Obama's attack on religion "playing with high explosives"

Some of Walt's American readers may not know who Conrad Black is. He's the author of a couple of surprise best-sellers: Franklin Delano Roosevelt: Champion of Freedom and Richard M. Nixon: A Life in Full, and the recently-released A Matter of Principle. The last is quite personal, a memoir of his fall from the lofty heights -- he used to be Lord Black of Cross Harbour, a British peer -- to a small but agreeable Florida prison.

At one time, "Lord Tubby" (as he was affectionately known) was a well-to-do businessman and investor, also the proprietor of several notable newspapers including the Daily Telegraph and Jerusalem Post. Some would say that he bought the newspapers to have a forum for his writings, but to be honest, Black is a formidable writer, especially on matters political and ideological. These days you'll find his columns in the National Review and Canada's National Post, which he also used to own.

This weekend the National Post is featuring Mr Black's thoughts on the Obama misgovernment's campaign against the Roman Catholic Church and Christianity in general. The piece is called "Church, state and Barack Obama". It's not easy to précis Conrad Black, so please accept that I'm not being lazy when I recommend that you read the entire piece. Here's the concluding paragraph.

In trying to subordinate and marginalize America’s religious institutions, the Obama administration is playing with high explosives. It is a bad, dangerous, and devious encroachment on constitutional liberty, and could undermine one of the greatest pillars of American national success. The balance between faith and reason is for the determination of each individual, and of the people as a whole, not of unauthorized government officials uttering impious humbug as they arbitrarily do so.

Walt might have said it more succinctly, but couldn't have said it better.

PS: On the CatholicCulture website, Phil Lawler makes the point that the Obama campaign against religion attacks not just corporations like Chick-fil-A, but the freedom of individuals to hold and express "politically incorrect" opinions and beliefs. In "The Obama argument: only churches--not individuals--can claim religious freedom", Mr. Lawler shows how the Obama administration is pressing its argument that religious freedom applies only to Church institutions. Worth reading!

Traditional meaning of marriage now "outside American consensus"?

This just in from Chicago. Francis Cardinal George has spoken out against the Windy City's windy mayor’s recent comments on Chick-fil-A.

Rahm Emanuel said previously that if Chick-fil-A wasn't welcome in Boston (because of CEO Dan Cathy's stand against homosexual "marriages"), it wasn't welcome in Chicago either! "Chick-fil-A’s values are not Chicago values," Hizzoner said. "They’re not respectful of our residents, our neighbors and our family members. And if you’re gonna be part of the Chicago community, you should reflect Chicago values."

So does being a Chicagoan (or Bostonian or American) mean you can't question the morality or rightness of homosexuality? Here's what Cardinal George has to say.

"Recent comments by those who administer our city seem to assume that the city government can decide for everyone what are the 'values' that must be held by citizens of Chicago. I was born and raised here, and my understanding of being a Chicagoan never included submitting my value system to the government for approval.

"Must those whose personal values do not conform to those of the government of the day move from the city? Is the City Council going to set up a 'Council Committee on Un-Chicagoan Activities' and call those of us who are suspect to appear before it? I would have argued a few days ago that I believe such a move is, if I can borrow a phrase, 'un-Chicagoan'.

"The value in question is espousal of 'gender-free marriage'. Approval of state-sponsored homosexual unions has very quickly become a litmus test for bigotry; and espousing the understanding of marriage that has prevailed among all peoples throughout human history is now, supposedly, outside the American consensus." [My emphasis. Walt]

"Was Jesus a bigot?" Cardinal George added. "Could Jesus be accepted as a Chicagoan? Would Jesus be more 'enlightened' if he had the privilege of living in our society? One is welcome to believe that, of course; but it should not become the official state religion, at least not in a land that still fancies itself free. Surely there must be a way to properly respect people who are gay or lesbian without using civil law to undermine the nature of marriage." [My emphasis, again. Walt]

Footnote: Rahm Emanuel is taking some time away from his onerous work as mayor of the USA's third-biggest city to co-chair President Barack Hussein Obama’s reelection campaign.

Chick fil-A today, eh!

The Cathy family, owners of a smallish chain of fast chicken joints called Chick-fil-A, don't support "gay marriage". They're Christians you see, and have probably read somewhere... like the Bible... that homosexuality is against God's law. It's contrary to the natural order of things. Jews and Muslims believe that too. Or ought to.

Getting back to the Cathys and Chick-fil-A, the family has built a successful business without losing sight of the beliefs and values of the Faith. For instance, their stores close on Sundays, so staff can go to church or at least have time with their families without being forced to work.

When it comes to sodomy, Chick-fil-A's CEO, Dan Cathy, is not afraid to take a public stand against one of today's more popular perversions. Inevitably, he has been called a bigot, a homophobe and all the other epithets hurled by "progressive thinkers" at those who believe God's way is the right way.

It's dangerous, nowadays, to cross the gay lobby. Dan Cathy has been warned, by the mayor of Boston no less, that he'd better not open a store in Beantown. One can just picture mobs of screaming drag queens chucking chicken into the Charles River in protest.

Not all Bostonians feel that way, of course. The Boston Bruins' ace goaltender, Tim Thomas, spoke up in favour of Chick fil-A's right to do business where and as it wishes, and was duly vilified in the lamestream press. Nothing new for Timmy.

The latest public figure to join the debate is Mike Huckabee, former presidential wannabe turned sometime commentator on Fox News. Mike has declared today "Chick-fil-A appreciation day". If you support Dan Cathy's (or anyone's) right to embrace whatever religious beliefs he chooses and express those beliefs openly, you should participate.

If you can't find a Chick-fil-A store, or don't like chicken, you can click here to show your support online. Walt has already posted his comment.