty, or estate, for worshipping God in the manner and season most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience; or for his religious profession, sentiments, or persuasion; provided he doth not disturb the public peace or disturb others in their religious worship.

Opponents pointed out that houses of worship adapted during the pandemic and were still able to find ways to gather or connect safely. NH State Rep Charlotte DiLorenzo (D-Newmarket):

“Many congregations have used creative solutions to worship within the bounds of public health protocols.

Supporters of the bill said that if it becomes law, the government could still issue pandemic guidance, but they said religious liberty is such a fundamental right that no one should have to submit to the state or get creative in order to worship.  NH State Rep. Mark McLean (R-Manchester)

HB 542 reinforces that right by guaranteeing the free exercise of religion in an emergency, while preserving the right of the government to require religious organizations to comply with neutral health and safety regulations.

Both make it VERY clear that neither the Federal nor the State of NH can violate religious worship. But I guess we are passing from a reverence for the Constitution and it values to more of a “If I can get away with it” attitude. If this is true, then ANYTHING is possible and there are no longer any restraints on our Governments. And they are certainly doing exactly that on what I consider the most fundamental precepts that our Founders laid down.

The problem with Simpson is that she is arguing AGAINST the Constitutions – she, just like Sununu, is FIGHTING against the prohibition that holds that Religion is to be left alone by Government. Government cannot establish a religion (except that Democrats ARE setting up one by its actions: Secular Humanism) nor stop religious activities. Perhaps Ian is right – force the issue. Simpson makes it plain that Religious MUST give way to Government decree: Public Health trumps God and the worship of Him (or any other religious faith). And since Public Health is a domain of Government, she is putting Government over God.

NH State Rep Charlotte DiLorenzo (D-Newmarket), on the other hand, completely dismisses the concept that we are called to congregant worship (as well as individual worship). There can be no fellowship without numbers. Sure, livestreaming is a replacement – but a mere replacement for meeting in person with others. But she’s willing to just toss that aside as if meeting in congregant manner is of no account (“just watch the screen and quit whining”). Sorry, that is stripping out an important aspect of Worship – and again, a violation of our Right to Worship as we please.

And finally, a quick note on what NH State Rep. Mark McLean (R-Manchester) said:

HB 542 reinforces that right by guaranteeing the free exercise of religion in an emergency, while preserving the right of the government to require religious organizations to comply with neutral health and safety regulations.

If he had stopped after “in an emergency”, that would have been sufficient. Same thing with the bill and the “unless doing so is essential to further a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest” bit. There is NO equivalent clause in either Constitution that says “Freedom of Religion (except when….” and neither should this bill.

This bill is an open door to further chip away at the values set forth by our Founders. What’s next on that slippery slide, guys? What’s the next “easement” that you’re giving up?

The Dems were NEVER going to vote for this – why did you toss them a bone in trying to gather votes? That’s not a compromise ANY of you should have made.

 

(Image H/T: Powerline) All that black in the image above? For those too young to know, that was Communist East Germany. And it still seems that East Germany is still Godless after all these years since Communism reigned. I really don’t know of any Democrats Socialists (on their path to Communism) that believe in God. This map, that I came across a while ago, is the reason why this post exists given that Democrats are all fighting against an Individual’s Right to unimpeded worship and expression of their faith in the public square.

They made it clear above – Religion is ALWAYS to be subservient to the new religion that Government, by Democrats, is decreeing.

Go ahead, change my mind.

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